I was pleased to learn in…

I was pleased to learn in 1999 that the Ontario Progressive Conservative Government was banning the spring bear hunt. In January 1999, The Minister of Natural Resources John Snobelen announced an end to the spring bear hunt as the government did not want bear cubs being orphaned by hunters mistakenly shooting mother bears in the spring. In 2014, the spring bear hunt was brought back again under the Liberal Government as a pilot project. I find it very objectionable that now our current Progress Conservative Government wants to bring back the spring bear hunt on a permanent basis.

The reasons, for banning the spring bear hunt in 1999, were because mother bears, after leaving their dens, often leave their cubs in trees when searching for food. If a mother bear is killed, her cubs will likely die slowly of starvation or be eaten by predators. Bears have low reproduction rates so therefore the survival of adult female bears is vital for the species.

I find it unacceptable that hungry black bears, after they emerge from their dens from a long winter of hibernation, are baited with food. When they reach the bait, they are gunned down. These bears are being handed to hunters to satisfy their thirst for hunting big game in order for them to acquire trophies. With not always being able to identify whether or not the bears are male or female, it is highly probable that a hunter will kill a female bear who recently gave birth to nursing cubs who weigh 5 kg or less leaving them alone feeling terrified, and they will likely die slowly of starvation or be eaten by predators. This potential outcome is unconscionable!

As outlined in the Ontario Government’s proposed changes to black bear hunting regulations, the government states that they have black bear population concerns in the Bruce Peninsula. As stated in the proposal details “Research indicates that there has been a decline in bear numbers and that human-caused mortality should be reduced to support sustainability of this genetically isolated population.” Due to this population decline why is the government even considering having a spring bear hunt for one week from May 1 to May 7? There should be no hunting or trapping in this area either in the spring or fall.

Resident hunters in Ontario represent only a small portion of Ontario’s population. The Ontario Government has stated in their proposals “The anticipated economic consequences of the proposals are expected to be neutral to positive. Continuing the spring season as a regular annual season beyond 2020 will provide certainty of continued hunting and trapping opportunities and related economic benefits. The proposed changes to remove special opportunities for non-resident landowners and immediate relatives will redistribute those opportunities to licensed operators resulting in additional economic opportunities for businesses.” Even if the economic impact is positive, it is morally wrong. The Progressive Conservative Government under Premier Mike Harris and Minister of Natural Resources John Snobelen considered what was morally right when they banned the spring bear hunt in 1999. Our current Progressive Conservative Government should do the same. After all, the public lands in Ontario belong to all of us, not just to the organizations and businesses that profit by the killing of our wild animals.