To Whom It May Concern,…

To Whom It May Concern,

Regarding EBR # 013-4124, this is to voice my strong opposition to the proposal. It is so egregious as to be beyond comprehension. I recognize that this posting is just an announcement. However, given that the idea is to have an “open season” on these magnificent and unfairly maligned birds by March 2019, it sounds very much like a “done deal”.

The information posted on the Environmental Registry is surprisingly scant, given the magnitude of what is being proposed.

So, as a retired person and taxpayer, I have a number of questions that I urge you to answer prior to making any decision as to how to proceed. The questions are as follow:

1. How much will it cost to enforce, and what will the enforcement mechanism be? Added to duties that Conservation Officers already struggle to uphold for lack of sufficient funding, they (or someone) will need to assure that other bird species co-nesting with cormorants, such as terns, pelicans, gulls, herons and egrets, will not be disturbed at a critical time in their life cycle.

2. How will Conservation Officers, with a limited budget make sure that other migratory birds
co-nesting with cormorants be protected? How will compliance with the required carcass disposal be monitored, what would be the penalty for non-compliance and what constitutes proper disposal?

3. How will loons, geese and large grebes be protected?

4. When was the last cormorant census conducted in Ontario?

5. What is the current number of double-crested cormorants in Ontario, and what is the “target” number that will satisfy MNRF that there are not too many?

6. Since shooting will occur in waterways at the height of the recreational season, what provision will be to ensure the safety of vacationers, tourists and other visitors?

7. The proposal calls for monitoring across a wide range of lakes and waterways; who will do that, how will it be done, how much will it cost and who will pay for it?

8. Which scientists and experts were consulted in formulating this proposal?

I look forward to hearing from you soon.