I am totally opposed to…

I am totally opposed to implementing a regular bear hunting season. It is particularly odious the hunting season is being proposed by an environmental arm of government whose priority should be conservation, not "management" which is simply an excuse to kill bears and support the bear hunting industry. There are more jobs and sustainable economic growth in conserving. Here are my concerns:

Hunting is inhumane because it creates a huge number of orphan cubs which usually results in the cubs' death as well. It is usually impossible to know which females have cubs because most often cubs are hidden while the mother forages for food.
If any hunting is permitted, change the season to June 1 - 30 to protect females with cubs and the cubs.
The public has a right to information. It is imperative the results/evidence as to the accomplishments and milestones, of the pilot project and the extended pilot project (not the original strategy written before the hunts) need to be released to the public.
Baiting should be forbidden. If baiting is permitted, very stringent limits (as to length of time, place, etc.) and enforcement of those limits must be implemented to protect recreationalists, drivers, property owners, pets, etc. from bait piles that attract wildlife. All bait sites should be registered to ensure compliance. Baits are very dangerous and, I repeat, should not be permitted. Bear hunters represent a very small % of people using the outdoors; i.e., policy should favor recreationlists.
It is important that enforcement be improved with increased funding, infrastructure and increased number of conservation officers. These improvements should be made public.
The use of hounds and dogs to chase, tree and otherwise terrorize bears should be immediately halted.

It is important the government acknowledge that education and enforcement of human behavior, attractants and feeding has the greatest impact on mitigating and preventing conflict between humans and bears; and to acknowledge as well that bear hunts are not an effective solution to safety of communities and avoidance of conflict between bears and humans.

There is a need for more information to make better informed decisions and policy. The government needs to research and report on:
a) the impact of a spring bear hunt on other recreationalists' safety, freedom to explore and expectations. Bear hunters represent a very small % of people using the outdoors whereas recreationalists represent the overwhelming majority of people enjoying the outdoors in Ontario. Recreationalists needs must be prioritized if policy is to be rational.
b) What are the efforts of the Ontario government to increase non-consumptive sustainable ecotourism in the province? A federal government report many years ago showed ecotourism and other non consumptive recreation was not only more sustainable but more economically efficient (creating more jobs and more taxes) than activities such as bear hunts which destroy the natural environment, no matter how well "managed". A report detailing the province's efforts to increase non consumptive ecotourism in Ontario and evaluating the benefits of those efforts is critical to making informed decisions and policy. Taxpayers expect their provincial government to pursue the most effective and rational policies based on sound research and information.