I think making the spring…

I think making the spring bear hunt permanent is a ridiculous idea. I can't even understand how anyone would agree to this. I guess I shouldn't be surprised given that I have had no reply from our current Minister for any of the issues I have written to him about.

If the Ministry is serious about this ridiculous idea, a few concerns need to be addressed first and here is my list:
1. Females with cubs must be protected; currently that is difficult as cubs are frequently treed or kept away by their mother while she forages.
2. The current season of May 1 to June 15 should be changed to June 1 to June 30 to protect females with cubs as well as the cubs themselves.
3. 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.
4. Baiting should be ILLEGAL with steep fines and/or jail time for failing to comply.
5. Information showing an increase in enforcement capability through funding, infrastructure and boots-on-the-ground hires of conservation officers should be made available.
6. The government must make an acknowledgement that a spring bear hunt is not about community safety as originally stated in 2014 in the face of their own evidence showing it does not impact human conflict with bears; education and enforcement of human behaviour, attractants and feeding will have the greatest impact on mitigating and preventing conflict.
7. A report should be created and released on the impact of a spring bear hunt on other recreationalists’ safety, freedom to explore and expectations, as bear hunters in the spring make up a very small percentage of people enjoying the outdoors in Ontario.
8. A report should be created and released on efforts of the Ontario government to increase availability of non-consumptive ecotourism opportunities in the province alongside the limited spring bear hunt.
The use of hounds/dogs to chase, tree and/or otherwise harass bears should be immediately halted.

In light of all of these issues, my preference is that the bear hunt should not be reinstated.