I am strongly opposed to the…

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019-1112

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43749

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I am strongly opposed to the reinstatement of the spring bear hunt in Ontario. The government has failed to justify this reinstatement with any substantial ecological, economic, social or public safety rationale.

To the contrary, the science all indicates that it is ethically and ecologically unsound to reinstate the spring bear hunt in Ontario. Ontario must do its part to change the ways of its society to stop the unethical slaughter of wildlife, by unethical and ecologically unsound hunting practices and by industrial and development destruction of the environment.

We know:
~ that the ban on the spring bear hunt was a ecologically sound and ethical decision supported by the science of MNRF Biologists;
~ most spring bear hunters are non-residents who hunt baited bears;
~ many hunters at bait stations are unable to distinguish between male and female bears;
~ female bears are killed, including nursing mothers;
~ orphaned cubs, about five to six months old and typically weighing about five kilograms, starve to death or are killed by other predators;
~ despite the threat of large fines, regulations prohibiting the killing of females accompanied by cubs are unenforceable

In other words, reinstating the spring bear hunt would further show this government's ignorant and single minded "open for business" and "reduce the red tape" policies do not reflect the ethical and ecological views of the citizens of this province.

Further, and most importantly, it is my opinion that this government intention is an insult to the Indigenous Peoples of this province and is in ignorance and defiance of Truth and Reconciliation. It is not good stewardship and shows ignorance of and disrespect for Nature.

I respectfully ask you to ban the spring bear hunt forever, for Nature.