July 21, 2020 Public Input…

July 21, 2020

Public Input Coordinator
MNRF Fish and Wildlife Policy Branch – Wildlife Section
300 Water Street
5th Floor, North Tower
Peterborough, ON
K9J 3C7, Canada

Dear Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry:

On behalf of the National Deer Alliance (NDA) and the Quality Deer Management Association (QDMA), I am writing to state our support for the proposed amended regulations under the Fish and Wildlife Conservation Act, 1997 to implement additional measures reducing the risk that chronic wasting disease (CWD) may enter Ontario. We are American non-profit conservation organizations with missions to serve as the guardian of wild deer conservation, wild deer habitat and our hunting heritage. One of our primary focus areas is policy that impacts deer and hunting, and one of our top priorities is CWD.

We applaud the Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry’s (MNRF) leadership and willingness to attack this critical issue head-on as described in the proposal, and we also applaud the Ministry’s commitment to implementing the 2019 Chronic Wasting Disease Prevention and Response Plan. NDA and QDMA fully support MNRF’s efforts to prevent CWD in Ontario. Through our extensive work on this issue across North America, we know that moving deer, dead or alive, can facilitate the spread of CWD.

Prohibiting the import of live cervids and high-risk cervid parts and prohibiting movement of live captive cervids between locations within Ontario will reduce the risk that CWD may enter Ontario. Deer relocations led by wildlife agencies, movements between captive deer facilities given the absence of a reliable live animal test, and transport of carcasses by hunters who can't be immediately sure if their deer is infected all pose a risk of spreading CWD. We applaud MNRF’s diligent and thoughtful work in drafting a proposal that specifically addresses the spread of CWD.

Further, we support MNRF’s inclusion of hunters and other stakeholders in the disease management process. We urge MNRF to continue to increase stakeholder understanding of, support for, and participation in CWD prevention and management efforts. NDA and QDMA stand ready to help MNRF, Ontario hunters, and wild deer in this perilous fight against CWD, which is an unrelenting opponent.

Sincerely,

Nick Pinizzotto
President and CEO