There are many concerns…

There are many concerns around the idea of hunting a species as important to the eco-system as black bears. This is a species that once roamed widely throughout our entire province. Humans, roads and development of land away from how that land evolved has curtailed their population to a large extent already.
When we lower the natural balance, particularly with a top predator, there are negative impacts that cascade downwards through other species. The research on this is very clear. Outcomes are dire. Additionally, hunting in the Spring, when bears are more vulnerable and when females are travelling with young cubs, puts the species at an extreme disadvantage - some might consider this a clever tactic. However, it reads as a set -up for extremely negative publicity for a controversial, some would say cruel, practice. This would put Ontario in a very poor light to wider society.
Since the bear hunt has been determined to have no bearing on public safety - that is to say, that culling bears does not lower their interactions with humans, most of which are completely the fault of humans, this also is no reason to allow for a second hunting season for bears. IMO, hunting this species directly after they emerge from hibernation is much more likely to cause negative interactions through the later part of the season rather than lower them.
As a form of population control, hunting is an extremely clumsy method and unlike natural selection, has impacts that are not easily kept in balance. Furthermore, those who hunt bear for meat are foolish to do so in the Spring when the bears are at their lowest weight in the whole year. Consequently, It is my position that we should follow the science on this matter and only allow a bear hunt in the Fall.