I am vehemently opposed to…

I am vehemently opposed to bringing back the spring bear hunt. The province outlawed the spring bear hunt in 1999 because bear cubs were being orphaned after their mothers were shot to death. After re-introducing spring bear hunt pilot projects in 2014 and 2016, you are now proposing to bring this cruel hunt back for good, all to appease the powerful hunting lobby.

We know the scene is sickening. Hungry black bears are baited with food, after they emerge from their dens after a long winter of hibernation. When they reach the bait, they are mercilessly gunned down.

Bears, like all wildlife, need our compassion and protection. It’s unacceptable that my government is supporting the cruel and needless trophy hunting of bears. Bear cubs will continue to be orphaned if the hunt becomes permanent. While it’s currently against the law to kill cubs and mother bears accompanied by cubs, mother bears often leave their cubs in trees when searching for food. If a mother is killed, her cubs will likely die slowly of starvation or be eaten by predators. Hunting bears doesn’t improve human safety. Stopping human-bear conflict is achieved by removing access to garbage, barbeques, and other attractants. Bears have low reproduction rates, meaning the survival of adult females is vital for the species. You have disclosed a need to reduce black bear hunting in Saugeen-Bruce Peninsula due to population concerns, yet you are simultaneously proposing to allow the hunting and trapping of these bears in that region for one week each spring. This is irresponsible.
Even your economic argument for allowing the hunt is weak. You have claimed that the economic impact would be neutral or positive, but you have provided no evidence to support this claim.

I really want to live in a country that values all life and has compassion and empathy for all living things. How can we expect our children to respect animals and nature if we don't model it for them??? You know there is link between animal cruelty and human violence. Why are you ignoring this evidence to appease the hunting lobby????

Thank you ,