As a lifelong citizen of…

As a lifelong citizen of Ontario, I am appalled by this latest proposal. I strongly object to the Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry’s proposal to allow new licenses and the transfer of licenses for train and trial areas in Ontario.

The reality is that penned dog hunting facilities inflict unbelievable pain and cruelty on the animals that are subjected to the various methods used to train dogs to hunt. It’s savage and barbaric to use rabbits, coyotes and foxes as pawns for hunters to train dogs and hold competitions. Wildlife should never be removed from their natural environments to be held captive by hunters for such a practice.

Opening applications for train and trial spaces after 25 years is a disturbing step backward. These facilities have no place in Ontario. Instead of opening new applications, the province’s existing 24 facilities need to be closed - immediately. This is a form of cruelty that civilized societies should be moving away from, not encouraging or embracing. This is 2023, not 1523.

The majority of Ontarians are not hunters; we do not engage in hunting, but we can accept and respect people who do. However, the notion to expand these facilities and allow these practices goes well beyond the acceptable and tolerable in a civilized society.

It would seem that the Ontario government is catering to a relatively small segment of the Ontario population; however, the government should respect all citizens and all viewpoints before making a proposal such as this, a proposal that encourages such unthinking cruelty in our midst.

These facilities are archaic and have absolutely no place in today's Ontario.