Building a wildlife management strategy for Ontario: discussion paper

Updates

This posting has been republished to provide a status update - updated portions indicated with bold.

Description of policy

Ontario’s wildlife provides ecological, cultural, recreational and economic benefits to all Ontarians, and is a key component of the province’s rich biodiversity. Many influences affecting wildlife and their habitat operate at broad scales. Environmental factors, including climate change, cause complex and cumulative impacts on wildlife. To ensure Ontario is well placed to address broad scale pressures facing wildlife populations, the Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry (MNRF) is developing a Wildlife Management Strategy.

Currently, Ontario does not have an overarching guiding framework that informs wildlife policy development, planning, management and decision making. A wildlife management strategy would provide clear direction for wildlife management, while building on the ministry’s strong foundation of science, policy and collaboration.

The discussion paper provides context, outlines key trends, draft goals and guiding principles.

The Ministry would like to thank all who submitted comments. Initial feedback showed us that Ontarians deeply value wildlife and care about conservation of species for their own sake and for the contribution wildlife makes to our lives and to the lives of future generations:

• The predominant theme of the comments was the need to address wildlife habitat conservation and monitoring.
• The recognition of cultural and intrinsic values of wildlife was viewed as an essential component of any strategy.
• Aboriginal and treaty rights must be respected.
• There was a wide range of views with respect to the scope of the strategy, with some groups seeking a focus on game management and others seeking the inclusion of all species and stronger links to provincial initiatives such as the Ontario Biodiversity Strategy.

The Ministry is analyzing all feedback received and will continue to seek input to further describe goals and actions and develop themes for further discussion (e.g. wildlife habitat) that could contribute to a wildlife strategy. MNRF will provide an opportunity for public review and comment once a wildlife strategy has been drafted.

No allocation decisions, changes to Wildlife Management Units or changes to the Fish and Wildlife Conservation Act or regulations are being made through this process.

Purpose of policy

The purpose of this discussion paper is to engage stakeholders, Indigenous communities and the general public to provide input and feedback on the development of a draft wildlife management strategy.

Other information

To view the discussion paper, please see the proposal supporting materials section below.

While feedback on any aspect of the development of the draft wildlife strategy is welcome, questions included in the discussion paper have been developed to allow a wide range of parties to provide feedback on any area within the scope of the development of a wildlife management strategy.

Feedback may also be submitted to wildlifepolicy@ontario.ca

The Ministry will also be seeking to engage the public, Indigenous communities and stakeholders in the development of Small Game and Furbearer Management Framework and a White-tailed Deer Management Policy in the coming months. These initiatives will be complementary to a Wildlife Management Strategy. For more information on the Small Game and Furbearer Management Framework and a White-tailed Deer Management Policy please search ER posting numbers 012-916 and 013-0056.

The following web links provide additional (or supporting) information.

• Taking a Broader Landscape Approach: A Policy Framework for Modernizing Ontario’s Approach to Natural Resource Management, 2013
• Fish and Wildlife Conservation Act, 1997
• Wildlife Management: How Ontario manages wildlife to support healthy ecosystems

Public consultation

This proposal was posted for a 90 day public review and comment period starting August 19, 2016. Comments were to be received by November 17, 2016.

All comments received during the comment period are being considered as part of the decision-making process by the Ministry.

Please Note: All comments and submissions received have become part of the public record.

Other public consultation opportunities

Additional opportunities for engagement with key stakeholders and Indigenous communities will be undertaken throughout the 90 day posting period.

Once a draft strategy is prepared, there will be an opportunity for public review and comment through the Environmental Registry.