Proposed renewed approach to allocating registered traplines

Update to original proposal

This notice proposes a revised approach to allocating registered traplines in Ontario. We are revising the proposal to address some of the comments received on the original proposal which was posted September 17, 2020 to December 16, 2020. We are reopening the comment period for 60 days from February 18, 2022 to April 19, 2022 and are seeking your input and perspectives on this policy initiative.

During consultation in 2020, the ministry received comments on several elements of the proposal, which included:

• timeframe for expressing interest and documenting an historic family connection to a trapline was too short, particularly for trappers in remote or northern communities
• provisions that enable the switching of traplines among family members
• clarifying the criteria for documenting an historic Indigenous family connection to a trapline

Changes to the original proposal

In response to some of the comments received, we are proposing changes to the policy proposal and are seeking your input on the revised policy proposal. The changes reflected in this revised policy proposal include:

• annual correspondence with local Indigenous communities specifically requesting information about exercise of Aboriginal and treaty rights that may be impacted by licensed trapping on registered traplines
• an extended timeframe from 90 days to 6 months for applicants to express interest in a vacant trapline, demonstrate their qualifications and document an historic family connection (current policy is unclear what applicants must provide to the ministry within the 90 day notification period and the subsequent 6 month period for first right of refusal)
• local Indigenous communities are included among the considerations for authorizing trapping on Crown land parcels (outside of registered trapline areas)
• sections of the policy have been re-ordered, moving considerations for identifying Indigenous community traplines to the beginning
• minor corrections to the criteria for documenting an historic Indigenous family connection to a trapline (including corrections to titles for Métis documentation)

These revisions to the proposal aim to balance interest in traplines and are responsive to the range of feedback received through consultation with trappers, Indigenous organizations and communities, and trapping stakeholder groups.

We are reopening the comment period for 60 days from February 18, 2022 to April 19, 2022 and are seeking your input on this policy initiative.

Regulatory impact statement

No regulatory amendments are being proposed as part of this proposal update.

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Original Proposal

Background

The management of furbearers on Crown land is regulated through the licensing of head trappers for Registered Trapline Areas (registered traplines). Ontario’s trapline allocation policy provides provincial guidance for the consistent and fair allocation of registered traplines to support sustainable furbearer management.

Current policy

The existing trapline allocation policy describes a series of steps to be followed in trapline allocation decision making. The existing policy recognizes that there are Aboriginal and treaty rights to engage in trapping activities and provides for priority allocation to Indigenous trappers with a documented historic family connection to a trapline. The existing policy also identifies a process to allow current head trappers to recommend a successor trapper and provides scoring criteria to evaluate applicants during open competitions for available traplines.

Proposed changes

We are proposing to renew the trapline allocation policy to address known issues and concerns to improve consistency in implementation and to reduce barriers for trappers. Specifically, the proposed revisions to the trapline allocation policy will:

1. Improve implementation with clear and consistent direction that enables family members to switch head trapper designation on a trapline under certain circumstances.
2. Reduce barriers for trappers by shifting the vacant trapline notification period to occur when training is commonly available and provide a consistent process for identifying Indigenous community traplines, and to further reduce barriers by filling a gap in policy direction to ensure inclusive recognition of First Nations and Métis.
3. Fill a gap in policy direction by providing appropriate guidance for authorizing trapping on other Crown land areas (outside of registered traplines).

These changes aim to address the range of issues and concerns expressed by trappers, Indigenous organizations and communities, and trapping stakeholder groups.