Time is slowly marching on to the day that Ontario elects a new government and there is still little talk of increased funding for wildlife or habitat management issues.
All revenue generated from the sale of hunting and fishing licenses is diverted to a special fund to be used exclusively for wildlife and habitat management funding…is it? Well yes and no! You recall that this agreement was made when the Outdoors Card was first introduced and it was made to encourage outdoors people to support the new license by ensuring that the revenues raised would be put directly back into the resource. The arrangement has formally been in place since 1996.
The revenue generated by the sale of the Outdoors Card and associated licenses was to be added to the annual ministry budget for the MNR, but our current Liberal government, by means of continuous budget cuts, has put more reliance on the special fund than was ever intended. In fact, even though hunters and fishermen (the only users of outdoor resources required to by the card) are now funding more and more of the general MNR budget making MNR the ultimate “user pay” ministry.
It’s time to stop the rape of our natural resources caused by continuous funding cuts. It’s time to restore the pride of our front-line enforcement officers by providing the funds so they can do the job they are hired to do. Make no mistake that our Conservation Officers are front-line law enforcement officers with a mandate to protect our wildlife and wildlife habitat from abuse, misuse, and illegal activity. But, they need to be in the field on a continuous basis to make a difference…not just when there is a formal complaint.
The Conservatives have committed, in writing, to restore funding to match the contributions of Outdoor Card revenues. That is not enough; but at least it will stop the hemorrhaging and put our Ministry of Natural Resources back on the path of respectability.
As a follow-up to my previous post regarding the Canadian Wildlife Service I’m very pleased to announce that Environment Minister John Baird has publicly stated that there will be no cuts to CWF funding. I believe this is in no small part due to the backlash from environmental groups like Delta Waterfowl and public pressure.
When it’s time to buy for the outdoors person that has everything check out www.DistinctNorthernArt.com.
All revenue generated from the sale of hunting and fishing licenses is diverted to a special fund to be used exclusively for wildlife and habitat management funding…is it? Well yes and no! You recall that this agreement was made when the Outdoors Card was first introduced and it was made to encourage outdoors people to support the new license by ensuring that the revenues raised would be put directly back into the resource. The arrangement has formally been in place since 1996.
The revenue generated by the sale of the Outdoors Card and associated licenses was to be added to the annual ministry budget for the MNR, but our current Liberal government, by means of continuous budget cuts, has put more reliance on the special fund than was ever intended. In fact, even though hunters and fishermen (the only users of outdoor resources required to by the card) are now funding more and more of the general MNR budget making MNR the ultimate “user pay” ministry.
It’s time to stop the rape of our natural resources caused by continuous funding cuts. It’s time to restore the pride of our front-line enforcement officers by providing the funds so they can do the job they are hired to do. Make no mistake that our Conservation Officers are front-line law enforcement officers with a mandate to protect our wildlife and wildlife habitat from abuse, misuse, and illegal activity. But, they need to be in the field on a continuous basis to make a difference…not just when there is a formal complaint.
The Conservatives have committed, in writing, to restore funding to match the contributions of Outdoor Card revenues. That is not enough; but at least it will stop the hemorrhaging and put our Ministry of Natural Resources back on the path of respectability.
As a follow-up to my previous post regarding the Canadian Wildlife Service I’m very pleased to announce that Environment Minister John Baird has publicly stated that there will be no cuts to CWF funding. I believe this is in no small part due to the backlash from environmental groups like Delta Waterfowl and public pressure.
When it’s time to buy for the outdoors person that has everything check out www.DistinctNorthernArt.com.
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