Bear action needed, not committee

Approval by the Ontario legislature to develop a provincial management strategy for bear isn’t winning any praise from the Ontario Federation of Anglers and Hunters (OFAH). The motion to create a special committee tasked with the effort was put forth by Timiskaming-Cochrane MPP John Vanthof.

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“What we need is action in the form of a return of a spring bear season to properly manage bear populations, not another committee to waste time and money repeating what has already been done,” said OFAH Executive Director Angelo Lombardo.

“In 2005, the legislature unanimously passed a motion on nuisance bears in recognition of the fact that human/bear interactions were occurring, and that the province needed to take action to address that threat to public safety,” said Lombardo. “Unfortunately, nothing of consequence came as a result of that motion and we find ourselves in the same situation today.”

Lombardo added, “The OFAH is pleased to support, in principle, the recent introduction of Bill 114 by Thunder Bay-Atikokan Liberal MP Bill Mauro, which would see a spring bear hunt returned to Ontario. Passage of that bill will finally provide a solution to a problem that no amount of further study will achieve.”