Reaction To Makeshift Spring Bear Hunt

The Ontario Government is once again allowing the hunting of bears this spring but it appears the changes will have little impact on the Kenora district.
The Ministry of Natural Resources has introduced a limited hunt for Spring 2014 and 2015, but states the pilot program will only be offered in certain parts of the north including Thunder Bay.
John Vanthof is the Natural Resources Critic for the NDP and he notes it’s a step backwards.
Vanthof says it makes no sense to open the hunt up to certain parts of the north, when other areas are suffering from a nuisance bear problem.
He calls it a typical Liberal “scatter-gun” approach.
Town and City councils will have to pass resolutions to open the door to bear hunting within their municipal boundaries.
Vanthof notes bear management shouldn’t be a municipal responsibility.
He is standing behind an NDP proposal to establish a committee of four MPP’s.
Vanthof says that committee would have the power to tour the north and get input from local residents.
He stresses they would be responsible for coming up with a funded program that will help with the nuisance bear problem as well as look at the feasibility of reinstating the Spring Bear hunt on a full time basis.
Under the proposed pilot, hunting bear cubs or females with cubs would be illegal.
The hunt would be for Ontario residents only and would run from May 1st to June 15th.