QUEEN’S PARK – Jerry Ouellette MPP for Oshawa and Natural Resources Critic for the Official Opposition voted against an NDP motion calling for another committee to deal with the problem of nuisance bears.
The Oshawa MPP says, “We’ve already had a committee to study this issue and they made their recommendations to the government - we need to respect the hard-earned money of Ontario taxpayers”.
The former PC government under MNR minister Ouellette established the Nuisance Bear Review Committee and its report already has done the work of the committee being proposed.
Angelo Lombardo, Executive Director of the Ontario Federation of Anglers & Hunters agreed, “The OFAH cannot support the thrust of the motion, which appears to be an attempt to avoid discussion and debate of Bill 114, Fish and Wildlife Conservation Amendment Act (Spring Bear Hunt), 2013…”
While the motion narrowly passed in the legislature by a 31-24 margin, it was interesting to note that all three former Ministers of Natural Resources stood and voted against it.
Speaking to the motion, Ouellette was candid about the NDP intent, “I believe that their caucus is extremely divided on it and they don’t want to be on the record on either side of this issue. So they found a compromise that gives them an out, to not have to deal with this issue.”
Vic Fedeli MPP Nipissing highlighted details of the PC northern white paper released last month, which directly address the issue of wildlife management in the north. Fedeli also made it clear, “What is proposed by the NDP is a toothless, non-binding motion they know is just window dressing to appear to be doing something when, in fact, it will do nothing.”
