(Queen’s Park) – Simcoe North MPP Garfield Dunlop today demanded that Ontario’s deer and elk farmers be fairly compensated if the Dalton McGuinty Cabinet approves a controversial amendment to Ontario Regulation 665/98 under the Fish and Wildlife Conservation Act.

The amended regulation would eliminate the so-called “hunting of wildlife in captivity”, forcing farmers right out of business, many of whom have invested their entire lives and hundreds of thousands of dollars into raising deer and elk.

“The McGuinty government is set to wipe out an entire industry without mentioning any financial compensation whatsoever for the farmers who will be destroyed in the process,” said Dunlop. “Because the decision only requires Cabinet approval, there will be no opportunity for full and open debate in the Ontario legislature.”

Dunlop believes that the McGuinty government is distorting the facts on this issue by using misleading language that makes its position more appealing to Ontarians. For example, ‘hunting of wildlife in captivity’ implies that deer and elk are being taken from the wild, placed into enclosures and coldly hunted. In reality, the deer and elk are being raised on large farms specifically for a variety of useful purposes. These farm-raised animals are routinely tested for disease and parasites. They are eventually harvested in a humane and traditional manner, but in their natural environment, rather than an abattoir.

“I’ve already invited Natural Resources Minister David Ramsay to my riding to come see one of these first-class farm operations for himself,” said Dunlop. “If his boss Dalton McGuinty truly believes in consulting with people on all sides of an issue, he’ll let the Minister accept my invitation.”

Contacts:
Garfield Dunlop
(705) 327-4500 (cell)