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Ministry's wolf strategv a concern, says tederation Receit postings by the Minis511y ni Natural Resotirces ÇMNR) on) the Envionmental Bill ni Rights EFBR) Regisirs' are a cause loi- concerro loi- many Ontari o lriis. 'llie Ontario Fedieration oi Agriculture lOFA) secs no reason lor the MNR proposais iii proiect ssoll'and coyote populatimns from huniers and trappers. Tue tninistry's ossn caiculations tell us the woli pop- ulatimn in Ontario stands ai more ihan 8,800. making tf the largest woll population in any North Americani jurisdiction. The OFA and the farmers reguiariy bit by the prey- ing nf woives and coyotes sec o scîentific justifica- tin for the impiemnentation of closed woif and coyote hunting and trapping seasons. Ontario farmers recognize the benefits of heaithy ecosystems and the mile piayed by predators such as wolves and coyotes in maintaining the ecnsystem. Wnives and coyotes, bowever, prey on faon animais and pouitry as weii as deer and moose and cause severe economic insses for farmers. The OFA supports initiatives 10 deveiop a better set- enîific basis for making wol management decisions, and reminds the MNR ihat appropriate decisions canit be made in an information vacuum. 0f particular concem to the OFA and its 40,00 members aeross Ontario is the MNR's decîsion 10 extend the woif harvesi coîtmois 10 coyotes. Information gained from compensation records'cicar- y indicates that coyotes are the primary cause of loss- es of iivestock and pouitry iii Ontario. The OFA can't accept ude MNR premise that coyotes menit the same protection as woives when the mn- j istry's owtt information states ihat coyotes oniy appeared in Ontario at the beginning of the 20th cen- tury. There's no historie reasnn to protect coyotes from hunting and trapping. The OFA can agree with the MNR's search for cffec- OFA Harry rne Commentary tîve and low-cosi options to reduce livestock losses. In spite of ail measures taken. however, wiidlite preda- tion wiil occur. CLirrent compensation coverage for wildite predation needs to be revised and updated. Any additionai costs put on the farm community because of this latesi initiative must be met with enhanced financiai support. Farmers must have the abiiity 10 proteet and defend their iivestock. The OFA and its members aren't pre- pared to accept the restrictions being proposed by the MNR if they negativeiy iimii the abiiity of the farmer to respond to woif and coyote predation. There has been no demnonstrated need for the manda- tory reporting ni wolt and coyote harvests as ciescribed in the minisry*s EBR Registry proposai. Statislics provided by the ministry indicate no justification 10 timit the numher of hunters and trappers tbrough mandatory iicensing. The OFA is opposed t0 the min- isiry's proposai 10 impose a timit of îwo hiunting seais per year on huniers and trappers. Instead, the OFA %souid recomrmend a reasonahie iimii on the number of seais made availabie, in partic- ular Wiidiife Management Units, and free distribution until the limît bas been reached. The OFA wiil take ils concemns with the MNR's pro- posais to govemmrrent officiais and encourages farmers across the province 10 discuss these issues with iheir eiected MPP. Harr ' Brander is a nîcothi.r of« the Ontairio Federatioît o/lAgiciultu-e executiî'e 'onirnitee. Fishers and huntgers are prone3 to» hypothiermnia. Wear a PFD and Iayiered clo»thing. Canadian Red Cross NUTRITION NOTES Did you know.. 1 in 5 Canadian children are flot getting the recommended five servings of fruits and vegetables they require daily. I-lion Food for Thought Contact Program Coordinator 905-845-5597 ext. 201 food forthought@ cogeco.ca J ~ IsO~4 to £6(4': -QOr c*,~ iIî~: * (:004 c utça~ '..1.~4. YGer-..-og~.~41Q CO«tc*~ ~ O-Q W~.10 6~t * L~,tt r. ShMan Champion Country, Tuesday, January 4, 2005--13 IVe b~el;eve. 1;14 h I Anyone. Anywhere. PLEASEGIVEI888-31-343