News

FEDELI VOICES LOCAL BEAR CONCERNS

QUEEN’S PARK – Nipissing MPP Vic Fedeli spoke out on behalf of local municipalities
in the Ontario Legislature today regarding ongoing concerns with nuisance bears.

The text of Fedeli’s Members’ Statement is as follows:

Speaker, communities in Nipissing are continuing to struggle with the problem of
nuisance bears. They note there continues to be a large number of human
encounters annually, which tie up police resources and personnel, costing local
taxpayers significant dollars.

Municipalities note the Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry is currently
assessing the success of the spring bear hunt pilot project established in eight
locations in the North, but they also note the Ontario Federation of Anglers and
Hunters advises the annual hunt is a successful wildlife management tool that
minimizes human encounters and brings $40 million in economic activity to
Ontario.

The City of North Bay and Township of Chisholm passed resolutions this summer
asking that the annual spring bear hunt be reinstated permanently and be allowed
to continue during the province’s review of the two-year pilot project.
I can tell you about my own personal experiences with bears coming onto my
property in Corbeil, and in fact, Patti and I just saw another bear while driving to a
ratepayers meeting a couple Fridays ago.

To the Minister, I’d say this – you know that Northerners know what the solution to
this problem is, and we’ve always known. It’s time to listen.

Video of Fedeli’s statement can be found online here:

For more information, or to arrange an interview, contact:
Clint Thomas
Executive Assistant
(416) 325-3434 or (416) 710-1752