Beaver populations are under…

Beaver populations are under increasing pressure due to loss of habitat to development and agriculture in Ontario. This proposal encourages increased harvest pressure by broadening both the participation in and the market for trapped beaver products. Once started and the market expands then these decisions are more and more difficult to reverse as beaver populations may reach critical thresholds that are yet unknown and could lead to local extirpations. Furthermore, trapping of Beavers is an inherently cruel and unnecessary action that supports a backward and inhumane industry that in reality only supports the livelihoods of very very few individuals in the province. Investment in retraining should be a priority for trappers rather than the public trust being used to support an inhumane industry that most Ontarians certainly believe is no longer required in the 21st Century. Trapping practices and this legislation change surrounding them first need to be assessed in order to prioritize animal welfare, be in line with evidence based decision making and current scientific knowledge about sentience and ecosystem integrity. A forward looking Ontarian society should aim to be reducing completely unnecessary cruelty rather than fostering more of it and making it easier by reducing reporting requirements. Moreover, expanding the season for trapping and allowing this on crown-land should on the basis of a short consultation period, to my mind, simply shows that the government has made this decision at the behest of hunting and trapping lobbyists and the very short public comment period is proof of this. The comment period should be increased substantially so that Ontarians can be made aware and have their say. I sincerely, hope that opposition to this legislation change is taken seriously by legislators. After all, the Canadian Beaver is not only an icon of this country but it is also a de-facto keystone species that creates and maintains wetlands which are critical to numerous endangered species and threatened species in Ontario and Canada. Increasing harvesting pressure on these animals is short-sighted and politically motivated rather than scientifically informed and rational.