I strongly oppose the…

I strongly oppose the Ministry’s proposal to reduce oversight and expand opportunities for trappers and fur dealers. Ontario should be moving away from commercialized trapping, not making it easier.

1. Cruelty disguised as “burden reduction”
Traps cause pain, fear, and prolonged suffering no matter how they’re regulated. Calling these changes “streamlining” or “burden reduction” is a way of hiding the truth — this is about loosening rules that already don’t go far enough to protect animals. Humane trapping is a myth. These animals suffer in steel jaws, snares, and cages before dying. Nothing about that is “burden reduction” — it’s cruelty reduction for humans at the cost of animals.

2. Public land, private profit
Allowing trappers more freedom on Crown land means public land is being used for private gain. Wildlife does not belong to trappers or fur dealers; it belongs to all Ontarians, including those of us who value these animals alive in our ecosystems. This proposal hands over more control to a small group whose primary goal is profit, not stewardship.

3. Risk to ecosystems and non-target species
Looser restrictions mean more mistakes, less accountability, and more collateral damage. Non-target species are always caught in traps — pets, endangered animals, and others. Weakening reporting and oversight makes it harder to track these impacts. The claim that there will be “minimal environmental consequences” is baseless without transparent, independent ecological assessments.

4. Out of step with public values
The majority of Ontarians do not support expanding the fur trade or commercial trapping. More and more people expect governments to prioritize coexistence, animal welfare, and conservation. Instead of catering to an outdated and declining industry, Ontario should be investing in education, coexistence strategies, and modern nonlethal solutions.

5. Regressive policy for short-term gain
This proposal looks backward, not forward. It prioritizes a declining, ethically controversial industry over ecological integrity and public trust. We should be strengthening oversight, closing loopholes, and planning for a future where wildlife is respected — not doubling down on practices the rest of the world is moving away from.

In short: Ontario should not reduce regulations for trappers or open new profit streams in animal by-products. This does not serve the public good, it serves a narrow interest at the expense of animals, ecosystems, and public values. I urge you to withdraw this proposal and instead put forward policies that reduce animal suffering, strengthen oversight, and promote coexistence.