Regulation - LGIC
Amendment to two regulations under the Fish and Wildlife Conservation Act, 1997 to extend and expand the Black Bear Pilot Project in parts of northern and central Ontario for an additional five years and to regulate the baiting of black bears.
Regulation Number(s):
665/98
670/98
670/98
Instrument Type:
Regulation - LGIC
Bill or Act:
Fish and Wildlife Conservation Act
Summary of Decision:
A decision was made to proceed with the regulatory amendments.
All of the regulation changes came into effect on February 19, 2016.
Amendments to the following regulations under the Fish and Wildlife Conservation Act (FWCA) were made;
A) Ontario Regulation 670/98 (Open Seasons - Wildlife) to establish an open season for black bear in WMUs 1-19, 21-50, 53-64, 66-69, 71-76, 83, the geographic townships of Keppel and Sarawak in 82A and the geographic township of Amabel in 84 from May 1 to June 15 in 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019 and 2020.
B) Ontario Regulation 665/98 (Hunting) to prohibit shooting, or attempting to shoot at, a cub or a female bear accompanied by a cub or cubs during May or June, to establish the mandatory questionnaire relating to the hunting activities carried out during the pilot project, and to establish the rules associated with baiting black bear:
• bait must not be placed within 500 metres of a dwelling unless written permission is obtained from the owner of the land upon which the dwelling is located;
• bait must not be placed within 500 metres of a public building; and
• bait must not be placed within 200 metres of a right of way for public vehicular traffic or a recreational trail that is established and maintained by an organization for use by the general public.
The regulations were filed by the Registrar of Regulations on February 19, 2016 and were published in the Ontario Gazette on March 5, 2016.
All of the regulation changes came into effect on February 19, 2016.
Amendments to the following regulations under the Fish and Wildlife Conservation Act (FWCA) were made;
A) Ontario Regulation 670/98 (Open Seasons - Wildlife) to establish an open season for black bear in WMUs 1-19, 21-50, 53-64, 66-69, 71-76, 83, the geographic townships of Keppel and Sarawak in 82A and the geographic township of Amabel in 84 from May 1 to June 15 in 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019 and 2020.
B) Ontario Regulation 665/98 (Hunting) to prohibit shooting, or attempting to shoot at, a cub or a female bear accompanied by a cub or cubs during May or June, to establish the mandatory questionnaire relating to the hunting activities carried out during the pilot project, and to establish the rules associated with baiting black bear:
• bait must not be placed within 500 metres of a dwelling unless written permission is obtained from the owner of the land upon which the dwelling is located;
• bait must not be placed within 500 metres of a public building; and
• bait must not be placed within 200 metres of a right of way for public vehicular traffic or a recreational trail that is established and maintained by an organization for use by the general public.
The regulations were filed by the Registrar of Regulations on February 19, 2016 and were published in the Ontario Gazette on March 5, 2016.
Further Information:
Link to Environmental Registry
Proposal Number:
15-MNRF020
Posting Date:
October 30, 2015
Summary of Proposal:
Ontario is home to a healthy and sustainable black bear population that contributes to the province's biodiversity. The Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry (MNRF) heard increasingly from Ontario communities that they are concerned about conflicts with bears. In response, in 2014 and 2015 the ministry implemented a two-year spring bear hunting pilot program in eight Wildlife Management Units (13, 14, 29, 30, 36, 39, 41 and 42) to see if it would have effects on human-bear conflicts.
The ministry is now proposing to extend and expand the spring black bear hunting season pilot for an additional 5 years with the following modifications:
• Expand to all Wildlife Management Units (WMUs) that currently have a fall black bear hunting season (i.e., 88 WMUs);
• Increase the scope by adding non-resident hunters; and
• Regulate the baiting of black bears.
The proposed pilot would provide additional data with which to assess the impacts of the spring black bear hunting season and help inform long-term black bear management activities. The pilot is also expected to increase the economic benefits derived from bear hunting for tourist outfitters and local economies. The pilot would begin in the spring of 2016 and end June 15, 2020.
The ministry is now proposing to extend and expand the spring black bear hunting season pilot for an additional 5 years with the following modifications:
• Expand to all Wildlife Management Units (WMUs) that currently have a fall black bear hunting season (i.e., 88 WMUs);
• Increase the scope by adding non-resident hunters; and
• Regulate the baiting of black bears.
The proposed pilot would provide additional data with which to assess the impacts of the spring black bear hunting season and help inform long-term black bear management activities. The pilot is also expected to increase the economic benefits derived from bear hunting for tourist outfitters and local economies. The pilot would begin in the spring of 2016 and end June 15, 2020.
Contact Address:
Effective Date:
February 19, 2016
Decision:
Approved