Act
Proposal to allow the issuance of licences for new dog train and trial areas and the transfer of licences
Regulation Number(s):
N/A
Instrument Type:
Act
Bill or Act:
Fish and Wildlife Conservation Act, 1997
Summary of Decision:
We have made a decision to amend the Fish and Wildlife Conservation Act, 1997, and associated regulations, to allow for the issuance of licences of new dog train and trial areas through a one-time application period and to allow for the transfer of licences.
Analysis of Regulatory Impact:
The anticipated environmental consequences of the proposal are expected to be neutral. Coyote and red fox may be obtained through lawful trapping activity (e.g., on registered traplines). Licensed train and trial areas may obtain rabbits from existing licensed facilities or by obtaining ministry authorization to acquire rabbits. These species have sustainable populations and there are no sustainability concerns with limited take of small numbers for licensed train and trial areas.
The anticipated economic consequences of the proposal are expected to be largely neutral to positive. The legislation would enable licences to be issued to new persons who were previously unable to obtain a licence. This removes barriers and creates an opportunity for new persons to participate in the existing regulatory framework.
A person interested in obtaining a licence to own and operate a new train and trial facility, or assuming a licence to own and operate an existing train and trial facility from an existing licence holder, would be responsible for meeting existing regulatory requirements and for applying for a licence to own and operate a train and trial area and paying the associated existing licence fee ($100) on an annual basis. No changes to the existing licence fees are proposed.
Licence holders are responsible for any costs associated with facility maintenance and operation.
The regulation has also been amended to prohibit dog train and trial area licence holders from keeping cottontail and snowshoe hares that have been imported into Ontario. This amendment was made to prevent the introduction of rabbit hemorrhagic disease through dog train and trial areas. Currently there are only five persons who hold a licence to operate a dog train and trial area that permit the keeping of cottontail or snowshoe hare. None of these five licence holders obtain their cottontail/snowshoe hare from imported sources; they all obtain their animals from within Ontario.
The changes provide an opportunity to establish new train and trial areas in Ontario. The changes support the continued operation of licensed dog train and trial areas and offer benefits to persons who use dogs to hunt or track wildlife, or who run their dogs in trialing competitions, as they would continue to have access to dedicated space for dog training and trialing to avoid conflicts with other land and resource users.
The anticipated economic consequences of the proposal are expected to be largely neutral to positive. The legislation would enable licences to be issued to new persons who were previously unable to obtain a licence. This removes barriers and creates an opportunity for new persons to participate in the existing regulatory framework.
A person interested in obtaining a licence to own and operate a new train and trial facility, or assuming a licence to own and operate an existing train and trial facility from an existing licence holder, would be responsible for meeting existing regulatory requirements and for applying for a licence to own and operate a train and trial area and paying the associated existing licence fee ($100) on an annual basis. No changes to the existing licence fees are proposed.
Licence holders are responsible for any costs associated with facility maintenance and operation.
The regulation has also been amended to prohibit dog train and trial area licence holders from keeping cottontail and snowshoe hares that have been imported into Ontario. This amendment was made to prevent the introduction of rabbit hemorrhagic disease through dog train and trial areas. Currently there are only five persons who hold a licence to operate a dog train and trial area that permit the keeping of cottontail or snowshoe hare. None of these five licence holders obtain their cottontail/snowshoe hare from imported sources; they all obtain their animals from within Ontario.
The changes provide an opportunity to establish new train and trial areas in Ontario. The changes support the continued operation of licensed dog train and trial areas and offer benefits to persons who use dogs to hunt or track wildlife, or who run their dogs in trialing competitions, as they would continue to have access to dedicated space for dog training and trialing to avoid conflicts with other land and resource users.
Further Information:
Link to Environmental Registry
Proposal Number:
23-MNRF002
Posting Date:
April 3, 2023
Summary of Proposal:
Please read proposal in its entirety on the Environmental Registry of Ontario under ERO number 019-3685.
Contact Address:
Public Input Coordinator
Ministry of Natural Resources
Fish and Wildlife Policy Branch
300 Water Street
Peterborough, ON K9J 3C7
705 755 1940
wildlifepolicy@ontario.ca
Ministry of Natural Resources
Fish and Wildlife Policy Branch
300 Water Street
Peterborough, ON K9J 3C7
705 755 1940
wildlifepolicy@ontario.ca
Royal Assent Date:
June 8, 2024
Decision:
Approved