The Ontario Federation of Anglers and Hunters (O.F.A.H.) with 81,000 members and 660 member clubs across Ontario, is urging the Provincial government to reallocate some of the money it spends on the Nuisance Bear Program to help keep the Leslie M. Frost Natural Resources Centre open.
“The O.F.A.H. has always maintained that the return of the spring bear hunt in some form would greatly alleviate nuisance bear problems and save Ontario taxpayers millions of dollars, in addition to the costs absorbed by local municipalities and the Ontario Provincial Police,” said Mike Reader, O.F.A.H. Executive Director. “We have always believed that the millions allocated by the government to address the nuisance bear problem is excessive, that the problem could be addressed in other ways, which would give the government the fiscal resources to continue operating the Frost Centre. In the meantime, we are urging the Minister to look at reallocating $1.2 million from this program to keep the Frost Centre operating.”
Mr. Reader also noted that the O.F.A.H. had received a number of calls from both its members and the public, asking the Federation to step in and try to save the Frost Centre. “We have written to the Minister and O.F.A.H. staff have offered to meet with him at the earliest possible opportunity to examine ways of keeping this valuable institution open. Staff are willing to look at the financial records to determine whether the O.F.A.H. could play a role in the ongoing operation of the Centre, and have the necessary discussion with our Board of Directors to determine a role for the O.F.A.H. in this issue.”