Minister promises full funding to M.N.R. flagship environmental program

OFAH File: 842
June 9, 2006

For Immediate Release

Minister promises full funding to M.N.R. flagship environmental program
O.F.A.H. congratulates the Minister for supporting Ontario’s volunteers

Great news! Full funding for the M.N.R.’s flagship environmental program has been saved, and the Ontario Federation of Anglers and Hunters is congratulating Natural Resources Minister David Ramsay for his commitment to the tens of thousands of volunteers who make fish and wildlife conservation work happen throughout the province.

Yesterday, in response to a question from Conservative MNR Critic Norm Miller, the Minister promised to provide the full funding — $1 million annually — to the M.N.R. Community Fisheries and Wildlife Involvement Program (CFWIP).

“We wish to thank the Minister for listening and acting on the serious concerns raised by the Ontario Federation of Anglers and Hunters. Thousands of outdoors clubs and volunteers will be relieved to hear that the Ontario government is committed to supporting over 600 on-the-ground conservation projects funded every year through CFWIP,” said O.F.A.H. Executive Director, Mike Reader. “However, the threat to this and dozens of other M.N.R. programs will continue until the government restores full funding to the province’s fish and wildlife program.”

Last week, the O.F.A.H. sounded the alarm when government sources confirmed that funding for CFWIP was slashed by 50 percent. CFWIP is a cost sharing program that, every year, according to M.N.R. sources, inspires about 35,000 volunteers to get their hands dirty with 600 on-the-ground projects such as stream restoration, fish stocking, tree planting, erosion control, spawning bed and fish ladder construction. CFWIP funding has been used to build nesting structures for birds, and school groups have benefited from CFWIP to turn school yards into more natural environments.

“We are pleased that Minister Ramsay has set the record straight on the Ontario government’s commitment to grassroots conservation work. The O.F.A.H. will continue to be vigilant in ensuring the future of the CFWIP initiative,” said Reader.

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