O.F.A.H. Applauds Prime Minister’s Comments

O.F.A.H. Applauds Prime Minister’s Comments
Keynote Speech at O.F.A.H. Conference strongly supports Outdoor Community

The Ontario Federation of Anglers and Hunters (O.F.A.H.), the largest non-profit conservation based organization in Ontario, was delighted to welcome the Right Honourable Stephen Harper, Prime Minister of Canada, to the O.F.A.H. 81st Annual General Meeting and Fish & Wildlife Conference in Mississauga on Saturday March 21, 2009.

"The outdoor community across Canada contributes billions each year to the national economy, which helps to create jobs, supports local economies and funds conservation programs for fish and wildlife," said O.F.A.H. Executive Director, Mike Reader. "A strong partnership between the outdoor community and the federal government is critical for the development and delivery of core programs in support of these activities. It was clear in his speech to almost 600 conference and youth delegates, that the Prime Minister has a real understanding of the contributions that wildlife federations across the country make to the restoration, conservation and enhancement of fish and wildlife species. We also appreciated the Prime Minister’s continued support for scrapping the badly flawed long gun registry and his government’s attempts to deal with the root causes of crime which has nothing to do with legal, licensed, law-abiding hunters, farmers and recreational sport shooters."

Mr. Reader also noted that the vast majority of public opinion polls over the last four years, including the most recent one taken by City Pulse News in Toronto, have demonstrated that the general public favors elimination of the long gun registry and recognizes that it has done nothing to enhance public safety.

The hundreds of delegates attending the Conference, some from as far away as Alberta, Saskatchewan and Nova Scotia, enjoyed a diverse program featuring workshops and presentations on timely issues like the provincial moose review; hydro-electric power, species restoration and the future of hunting and fishing, highlighted by the Prime Minister’s appearance.

With over 100,000 members and supporters and 655 member clubs across the province, the O.F.A.H., through partnerships with wildlife federations and outdoor organizations across Canada, and communications vehicles like Ontario OUT OF DOORS magazine and Angler & Hunter Television, is the voice of anglers and hunters in Ontario.

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