HomeMy WebLinkAboutCLD-024-05
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REPORT
CLERK'S DEPARTMENT
Meeting:
GENERAL PURPOSE AND ADMINISTRATION COMMITTEE
Date:
May 24, 2005
Report #: CLD-024-05
File#:
By-law #:
Subject:
SUNDAY HUNTING
RECOMMENDATIONS:
It is respectfully recommended that the General Purpose and Administration Committee
recommend to Council the following:
1. THAT Report CLD-024-05 be received; and
2. THAT the Minister of Natural Resources be advised that the Municipality of Clarington
does not support the proposal to allow Sunday gun hunting.
Submitted by:i
O~~UL
Reviewed by: Franklin Wu,
Chief Administrative Officer
PLB
CORPORATION OF THE MUNICIPALITY OF CLARINGTON
40 TEMPERANCE STREET, BOWMANVILLE, ONTARIO L 1 C 3A6 T 905-623-3379 F 905-623-6506
REPORT NO.: CLD-024-05
PAGE 2 OF 3
BACKGROUND AND COMMENT
On April 18, 2005, Council received correspondence from the Ministry of Natural Resources
seeking our support to allow Sunday gun hunting in the Municipality.
Most of the Sunday hunting regulations were implemented in the 1950s. Currently gun and
archery hunting on Sundays is allowed in northern Ontario, archery hunting on Sundays in
southern Ontario and gun hunting on Sundays in some areas in the southern part of the
province. Where municipalities have specifically asked that Sunday gun hunting be allowed,
the Ministry agreed to those request in the regulations resulting in the present regulatory
situation.
Under the current regulatory scheme, Sunday hunting using guns is permitted in the following
areas south of the French and Mattawa Rivers:
. the County of Renfrew, other than the Township of Raglan
. the United Counties of Prescott and Russell
. the Township of Haldimand in the County of Northumberland
. the Townships of East Ferris, Bonfield, Calvin, Papineau-Cameron and Boyd in the
territorial District of Nippissing
Additionally, under the current regulatory scheme, Sunday gun hunting/use of guns is allowed:
. on licensed game bird hunting preserves
. for protection of property, including agricultural deer removal authorizations
. for target shooting
The Ministry advises that farmers have increasingly expressed concerns about crop damage
from increasing populations of some wildlife species, causing many in the farming community
to ask for amendments to hunting regulations as one means of helping address the problem.
REPORT NO.: CLD.024-05
PAGE 3 OF 3
In an attempt to curb the deer population, the Ministry has increased season lengths to the
east of the Municipality of Clarington and in several other areas across Southern Ontario.
Also, they are allowing hunters to purchase more than one tag to harvest more deer.
The Ministry divides the province into Wildlife Management Units (WMUs). Clarington is
located in WMU 72A, 72B and 73 (see map attached hereto as Attachment No.1). WMU 72B
is the area bounded by Townline Road on the west, Taunton Road on the north, Highway
35/115 on the east and Lake Ontario on the south. This area is an archery-only hunting area,
ie, deer hunting can only occur with a bow and arrow and only during the period of October 1
to December 31. Other species can be hunted using guns in this area during the appropriate
hunting season. When archery hunting, Sunday hunting is allowed. In the rest of the
Municipality, hunters can use guns for any species during the appropriate hunting seasons.
In May 2001, the Municipality amended its hunting by-law to address concerns brought forward
by residents. In so doing, we communicated with many interested parties and were able to
incorporate aspects into the by-law which have helped to address these concerns include a
ban on the discharge of firearms around public centres. Since the by-law was passed, the
Municipal Law Enforcement Division has received no complaints related to hunting activities.
Amending the regulations now to allow for Sunday hunting will undoubtedly bring forward
many concerns once again from those residents who live in the rural areas.
Recently, we have been experiencing an increase in livestock damage related to coyotes. The
current regulations do allow for farmers to discharge guns on Sundays to protect their livestock
against this type of attack.
Given that our by-law is working well and that farmers are able to protect their livestock seven
days a week under the current regulations, it is recommended that the Municipality of
Clarington advise the Ministry of Natural Resources that we do not support Sunday gun
hunting.
ATTACHMENT # I TO
REPORT # CL.o -0,;2.,"\:-0 S"
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