O.F.A.H. Letter to the Editor on Bill C-50

OFAH FILE: 790AC/828
August 24, 2005

The Editor
Ottawa Citizen
1101 Baxter Road, Box 5020
Ottawa, Ontario
K2C 3M4

Dear Editor:

Liberal M.P., Mark Holland, (Citizen, August 18) said organizations such as the Ontario Federation of Anglers and Hunters (O.F.A.H.) do not have genuine concerns regarding changes to animal cruelty laws proposed in Bill C-50. He is wrong.

A Toronto Star editorial described the proposed law as "a measure that will make this country a world leader in animal rights."

Animal rights organizations seek an end to all uses of animals by people. To them, all fishing and hunting are cruel. Clearly, the influence of such organizations has reached the highest levels of government. How else can you explain a proposed law that would for the first time in Canadian history elevate animals, such fishes (yes, fishes!), to their own unique status in the Criminal Code of Canada. Here is an example to illustrate the potential consequences of Bill C-50:

For many of us who supplement the family table with wholesome food from the wild, we dispatch freshly caught fish with a hand-held club we refer to as "a fish bonker." This is neither a brutal nor a vicious practice, but C-50 means that fishes are to be equal to domestic cats, in law, and no definition of terms such as brutal is provided.

Anglers and hunters respect wildlife and use it wisely, but will resist being made criminals instantaneously because animal rights advocates want to impose their moral philosophy upon everyone. We are supporting Liberal Senator John Bryden’s alternative, Bill S-24. For further information please visit www.ofah.org

Sincerely yours,

Michael A. Reader
Executive Director
Ontario Federation of Anglers and Hunters
4601 Guthrie Drive, Box 2800
Peterborough, Ontario K9J 8M5
Ph 705-748-6324/Fax 705-748-9577