QUEEN’S PARK — Mike Schreiner released the following statement as the government prepares to pass legislation that will expand the practice of penned dog hunting in Ontario.
“I am deeply disturbed about the government’s proposal to allow new licences and transfers for penned dog hunting facilities, or ‘train and trial’ areas, in Ontario.
A previous government began to phase out new train and trial areas in 1997 – for good reason.
Twenty-five years later, the Premier’s move to grant licences for new train and trial spaces, and to allow existing licences to be transferred to new owners, is a giant step backwards.
Penned hunting is incredibly cruel to the coyotes, foxes, and rabbits that are used as live bait. It also poses risks to the dogs being trained.
No other Canadian province permits penned dog hunting. These facilities have no place in Ontario.
Instead of opening new applications, the government should prioritise strengthening the existing legislation that bans new facilities, and shutting down the few that remain.
I call on the government to strike schedule 14 of Bill 91 and stop this cruel and inhumane proposal in its tracks.”