See more:
Featured Writers,
Pat Trudeau,
Trudeau Talk
Search Omemee Pigeon eFlyer
Custom Search
Monday, May 21, 2012
Laurie Scott Proposes Endangered Species Act Ammendments!
Scott Crusading For Farmers?
by Pat TrudeauMPP Laurie Scott is a woman on a mission. That mission is to make amendments to Ontario’s Endangered Species Act. You see Ms. Scott, a long time critic of the Ministry of Natural Resources, understands how some laws cause complications for local farmers when they are doing something as simple as cutting hay in their field.
Under the current law, if a farmer finds an endangered species nesting in their hay field they have to wait until all that nest's inhabitants have matured enough to leave. Not only is the MPP concerned about farmers forced to cease cultivation, she is concerned that species are added to this list with little or no notification to public.
Scott Private Members Bill Needs Some Facts Checked
In an interview conducted with Kawartha Lakes This Week back in March, she claimed that this bill “virtually destroyed the forestry industry” in Bancroft, because if someone found an endangered species while working on a farm or while logging, they would have to apply for an exemption. Ms. Scott claimed only 1.25% of applications for exemption got approval. Now the problem with this is that the Endangered Species Act came into law in 2007, and as a person who regularly did business in Bancroft during that time I can tell you that the forestry industry had become mostly extinct long before that point. That extinction wasn’t due to applications for exemption being declined, but rather a changing economy that no longer had a need for expensive small market supplied lumber. Now I’m not saying that Ms. Scott doesn’t have a point, I’m just saying that her arsenal of facts is lacking.
Endangered Species Middle Ground Needed
When it comes back to handcuffing farmers I agree 100% - there has to be a better system. I grew up on, and around a lot of farms and know a lot of people who are still in the industry. I’ve seen first hand the impact of politics on farming, some good, some bad. This act seem to have the power to be both.
I’m very much for the preservation of nature, but at the same time, I’m a big supporter of farmers, and have a deep respect for the important role they play in our everyday lives. I’m concerned however, when a politician asks for amendments to a law pertaining to the environment when that politician is a member of a political party which is infamously pro-industry at the sake of the environment. Middle ground needs to be reached to create plausible alternatives to stopping a farmer from doing something as basic, and important, as cutting hay and since the language of this private members bill is largely unknown I have to assume that Ms. Scott is not looking for middle ground but rather toeing the line of the Conservative Party of Canada.
What do you think?
About the Author:
Pat Trudeau - Father, husband and proud Peterborough resident. Pat works in the staffing industry by day and is a photographer by night, running his own business Trudeau Photography (www.trudeauphotography.ca). Always trying to stay current Pat spends far too much time reading news about politics and technology and has been deemed “In House Tech Support” by his family and friends. Having spent his whole life in Peterborough and the surrounding area, Pat is passionate about all things Kawarthas. His unique opinion that isn’t always popular and but Pat always values open conversation. You can find him on Twitter at @pattrudeau and @trudeauphotog
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
No comments:
Post a Comment
TERMS OF USE
Those who post comments are accountable for the opinions they express, and the accuracy of the information they furnish. While we encourage writers to utilize this service on our site, we also strongly suggest they treat it as public forum where good taste counts. We reserve the right to decline for approval objectionable material from this site.
Writers that include profanity or personal attacks or other inappropriate comments - such as racist language, threats or comments unrelated to the story - will not be approved. Also, entries that are unsigned or signatures by someone other than the actual writer will not be approved.
While writers can still post anonymously, we strongly suggest that they do not do so.
Opinions, guidance and other information expressed in Omemee Pigeon eFlyer comments and by contributors to the Omemee Pigeon eFlyer, represent the individuals'; own views and are not necessarily those of the Omemee Pigeon eFlyer. The Omemee Pigeon eFlyer furnishes this type of forum and does not endorse and is not accountable for statements or advice from anyone other than an designated Omemee Pigeon eFlyer spokesperson.