As the current council term draws to a close, councillors finally received a response from the Ministry of Natural Resources
On Nov. 22, Wellington North Township received a letter from Linda Jeffrey, Minister of Natural Resources, in response to concerns about coyotes and livestock claims due to wildlife predation.
Jeffrey wrote, “The Ministry of Natural Resources (MNR), in association with the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs (OMAFRA), is committed to working with the agricultural community to prevent and address agriculture-wildlife conflict.”
She noted that on Aug. 20, OMAFRA posted on its website a discussion paper reflecting a joint OMAFRA-MNR initiative to enhance outreach and collaboration with the agricultural community.
“This discussion paper also speaks to OMAFRA’s proposal to enhance compensation programs for farmers who experience livestock damage due to wildlife – wolves, coyotes, and bears – predation. You can view the discussion paper at omafra.gov.on.calenglish/livestock/discussionpaper20aug2010.htm.”
Jeffrey added, “The Ontario government is proposing an agriculture-wildlife conflict strategy to complement the province’s Strategy for Preventing and Managing Human-Wildlife Conflicts in Ontario (2008).”
Components of the strategy would include:
– the promotion of producer awareness through developing and enhancing information resources available to producers;
– improving programs tools available for producers; and
– greater cooperation between OMAFRA and MNR in providing a coordinated response to the issue.
She stated if the municipality requires more information about specific measures farmers and landowners can take to protect their property from coyotes, to contact Al Murray, Area Supervisor in the Guelph District Office, at (519) 826-4914.
Council received the correspondence as information only.