Wow this could cost us

[mark270wsm]

just read this on another site checking out rainbow trout run and came across this

The Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources (MNR) has a broad mandate that includes the sustainable management of fish and wildlife. This diverse program includes resource management activities such as enforcement, resource monitoring, policy and program development, resource allocation, licensing, research, and fish stocking.
Ontarian’s benefit from healthy fish and wildlife resources through recreation, employment, tourism and spin-off benefits to the biodiversity of Ontario’s ecosystems. Ontario has 1.32 million licenced anglers and over 400,000 hunters. The 2010 Survey of Recreational Fishing in Canada estimates the value of Ontario's recreational fisheries at $2.5 billion and hunting is estimated to contribute another $1.8 billion. Together, recreational fishing and hunting provide more than $4 billion to the Ontario economy. In addition, commercial fishing harvests of approximately $35 – 40 million in fish annually create additional economic value through the processing and retail sale of resultant food products. However, trends in fishing and hunting participation, demographics and the economy are impacting the funding available for MNR’s fish and wildlife program and Ontario's resource-based tourism industry which includes approximately 1,575 licensed tourist operators generating hundreds of millions of dollars in revenues annually, and account for a significant portion of tourism revenue for Northern Ontario.
MNR’s Fish and Wildlife program is supported by the consolidated revenue fund (CRF) which includes general provincial taxes and a Special Purpose Account (SPA). In 1995, the SPA was established through the Fish and Wildlife Conservation Act (FWCA) ensuring revenues from licence sales, permits, royalties, fines and fees be used exclusively to fund MNR’s fish and wildlife program. The rules for managing this fund are governed by the Province’s Special Purpose Account Policy (2003).
This program costs approximately $100M annually to deliver programs and services across Ontario, with 67% of funding from the SPA and 33% from CRF. Trends in licence sales and participation in fishing and hunting have changed since the 1995 establishment of the Fish and Wildlife SPA. For example, the number of licenced anglers has declined over the past 15 years from 1.61M in 1995 to 1.26M in 2010 (Source: Department of Fisheries and Oceans). Based on the demographic profile of current licensees and declines in angling participation, MNR will need to reduce fish and wildlife program expenditures starting in 2015 in order to maintain a positive SPA balance. In a recent Consumer Research Survey (Harris/Decima 2013), clients and the public were asked about their preferences for trade-offs given this forecast, and 95% of respondents favoured alternatives to increase funding and sustain the program through various new revenue initiatives over program and service delivery reductions. Only 5% of respondents supported the reduction of the fish and wildlife management program.
Jurisdictions in the US and Canadian western provinces have demonstrated that new, innovative strategies to address fish and wildlife program funding sustainability can be successful by using a blend of initiatives such as new licence offerings to better meet client needs, broadening the client base beyond traditional users, increased transparency and public reporting to show how licence dollars are spent, cost efficiencies, diversification of revenue streams, improved client services to respond to emerging needs, and targeted marketing.
The draft Sustainability Strategy for the Fish and Wildlife Special Purpose Account, 2014-2019 proposes to stabilize and moderately increase revenues to the Fish and Wildlife SPA through a variety of goals, strategies and tactics including strategic review of licences, diversifying revenue streams, marketing and promotion, cost efficiencies, and transparent reporting. Should the strategy be approved, some regulatory change proposals may follow.
The Strategy proposes three goals to sustain fish and wildlife programming well into the future:
1. Increase Fish and Wildlife SPA revenue by enhancing relationships with existing clients, increasing participation, and diversifying revenues
2. Apply Fair Cost Recovery and Value by ensuring licence fees and royalty rates are transparent and based on costs, benefits and a fair rate of return to the Province for the use of the resource
3. Enhance Efficiency by improving program efficiency and finding opportunities for savings thereby allowing more fiscal resources to be directed to fish and wildlife conservation.
The proposed strategies and tactics focus on:
• Enhancing relationships with clients
• Increasing involvement by attracting new participants
• Diversifying revenues
• Improving cost recovery
• Modernizing fees and royalties
• Collaborating with partners to achieve shared goals
To comment on this ebr go to this link... This may cost us higher for fishing and hunting
http://www.ebr.gov.on.ca/ERS-WEB-Ext...Uy&language=en

[rick_iles]

I don't think there is any doubt we sportspersons, will be hit with increases to licence fees etc..

[JMatthews]

I agree that it will soon cost us more. I guess buying a 3 year card wasn't such a bad idea after all.

[MikePal]

They could easily triple the cost of the Outdoor Card and it would still be a great deal for the privilege to hunt and fish in this province. One of the cheapest 'cost' we incur to enjoy life.

....I had a Cream Egg McFlurry at Mc's yesterday and it cost more the Outdoors card for a yr.

[trimmer21]

This comment could come back to bite me in the arse (I just turned 65),but,with the increasing number of seniors in this province who are no longer required to buy fishing licenses,it might be time to re-visit that policy. The number must easily be into the tens of thousands.OK,let the arse kickin' begin.LOL

[Bluebulldog]

This comment could come back to bite me in the arse (I just turned 65),but,with the increasing number of seniors in this province who are no longer required to buy fishing licenses,it might be time to re-visit that policy. The number must easily be into the tens of thousands.OK,let the arse kickin' begin.LOL

My dad is one of them.

Let's not ignore however that every province ( except QC) also allows seniors a free pass for fishing. Seniors are predominantly a very strong voting force ( they represent one of the single greatest demographics that actually goes to the polls).

Somehow I think politicians will not take that one on.

We still enjoy relatively cheap license fees across the board.

[Bo D]

[QUOTE=MikePal;785279]They could easily triple the cost of the Outdoor Card and it would still be a great deal for the privilege to hunt and fish in this province. One of the cheapest 'cost' we incur to enjoy life.

As a tax payer and land owner as you are, I don't see where you come up with the idea that it's a privilege to hunt and fish in this province. I have bought a fishing licence, hunting licence, dog licence's, which by the way is a rip off, for well over 40 years. Believe me, I've more than paid my way. It isn't a privilege, it's a right...

[woody1948]

I agree 100% with Bo D, the attitude that we should pay and then pay more is out of date. Time for better management of the monies we pay is what is needed. Out with the Liberals, shoot, I forgot, I won't be here to vote.

[rick_iles]

I agree 100% with Bo D, the attitude that we should pay and then pay more is out of date. Time for better management of the monies we pay is what is needed. Out with the Liberals, shoot, I forgot, I won't be here to vote.

You mean you won't be up at Badd to search for a deer ??

[mox72]

I see the argument of both sides......

If you compare hunting/fishing to other hobbies, like going to the movies for example it is a bargain. 10 bucks at the theatre gets you 2 hours of entertainment, a small game tag can provide months of entertainment.

On the other hand, we should have the right to provide food for ourselves....but if everyone thought that way would there be any hunting opportunities left?