Bill C-655: Interfering with Hunting, Trapping, Fishing or Sport Shooting

[awndray]

From the CSSA newsletter:

Recently, a foolish anti-hunting protester in Australia was injured after wading into the water in front of duck hunters in the middle of an active hunt. Curiously, despite the Darwinian nature of the incident, it made international news. Along with a large number of fellow anti-duck hunting protestors, this woman wanted to “save” the downed ducks in the water. She felt that placing herself into the middle of a duck hunt was a smart thing to do.

It wasn’t. A young hunter going after a low-flying bird took a shot and some of the pellets hit the individual in the face, drawing blood – but thankfully, not seriously wounding the woman.

While this incident happened in Australia, the same interference with lawful hunting activities has happened here in Canada as well.

This past October Rob Seal and Kyle Dittmer were hunting geese on private property in Ontario. A woman confronted the two hunters and scared off all the geese by honking her vehicle’s horn and yelling at the two men. That wasn’t enough, however. When the men didn’t leave the private land where they were hunting legally, she came back and photographed them and their vehicle licence plates – even grabbed the cell phone Rob Seal was using to video record her antics.

In Ontario this harassment is a crime.

The Ontario Fish and Wildlife Conservation Act section 13.1 states:
13.(1) A person shall not interfere with lawful hunting, trapping or fishing by,
(a) tampering with traps, nets, bait, firearms or any other thing used for hunting, trapping or fishing;
(b) placing himself or herself in a position, for the purpose of interfering, that hinders or prevents hunting, trapping or fishing; or
(c) engaging in an activity, for the purpose of interfering, that disturbs or is likely to disturb wildlife or fish.

Fines for violating this section of provincial law range from a warning up to $25,000 and a year in jail.

A news report stated a resident had been charged with violating this Act, saying:

“Hunting is a legal activity and it’s highly regulated, more than a lot of activities, in the province of Ontario and people should be aware of that. The reason it’s highly regulated is to make it safe and humane for those animals and I don’t believe that’s always fully understood,” said Russell Brandon, the Aylmer-area enforcement manager for the Ministry of Natural Resources (MNR).

While interfering with lawful hunting is a provincial crime in Ontario, it is not against the law in many other parts of Canada.

Interfering with Hunting, Trapping, Fishing or Sport Shooting

Garry Breitkreuz, federal M.P. for Yorkton-Melville, Saskatchewan, aims to change that with his Private Member’s Bill C-655, An Act to Amend the Criminal Code (Interfering with Hunting, Trapping, Fishing or Sport Shooting). If passed into law, it would be a federal crime to interfere with these lawful activities, essentially taking the Ontario provincial statute and making it federal law under the Criminal Code of Canada.

Penalties under this proposed law would include a maximum fine of $25,000 and/ or a prison term of up to one year.

Please contact your elected representatives and urge them to vote YES on Bill C-655. Canada's heritage activities deserve the dignity of legal protection.

[Karl Marques]

"...people who are always looking out for perfect strangers are very often people who won't look out for the ones they're supposed to look out for."

-Cormac McCarthy -The sunset limited

[greatwhite]

The two guy's involved in this actually had the video on Youtube but I cannot find it now.

[greatwhite]

OK I found the video.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cFMjetoZIwc

[trimmer21]

Good video,GW. There's nutbars everywhere,these days. The hunters handled it,perfectly,only the fine should have been $1800,not $180.

[greatwhite]

Yeah but some of the comments from Hunters on there are kinda rude doesn't set a good example. Especially the few who say shoot her.

Good video,GW. There's nutbars everywhere,these days. The hunters handled it,perfectly,only the fine should have been $1800,not $180.

[Cintax]

Yeah but some of the comments from Hunters on there are kinda rude doesn't set a good example. Especially the few who say shoot her.

Couldn't agree more.

[onelessarrow]

If passed, does anyone have a guesstimate as to when it may become law.
The addition of sport shooting is exactly whats needed around my place right now. I have neighbors that I believe don't like hunting and are simply hiding their agenda by focusing on noise complaints by sport shooters in the area.

[Cintax]

Some areas also have discharge by-laws where you are restricted from any shooting. Many municipalities include bows, slingshots and pellet guns in these by-laws.

Examples include Muskoka Lakes, Algonquian Highlands and Lake of Bays. All pretty rural but no discharge outside of hunting.

[greatwhite]

Do we? Your technically in the town, since I am further out I don't think my little village does. I'll have to check. Could be confusing because my side of the street is actually Ottawa.

If I was in your position I would be reading the bylaws to understand when the silent hours are in effect. In most rural areas there is a noise bylaw that begins at 11 pm and ends at 6 am. Some areas extend the morning restriction until 12 pm on Sundays. Any noise inside these hours is not subject to bylaw and I would (in your position) make it clear to the neighbour that nuisance complaints are also subject to laws and their actions could have them answering to police for mischief...