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Sunday Gun Hunting - Public Consultation

Consultation has concluded

On May 12, 2021 Perth South Council received a request from Wes Gerber to have Council consider allowing Sunday Gun Hunting in Perth South and Wildlife Management Unit (WMU) 86b.

In response to this request, Staff prepared a report to Council, Sunday Gun Hunting in Perth South, and presented it to Perth South Council at the June 1, 2021 Council meeting. During discussions regarding this report, Council felt that a public consultation on the matter should occur before a final decision is made by Council.

BACKGROUND:

The Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry (MNRF) is responsible for the approval/regulation of Sunday Gun Hunting in Municipalities within Ontario. Municipalities who wish to support Sunday Gun Hunting within their municipality must provide MNRF with a written resolution to that effect. MNRF would then process a regulatory amendment to Ontario Regulation 663/98 under the Fish and Wildlife Conservation Act to allow for Sunday Gun Hunting in the specified municipality. MNRF process these regulatory changes twice annually. Typically, Council resolutions received by February 1st are included in the proposed April 1st regulatory update and Council resolutions received by July 1st are included in the proposed September 1st regulatory update.

To the best of staff’s knowledge, Perth South Council has not considered allowing Sunday gun hunting as no formal report has been found in the Township’s records. In recent years there has been discussions from various residents about discussing Sunday gun hunting with Council; however, no formal request was ever made.

COMMENTS:

The Sunday gun hunting ban in southern Ontario originated many years ago when little was allowed to occur on Sundays, and it was not banned in northern Ontario. The ban applies only to gun hunting, as bow hunting on Sundays is permitted across the Province.

In 2005, the Provincial government allowed municipalities to decide whether to permit the activity on Sundays. Since that time, the majority of rural municipalities have passed resolutions to allow Sunday gun hunting.

On May 12, 2021 a request was received from Wes Gerber asking that Council consider allowing Sunday gun hunting in Perth South. This request has been attached as Appendix A. Currently, Sunday gun hunting is not permitted in Perth South.

Perth South is one of a small number of municipalities in Southwestern Ontario’s rural areas that does not allow for Sunday gun hunting as shown on the Province of Ontario Sunday Gun Hunting map attached as Appendix B.

Based on a review of this map, it was determined that all other lower-tier municipalities in Perth County allow for Sunday Gun Hunting and of all the Counties that border the County of Perth, the only rural municipalities that do not currently allow Sunday gun hunting are: Zorra, Wellesley, Mapleton and Minto.

All of the applicable rules and regulations that gun hunters are required to follow Monday to Saturday would apply to gun hunting on Sunday.

Correspondence was sent to the Chief and Deputy Chief of the Stratford Police Service to inform them that Perth South Council would be discussing whether or not to allow Sunday gun hunting and to advise if they have any concerns. Both responded and indicated that they did not have any concerns.

Although there is no mandated requirement for public notice should the municipality decide to permit Sunday gun hunting, it is recommended that, if approved by Council, the Township should post notice on their website, on social media accounts, and circulate a media release to advise the public that Sunday gun hunting is permitted.

DELEGATION:

Brian McRae, Senior Advisor, Community & Partner Relations, Ontario Federation of Anglers and Hunters appeared before Council with a short presentation in regards to Sunday gun hunting.

On May 12, 2021 Perth South Council received a request from Wes Gerber to have Council consider allowing Sunday Gun Hunting in Perth South and Wildlife Management Unit (WMU) 86b.

In response to this request, Staff prepared a report to Council, Sunday Gun Hunting in Perth South, and presented it to Perth South Council at the June 1, 2021 Council meeting. During discussions regarding this report, Council felt that a public consultation on the matter should occur before a final decision is made by Council.

BACKGROUND:

The Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry (MNRF) is responsible for the approval/regulation of Sunday Gun Hunting in Municipalities within Ontario. Municipalities who wish to support Sunday Gun Hunting within their municipality must provide MNRF with a written resolution to that effect. MNRF would then process a regulatory amendment to Ontario Regulation 663/98 under the Fish and Wildlife Conservation Act to allow for Sunday Gun Hunting in the specified municipality. MNRF process these regulatory changes twice annually. Typically, Council resolutions received by February 1st are included in the proposed April 1st regulatory update and Council resolutions received by July 1st are included in the proposed September 1st regulatory update.

To the best of staff’s knowledge, Perth South Council has not considered allowing Sunday gun hunting as no formal report has been found in the Township’s records. In recent years there has been discussions from various residents about discussing Sunday gun hunting with Council; however, no formal request was ever made.

COMMENTS:

The Sunday gun hunting ban in southern Ontario originated many years ago when little was allowed to occur on Sundays, and it was not banned in northern Ontario. The ban applies only to gun hunting, as bow hunting on Sundays is permitted across the Province.

In 2005, the Provincial government allowed municipalities to decide whether to permit the activity on Sundays. Since that time, the majority of rural municipalities have passed resolutions to allow Sunday gun hunting.

On May 12, 2021 a request was received from Wes Gerber asking that Council consider allowing Sunday gun hunting in Perth South. This request has been attached as Appendix A. Currently, Sunday gun hunting is not permitted in Perth South.

Perth South is one of a small number of municipalities in Southwestern Ontario’s rural areas that does not allow for Sunday gun hunting as shown on the Province of Ontario Sunday Gun Hunting map attached as Appendix B.

Based on a review of this map, it was determined that all other lower-tier municipalities in Perth County allow for Sunday Gun Hunting and of all the Counties that border the County of Perth, the only rural municipalities that do not currently allow Sunday gun hunting are: Zorra, Wellesley, Mapleton and Minto.

All of the applicable rules and regulations that gun hunters are required to follow Monday to Saturday would apply to gun hunting on Sunday.

Correspondence was sent to the Chief and Deputy Chief of the Stratford Police Service to inform them that Perth South Council would be discussing whether or not to allow Sunday gun hunting and to advise if they have any concerns. Both responded and indicated that they did not have any concerns.

Although there is no mandated requirement for public notice should the municipality decide to permit Sunday gun hunting, it is recommended that, if approved by Council, the Township should post notice on their website, on social media accounts, and circulate a media release to advise the public that Sunday gun hunting is permitted.

DELEGATION:

Brian McRae, Senior Advisor, Community & Partner Relations, Ontario Federation of Anglers and Hunters appeared before Council with a short presentation in regards to Sunday gun hunting.