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Heritage Hunting and Fishing Act, 2002, S.O. 2002, c. 10 - Bill 135

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EXPLANATORY NOTE

This Explanatory Note was written as a reader’s aid to Bill 135 and does not form part of the law.  Bill 135 has been enacted as Chapter 10 of the Statutes of Ontario, 2002.

 

The Bill recognizes that recreational hunting and fishing have played important roles in shaping Ontario’s social, cultural and economic heritage and that recreational hunters and anglers have made important contributions to the understanding, conservation, restoration and management of Ontario’s fish and wildlife resources.

The Bill would affirm the right to hunt and fish in accordance with the law.

The Bill would establish the Fish and Wildlife Heritage Commission.  The Commission’s functions would include making recommendations to the Minister of Natural Resources on a number of matters specified in the Bill.

 

 

Chapter 10

An Act to recognize
Ontario’s recreational
hunting and fishing heritage
and to establish the
Fish and Wildlife Heritage Commission

Assented to June 27, 2002

Preamble

Recreational hunting and fishing have played important roles in shaping Ontario’s social, cultural and economic heritage.  Recreational hunters and anglers have made im­portant contributions to the understanding, conservation, restoration and management of Ontario’s fish and wildlife resources.  The best traditions of recreational hunting and fishing should be valued by future generations.

Therefore, Her Majesty, by and with the advice and consent of the Legislative Assembly of the Province of Ontario, enacts as follows:

Right to hunt and fish

1. (1) A person has a right to hunt and fish in accordance with the law.

Same

(2) The reference to the law in subsection (1) includes the Fish and Wildlife Conservation Act, 1997, the Fisheries Act (Canada), the Migratory Birds Convention Act, 1994 (Canada) and the regulations made under those Acts.

Fish and Wildlife Heritage Commission

2. (1) A commission is hereby established to be known in English as the Fish and Wildlife Heritage Com­mission and in French as Commission du patrimoine chasse et pêche.

Composition

(2) The Commission shall be composed of such number of members as may be appointed by the Lieutenant Governor in Council, one of whom shall be designated by the Lieutenant Governor in Council as the chair of the Commission.

Responsibilities

(3) On the request of the Minister of Natural Resources, the Commission shall consider and make recommendations to the Minister on the following matters:

1. The promotion of practices that will contribute to recreational hunting and fishing being valued by future generations.

2. The promotion of public participation in fish and wildlife conservation programs.

3. The promotion of youth participation in hunting, fishing and other fish and wildlife activities.

4. The promotion of tourism related to hunting, fishing and other fish and wildlife activities.

5. The promotion of new opportunities for hunting, fishing and other fish and wildlife activities.

6. Any other matter referred to the Commission by the Minister.

7. The design and establishment of a mechanism to finance matters referred to in paragraphs 1 to 6.

8. The operation of the separate account referred to in section 85 of the Fish and Wildlife Conservation Act, 1997.

Annual report

(4) The Minister of Natural Resources shall annually submit a report on the activities of the Commission to the Lieutenant Governor in Council and shall then table the report in the Assembly.

Application of subs. 85 (4) of
Fish and Wildlife Conservation Act, 1997

(5) The Commission shall be deemed to be an advisory committee established by the Minister for the purpose of subsection 85 (4) of the Fish and Wildlife Conservation Act, 1997.

Commencement

3. This Act comes into force on the day it receives Royal Assent.

Short title

4. The short title of this Act is the Heritage Hunting and Fishing Act, 2002.