I don’t know how many if any of you are trappers but this is what happens to those who are conned into compromising with those who want to destroy their way of life. In Canada it is called the Agreement on International Humane Trapping Standards Association or (AIHTS). Here in the US it is pawned of as Best Management Practice, garbage by any other name is still garbage. The whole thing was started by animal rights nut cases going through the  EU with the “standards” to be set by the International Standards Organization. The idea was to standardize traps to the EU’s and ISO cookie cutter idea of “humane”.  A  move that would cost the average trapper more than his line produce.These are people who have never set a trap in their life and want to tell someone who makes a living doing it how they think it should be done. Any country that didn’t comply would be banned from selling furs in all EU countries.  Millions of dollars have been and are being pumped into all the state fish & game  agency’s as well as those in the Canadian Province’s. Most of the US and Canadian F&G’s were more than willing to belly up to the trough more jobs for them, more money for them.  Why should they care about cost to trappers?    There is a paper put out by the Eurogroup for Animal Welfare titled Trapped by Bad Science this is a must read for everyone who traps. Or for that matter anyone who wants to know the animal rights crowds real agenda.  The paper shows what they are really after and it has little to do with humane trap standards. Their agenda is to put trappers out of business by setting standards that would require all North American trappers to  completely replace their traps with new ones that meet the ISO cookie cutter specifications. These are people who have never set a trap in their life yet  feel qualified to tell someone who makes a living trapping  how it want it done.  As if that is not enough they use the EU to bully country’s that won’t comply by controlling a large part of the fur ie;  banning sales to  EU countries  from buying from non-compliant countries.  Millions of dollars were and are being pumped into US state fish & wildlife  agency’s as well as their counter parts in Canada. Most of the US and Canadian F&W’s  agencies are more than willing to belly up to the trough, more jobs, more money.  Why should they care about cost to trappers, after they trap by choice they could always get another job.

This petition was put out by some Canadian trappers, this is just the beginning. It is only a matter of time before more money rolls in to help the trapper finance the purchase of new compliant traps. I have no doubt this will happen, but at what cost? Back to the days of the  of Hudson Bay Co. or J. J. Astor and the company trappers who works all season to pay off last seasons grub stake? No thanks that’s not the life for me.

To: Ontario Government

To: Ontario Government

To: Government of Ontario

To: The Government of Ontario

And to: The Minister of Natural Resources

And to: The Minister of Transportation

And to: The Ontario Fur Managers Federation

WHEREAS the harvesting of wild fur is part of Canada’s heritage dating back to the beginning of Canada;

AND WHEREAS the fur industry market has been at an all time low;

AND WHEREAS Costs to trappers to upgrade their traps in order to meet the standards put in place by the Agreement on International Humane Trapping Standards Association (AIHTS), Purchase, maintain, license and insure snow mobiles and off road vehicles is at an all time high

AND WHEREAS Many trappers depend on the fur industry as their primary source of income;

AND WHERE AS Trappers are the unofficial guardians of the crown regarding their respective registered trap lines, who’s efforts assist with keeping our forests clean, providing members of the public with accessible trails and access to hunting and fishing locations;

AND WHEREAS many Traplines are littered with public access Snowmobile and ATV trails provided by such organizations as the Ontario Federation of Snow Mobile Clubs and various ATV clubs. Trails for which trappers often provide maintenance at no cost recovery;

NOW THEREFORE the undersigned hereby request that the recipients of this petition establish the necessary changes to the laws of Ontario and or Policies in place with the Ontario Fur Managers Federation to allow for the following benefits to trappers in Ontario:

1. A snow mobile, ATV or other off road vehicle be deemed to be an implement of husbandry while it is in use for trapping related purpose by a licensed trapper on his or her registered trap line;

2. As such any snow mobile, ATV or other off road vehicle used by the licensed trapper for trapping related purposes on his or her registered trap line be exempt from any annual registration renewal;

3. That the Ontario Fur Managers Federation amend the membership liability insurance policy to include Public Liability and Property damage for any and all snow mobiles, ATV’s or other off road vehicles used for trapping related purpose, by a licensed trapper on his or her registered trap line;

Sincerely,

The Undersigned

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