I find myself wondering why Ontario Parks made such a decision re: canoe shows.  Any insights?

Jimbo   

Jimbo wrote on Feb 11^th, 2020 at 3:21pm:


   One thing I've learned in many conversations with Quetico Dave over the years is that there is often a HUGE disconnect between the locals (outfitters) and the bureaucrats that run the park system.

  Dave was mad that the park would give American border outfitters in his view better access to the park than local outfitters based on policy differences between the 2 groups?

  The policies that the government runs the parks under are often set by people who have a completely different mindset on what a "Wilderness Experience" should be?

  At one time someone floated the idea that they should BAN fishing in the park and NO campfires either. That didn't fly obviously but the fact that someone thought it SHOULD tell you there is a disconnect between the people that rely on the visitors of the park to help make a living and the bureaucrats who develop park policies.

   

I have seen that there are people in every agency that controls the public lands who would rather that no one would tread on them. "If you don't build it they won't come" is their strategy from the seats of power. I know the Ontario Parks decision to not attend shows came from higher powers than those that want to promote the parks to folks like us.

HighnDry wrote on Feb 12^th, 2020 at 4:28am:


   The policial power in Canada is centered as here in the heavily populated urban areas. The difference between them and us is that with our much larger population our rural population still has a lot of pull.

  In Canada that is not true at all.
  A dozen years or so ago the province of Ontario BANNED Black Bear hunting. There was NO scientific reason for this. In fact, the black bear population was climbing. Government biologists said they NEEDED to keep the population in check. To outfitters that run a business that caters to hunters in the season and the local businesses that get more business, it was a devastating blow.

  There was another element and that was the SAFETY of the rural folks. The bears lost their fear of humans. They were coming into town, raiding the dumpsters and breaking into homes. Towns, where the kids had to wait for the bus in the dark, started having ARMED adults watching over them.

  So HOW did the powers that be in Ontario decide this ban was NEEDED?

  Well, the biggest city in Ontario is Toronto which is the Canadian version of San Francisco in its political/social views.

  It is ALSO home to the largest branch of PETA in Canada. They don't want ANYONE hunting/fishing, eating meat, etc.  Someone sent them a video of POACHERS shooting a mother bear/cubs out a tree to harvest the organs for folk medicine cures.

  Well, they got a petition drive going that showcased how cruel HUNTING was and put it on a ballot initiative. They used that video to make people that know NOTHING about hunting/wilderness or RURAL life vote to ban bear hunting.

The rural people fought it tooth and nail but it passed.

Many of the same-minded folks set Park policies.

Marten wrote on Feb 12^th, 2020 at 6:33pm:


   That sounds like the guy QD had problems with when he was still outfitting?