MPP AGAIN CALLS FOR CONTROL OF CORMORANT POPULATION
(Toronto) _ Leeds-Grenville MPP Bob Runciman in a statement in the Ontario Legislature today called on the Liberal government to join with N.Y. State officials in their efforts to control the cormorant population in the St. Lawrence and 1000 Islands region.
Runciman pointed out that N.Y. officials are frustrated by the lack of action on the Canadian side of the border. As recently as three weeks ago, N.Y. State Senator Jim Wright issued a press release expressing frustration with the lack of aggressive control measures on the Canadian side of the border.
“Senator Wright says that N.Y. has been “stymied” by Ontario’s lack of action and I have to say I share his frustration,” said Runciman. “I raised this issue with the government earlier this year and nothing has happened.”
“Most of the cormorant nests are located on the Canadian side of the river and our government is dragging its feet making piecemeal efforts that don’t adequately address the challenge,” charged the MPP.
Runciman called on the Minister of Natural Resources to work with the N.Y. State Department of Environmental Conservation to develop a joint regional cormorant management process.
“We need to co-operate and we need to do it before our fishery is devastated,” he concluded.
