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"Scugog's Community Newspaper of Choice" PORT PERRY STAR - Tuesday, February 22, 2000 - 9 LETTERS Argument for expanded deer hunt based on faulty logic To the Editor: This is in response to a letter written by Ms Heather Kenny which appeared in the Tuesday, Feb. 15 issue of the Port Perry Star in which Ms Kenny stated that the deer hunt should be expanded "to reduce the danger to both people and our wildlife." After reading Ms Kenny's letter, | was left asking myself several questions. First, would it be our elected officials, we as lay persons, or experts at the Ministry of Natural Resources who would best be able to make an educated decision as to the length of the deer hunt? Ihave always thought that informed decisions are best made by the experts in any given field - in this case it would be the Ministry of Natural Resources who study the behav- iour patterns of wildlife. These very experts must be taking their job seriously as it is a fact that the length of the deer hunt varies greatly with the same region/geographical area. For instance, the rifle season closes almost one week earlier in the Uxbridge area than in the Blackstock area, based on studies done about the -deer population in these areas. We as citizens, may or may not, agree with this period of time, but we should be able to trust that the experts (who study the behaviour patterns of wildlife) would be the best people to make such decisions. Secondly, after reading Ms Kenny's let- ter, | was left wondering how big of a prob- lem this really was? Are the number of col- lisions between deer and people that great that it would justify killing more of them to keep the citizens who drive vehi- cles safe? Ms Kenny did not offer any such information in her letter so | decided to find out. After speaking to an officer with the OPP, and MTO | found out that the number of collisions with wild animals (which also includes bear, moose, wolves, coyotes, deer, etc.) and vehicles in Ontario is published in the Ontario Road Safety Annual Report. After speaking to the officer, | found out that in all of Ontario there had been only five fatal collisions between wildlife and humans. In 1999, the population in Ontario was 11,560,900. Thus, your chances of ever having a fatal accident between any type of wildlife would be one in 2,312,180 - obviously a very, very low risk (even lower if there was a number available which only included deer to human collisions). Given that your odds of having a personal injury would be slightly higher at one in 27,992, it is still very, very low risk. Your chances of having a vehicle to vehicle accident would be a lot greater. The officer also told me that the maijori- ty of these accidents occur only during the mating seasons of most wildlife - when they become more migratory. For deer the mating season lasts approximately two months - the rest of the year they tend to stay within the same area. Thus, after becoming more educated about this issue, I still can not understand how one could make such an argument - that by killing more deer/extending the hunting season we could reduce the risk to humans. | feel badly for anyone who has been injured in a collision involving any type of wildlife. The majority of collisions that occur however, do not involve wildlife. While this issue may affect me on a per- sonal level, I have tried to put my thoughts aside and to examine only the facts. The facts obviously don't justify killing our wildlife to protect us. The danger to both people and to our wildlife, Ms Kenny, is extremely low. Lianne Hoogers, Blackstock Profiting from community care To the Editor: | was shocked to learn that the privatization of therapy services in Ottawa is costing the Ottawa- Carleton Community Care Access Centres at least $830,000 more than to deliver the same service itself. The agency, under direction from the provin- cial government, is required to contract out these services and they (agency) are concerned that they will have to take this extra $830,000 out of other patient care services. I sincerely believe Canadians don't want this style of American for-profit health care where public dollars are being wasted in excess administration, duplication of services, bidding process losses to say nothing of the money lost to the system in profit. The federal government must reaffirm its commit- ment to Medicare by rais- ing the contribution rate to at least 25 per cent and the Harris government must put back the billion dollars it removed from the health care system to finance the tax cut for the wealthy in this province or we risk los- ing our cherished public health care system. Our duly elected repre- sentatives must stop the corporate profiteering of public health dollars and ensure our public funded hospitals and services remain open and accessi- ble to all citizens and closed to business. C. Twomey, Oshawa per sq. (approx. 100 sq. ft.) ALSO ... Soffit, Seamless Eavestroughing, Shutters & A complete Line of Metal Siding : I'he Perfect Balance | -- i Buchner Manufacturing Inc. 30004 Hwy. 48, PEFFERLAW 705-437-1734 599 Steven Court, NEWMARKET 905-836-1033 1-800-461-6455 www.buchnermfg.com Newspaper ERRY STAR The Port Perry Star 1s pleased to announce preparations are underway for Discover Scugog 2000. Copies of last year's production of Discover Scugog are all but depleted and the next edition of Scugog's tounst information booklet is scheduled to be available for groups and tourist offices by early March. To make sure it's the best publication to date, we need the help of everyone in the com- munity! If your organization or group has listings of any events planned throughout 2000 details must be submitted in writing to the Port Perry Star office no later than Feb. 22, 2000. Events published in Discover Scugog should be open to the general public. (e.g. fairs, bazaars, strawberry socials, etc.) Sorry, no extensions of this deadline due to production and printing schedules. Anyone wishing to promote their events, activities or services with advertisements, is asked to contact the advertising department at the Port Perry Star, 985-7383. Deadline for advertising is Feb. 22, 2000. Last year, at Trade Shows, Information Booths and local outlets, Discover Scugog was one of the most asked for pieces of information by people wanting to know more about our community. This is your chance to make sure visitors to Scugog Township know about your business, or group's activities during 2000. Call today!! Ld Fill out the enclosed Activity Listing form and drop it by The Port Perry Star office with a description of any 1scooer events your group has planned for 2000. We'll do our best to have it included. Activity Listing forms are available at the Star Office Call today for more information 985-7383 Event Date(s) 1 1 | 1 1 I | | 1 ] 1 I | ; Time 1 | | | | | 1 | | | |