From Barry Kent MacKay, Born Free USA’s Canadian Representative http://www.bornfreeusa.org/
Please circulate widely
Below is a sign-on letter to encourage individuals to send comments opposing the recreational hunting of Mourning Dives and Barrow’s Golden-eye – listed ‘at risk’.
Even if you are skeptical as to whether the letter will make any difference in reversing a ‘political’ decision, please sign-on. If enough of us send the letter, it will likely guarantee that these sorts of political decisions regarding wildlife will not be made easily in the future.
Please free feel to change the letter as necessary.
Detailed background information is below.
To: Stephen Harper; Prime Minister
<mailto:pm@pm.gc.ca> pm@pm.gc.ca
CC. Jack Hughes, Canadian Wildlife Service : <mailto:jack.hughes@ec.gc.ca> jack.hughes@ec.gc.ca
Environment critics: Megan Leslie (NDP) megan.leslie@parl.gc.ca and Micheal Harris (PC) michael.harris@pc.ola.org
Kathleen Wynne Ontario Premier premier@ontario.ca
Dear Prime Minister,
I wish to express my strong opposition to the decision by the Conservative government to allow Mourning Doves and Barrow’s Goldeneye – a species at risk – to be hunted in Ontario. It has been reported that this decision was made very quietly, so as to restrict public input.
Hunters form a very small minority of Canadians, yet the wildlife they are permitted to kill are part of our shared natural heritage. Therefore it is shameful to deny the majority of us
a chance to respond before the final decision was made. We are the people who enjoy the environment in a peaceful and non-destructive way, and wish to continue doing so.
Mourning doves are part of our everyday environment and a symbol of peace, and do not appear to be a migratory species in southern Ontario. Are other small, sociable birds
to be the next target?
This appears to be a purely political decision aimed at throwing a “bone” to the sport hunting lobby as you shop for voters.
Most Canadians are not hunters and do not want to see sport hunting promoted to our youth.
The recreational killing of wildlife in no way reflects my/our history, traditions or future.
This is not subsistence hunting, which I can respect, or an economic driver and never was.
In any case, these small birds provide at best a minor source of food delicacies, but are primarily useful for target shooting – a total waste of life.
I am asking that you act quickly to prohibit entirely the killing of Barrow’s Goldeneye in all jurisdictions, and also cancel the Mourning Dove hunt in Ontario. I shall also request that the provincial government take appropriate action to bring this to a speedy end.
I look forward to your reply.
Name
Address
Band-tailed pigeon photo©Jim Robertson
Exposing the Big Game 
They mate for life. Each one shot leaves a family in despair. Think about it if it was your spouse. No, you wouldn’t want to do that so why do it the doves?
and just for a target…
how cruel and stupid
manunkind can be.
ashamed to be one
of his company
😦
Mourning doves are just a start
Killing life is not that smart
Our climate’s changing for the worse
Species leaving in a hearse
We must stop fouling the nest
If we are to survive this mess
Hunting greed goes a long way
Quit this madness–save the day
Sent…and shared on fb
Thanks!
Every single decision is against nature, could you at least try to consider these at risk animals?
This is SO wrong!
Sent email to
pm@pm.gc.ca
And block CC’d to
jack.hughes@ec.gc.ca,
megan.leslie@parl.gc.ca,
michael.harris@pc.ola.org,
premier@ontario.ca
I had automatic reply back from them……………..
Thanks for your email. I appreciate your taking the time to get in touch with me and value your input.
Every email and letter I receive is carefully read and reviewed. If your email requires an answer, we’ll do our best to get back to you as quickly as we can.
Given the volume of emails and letters I receive, and the fact that I may need to share your email with one of my Cabinet ministers or the appropriate government officials for more information, a response may take several business days.
Thanks again for reaching out.
Kathleen Wynne
Premier
Government of Ontario
Whitney Block
99 Wellesley Street West
Toronto, ON M7A 1A1
Fax: 416-325-3745
Telephone: 416-325-3777
I hope they mean it.
Way to go, thanks!
I think they are one of the truly sweetest birds… beautiful to look at and to listen to. I love to watch their courtship and mating ritual; their dance is something special. That anyone would think it necessary to kill a mourning dove, or ANY dove… I think it’s despicable! Tin cans are for target practice. Mourning doves are not. They are for the majority of us to appreciate.
To me, targeting any animal for “sport” is wrong. True sport involves agreement by both parties to “play.” Animals do not agree to be hunted, tormented, made to fear, and be killed. All life matters. All animals matter. And to go after doves? The very symbol of peace and compassion. What does this say about YOU? Stop. Think. And STOP THE KILLING. Direct your focus on constructive ways to build and protect our environment — and not destroy life for quick profits.
It is sad that rational human beings would even have to consider the senseless slaughter of a species as passive as the mourning dove. They are among the most beautiful creatures to grace our land. Killing them for the sake of sport is nothing less than barbaric.
The term sport hunting in itself is ludicrous. Why in God’s name would anyone consider it sport to kill any living thing? Have we become so absent minded as a society that we cannot differentiate between killing for survival, as opposed to hunting for sport!
Jim Aquino