frustrated Warden
03-17-2002, 09:53 AM
I see that this topic has not been brought up on this board yet. I decided to post this to bring it up and provide my perspective on it. You may have seen this on another message board, but I just found this one, and I feel that everyone who fishes in Ontario and cares about the future of our resources needs to hear this message.
I am a Conservation Officer and am currently stuck in a labour dispute with the Ontario government and as a result am ON STRIKE.
The Ontario Government did not make us an essential service, so as long as OPSEU is on strike, NO Field Conservation Officers are patroling anywhere in Ontario.
This was the same case in 96 and we were left out for 5 weeks. All the poachers that I knew were well aware of the fact that the resources were unprotected. Many of the sportsmen out there were not as well informed.
I am advising all of you about this situation, because I am afraid that the same will be true again this time. I see Government ads that never mention the lack of protection being provided for our precious natural resources. Only the poachers know the truth.
As most of you will already be aware, fish are starting to spawn throughout southern Ontario. These populations are at their most vulnerable for the next few weeks. It pains me not to be able to go out and spend tonight watching the creeks full of spawning rainbow to catch the Poachers who will be netting or spearing them. Not to mention the deer and wild turkeys that are being seen out in feilds all over the area.
It has been suggested on other sites that if I really cared I would go to work dispite the strike. Beyond the whole issue of crossing a picket line there is another major reason why I can not go out and do my job. Any law enforcement can be dangerous and assault rates on COs show that this type of enforcement is more dangerous than any police force. As a result we have a dispatch centre that monitors our safety 24 hours a day. That Centre is currently closed by the strike. At 3 in the morning, I would have no one to call if I urgently required assistance on a remote stream. I can not take that chance and do that to my young family.
It has also been suggested the calling the Crime Stoppers and the police will provide the required protection. I am a very big supporter of Crime Stoppers and the need for the public to assist in protecting our resources. Each is vital to making the less than 200 field Conservation Officers in our province more effective.
Under the current situation asking the police to action poaching complaints is the only option available. I believe that is a real problem. I have worked with lots of police in my career and as a result know that this stop gap measure will not provide the kind of protection our resources need right now.
-The Police are already run off their feet dealing with there own mandate. They could not put in the hours required late at night on remote streams that it takes to catch the real poachers.
-They have none of the specialized training and experience that will make them effective at dealing with our complicated fishing and hunting regs. Many police officers could not identify the species of the fish we have in Ontario. They are very good at what they are trained for, but it would not be fair to them or the resources to expect them take on this important roll.
- I am sure that if the police are asked to respond to a conplaint they will do their best, but our resources deserve more.
- You would not hire a drywall contractor to come and plumb your new house. He may be able to take a stab at doing it, but....
Your resources need your help right now. The government needs to be reminded how precious our natural resources are. Please let them know that you want them protected. Tell them that we need Conservaton Officers back out in the feild protecting them.
I know that there are issues between the government and the union, but all of these can be worked out if they decided to. I will be back doing my job at some time. I want it to be as soon as possible for the fish and wildlife's sake. This is by far the worst time of the year for there to be no protection.
Please make some calls, write some letters and tell your freinds to do the same.
thanks
I am a Conservation Officer and am currently stuck in a labour dispute with the Ontario government and as a result am ON STRIKE.
The Ontario Government did not make us an essential service, so as long as OPSEU is on strike, NO Field Conservation Officers are patroling anywhere in Ontario.
This was the same case in 96 and we were left out for 5 weeks. All the poachers that I knew were well aware of the fact that the resources were unprotected. Many of the sportsmen out there were not as well informed.
I am advising all of you about this situation, because I am afraid that the same will be true again this time. I see Government ads that never mention the lack of protection being provided for our precious natural resources. Only the poachers know the truth.
As most of you will already be aware, fish are starting to spawn throughout southern Ontario. These populations are at their most vulnerable for the next few weeks. It pains me not to be able to go out and spend tonight watching the creeks full of spawning rainbow to catch the Poachers who will be netting or spearing them. Not to mention the deer and wild turkeys that are being seen out in feilds all over the area.
It has been suggested on other sites that if I really cared I would go to work dispite the strike. Beyond the whole issue of crossing a picket line there is another major reason why I can not go out and do my job. Any law enforcement can be dangerous and assault rates on COs show that this type of enforcement is more dangerous than any police force. As a result we have a dispatch centre that monitors our safety 24 hours a day. That Centre is currently closed by the strike. At 3 in the morning, I would have no one to call if I urgently required assistance on a remote stream. I can not take that chance and do that to my young family.
It has also been suggested the calling the Crime Stoppers and the police will provide the required protection. I am a very big supporter of Crime Stoppers and the need for the public to assist in protecting our resources. Each is vital to making the less than 200 field Conservation Officers in our province more effective.
Under the current situation asking the police to action poaching complaints is the only option available. I believe that is a real problem. I have worked with lots of police in my career and as a result know that this stop gap measure will not provide the kind of protection our resources need right now.
-The Police are already run off their feet dealing with there own mandate. They could not put in the hours required late at night on remote streams that it takes to catch the real poachers.
-They have none of the specialized training and experience that will make them effective at dealing with our complicated fishing and hunting regs. Many police officers could not identify the species of the fish we have in Ontario. They are very good at what they are trained for, but it would not be fair to them or the resources to expect them take on this important roll.
- I am sure that if the police are asked to respond to a conplaint they will do their best, but our resources deserve more.
- You would not hire a drywall contractor to come and plumb your new house. He may be able to take a stab at doing it, but....
Your resources need your help right now. The government needs to be reminded how precious our natural resources are. Please let them know that you want them protected. Tell them that we need Conservaton Officers back out in the feild protecting them.
I know that there are issues between the government and the union, but all of these can be worked out if they decided to. I will be back doing my job at some time. I want it to be as soon as possible for the fish and wildlife's sake. This is by far the worst time of the year for there to be no protection.
Please make some calls, write some letters and tell your freinds to do the same.
thanks