TORONTO – The
Auditor-General's
report today
reinforced
longstanding
concerns of the
union
representing
workers in the
Ministry of
Natural
Resources.
The Ontario
Public Service
Employees Union
seconded Auditor
James McCarter's
finding that
Ontario was not
able to provide
needed
protection and
enforcement of
our province's
fish and
wildlife.
“This is no
surprise at all
to our members,”
said OPSEU
President Warren
(Smokey) Thomas.
“This backs up
what the union
has been saying
for years, that
the ministry is
grossly
underfunded and
unable to fulfil
its mandate or
to protect our
resources.”
The Auditor's
finding that the
reduction of MNR
deterrent
patrols were
putting pressure
on fish and
wildlife
resources echoed
repeated and
longstanding
calls by the
union to step up
enforcement.
“It also
confirms the
findings of
Environmental
Commissioner
Gord Miller,
released earlier
this year,” said
Thomas.
"Notwithstanding
the recent
modest increase
in funding, this
ministry needs
to step it up
and inject more
funding on a
broad basis, so
our members can
do their jobs
and protect our
fish and
wildlife. We
call on the
government to do
what needs to be
done."
Details of
OPSEU's campaign
to draw
attention to the
diminished
capacity of MNR
to provide
effective
enforcement can
be found on the
web at:
www.opseu.org/campaign/savemnr/index.htm
