OWEN SOUND - Due to years of government cut-backs and
underfunding, local Ministry of Natural Resources (MNR) employees will be
holding a barbeque to raise much needed funds.
The Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources is responsible for
managing and protecting the natural world in Ontario on behalf of all its
citizens. Yet conservation officers are only allotted $75 a week for fuel in
their patrol vehicles. This has led to serious concerns about protecting our
fish and wildlife populations.
MNR employees have worked hard coping with the years of
shortages and are now worried further budget cuts will leave the province’s fish
and wildlife even more unprotected.
The overall budget of the Ministry in 2006-07 is 24 per cent
lower, in real terms, than it was in 1992-93. The budget for the actual work of
the Ministry (not counting transfers to industry and other outside
organizations) is 31 per cent lower.
Date: Friday, May 4, 2007 Time: 11-2 p.m. Location: OPSEU
regional office parking lot, 1038 2nd Ave East, Owen Sound
