In February I received a copy of a letter sent by the former Minister of Environment & Conservation, Tom Osborne, to the town of Marystown. The letter was a reply to a request by the town to have trapping regulations within' municipal boundaries reviewed.

I quote from Minister Osborne's letter;

"With regards to your comments regarding trapping activities, I can assure you this activity is highly regulated, including mandatory trapper education, mandatory trap set requirements and mandatory licensing requirements are amongst a few.  Minimum distance regulations for trap placement have not been established, in part, because trappers themselves are often required to provide essential services to municipalities. Such examples include removal of beaver in water supplies, removal of nuisance wildlife and control of wildlife populations. Additionally, there are no established distances where trap placement alone can provide the level of safety where conflicting interest, such as pet security, can be guaranteed. However we do encourage all trappers to avoid potentially conflicting locations and for the most part their cooperation provides little conflict with municipal interest.

While I remain sensitive to the unfortunate circumstance that prompted your letter, at this time I am confident that existing legislation, when used in conjunction with other existing regulations, provides a level of security to all stakeholders who have a vested interest in this issue."

Tom Osborne
Minister

PO Box 8700, St. John's, NL. A1B 4J6 - Office (709) 729-2574 - Fax (709) 729-0112

I find no pleasure in saying Mr. Osborne lied when he said "I can assure you this activity is highly regulated" & that there are "mandatory trap set requirements" but I believe these comments to be false. I have failed in my search to find these regulations or requirements, the Dept. of Environment & Conservation has failed to produce evidence that they exist and, as stated on my main page, the wildlife officer I spoke to in Nov.05 stated that there are very few regulations pertaining to trapping in Newfoundland & Labrador. 

"Minimum distance regulations for trap placement have not been established, in part, because trappers themselves are often required to provide essential services to municipalities." Distances can be set for regular trapping giving special permits for trappers called upon for nuisance problems. Such a statement reflects a feeble excuse not a viable reason for not regulating distances.

"Such examples include removal of beaver in water supplies, removal of nuisance wildlife and control of wildlife populations." Again, My goal is to convince the Government of Newfoundland & Labrador to "Implement laws restricting the use & type of traps allowed in residential & public places!" & the removal of these nuisance wildlife can be done in a manner that would provide greater safety to the general public & pets. Open Conibear land-sets are not a REQUIREMENT they are in my opinion a NUISANCE and a dangerous one at that.

"Additionally, there are no established distances where trap placement alone can provide the level of safety where conflicting interest, such as pet security, can be guaranteed." The same can be said for all hunting & trapping regulations & again this is a feeble excuse not a viable reason. We strive on a daily basis to improve safety in our homes, our workplaces & in what we do. Established distances will not guarantee pet or people security but it can improve it and that is my goal.

"However we do encourage all trappers to avoid potentially conflicting locations" If the Department of Environment & Conservation is so eager to encourage trappers to avoid conflict why can't it review & make the necessary changes to regulations so that conflicts are less likely to happen. Encouraging a thoughtless trapper by giving a slap on the wrist or a verbal berating will do little whereby the possibility of persecution can do wonders.  

"at this time I am confident that existing legislation, when used in conjunction with other existing regulations, provides a level of security to all stakeholders who have a vested interest in this issue." Am I not a stakeholder? It did little for me! Are not the Newfoundlanders & Labradoreans who signed my petition not stakeholders? It did little for some of them! I have vested interest, those who support my petition have vested interested & we want changes. Obviously Mr. Osborne all stakeholders are not satisfied with the present LEVEL of security you refer to!