For immediate release: April 13, 2017
QUEEN’S PARK – Haldimand-Norfolk MPP Toby Barrett paid tribute to the unsung heroes of conservation during a statement at Queen’s Park yesterday.
Speaking to pay tribute to the volunteers of conservation during National Wildlife Week, Barrett made his remarks after attending the Long Point Waterfowlers’ Association annual meeting on the weekend at Delta Waterfowl’s Hunting Heritage and Conservation Centre at Turkey Point.
“The Long Point Waterfowlers co-manage public hunting in the provincial park,” Barrett said in the Legislature. “They put in hundreds of volunteer hours, coupled with significant public and private grants, improving wetlands in the park.”
Barrett also told the Legislature that Delta Waterfowl is moving its Canadian headquarters to the centre in Norfolk County. The reason: “Norfolk contains some of the best waterfowl habitat in North America.”
The facility will also play a role in hunter retention, something that is part of Delta’s mandate.
“At the former ranger station, Delta Waterfowl is hosting heritage hunt days for apprentice hunters,” Barrett said. “They’re hosting hunter safety courses and are looking at having students use the property. It’s all part of a significant and long tradition of wildlife conservation down in our area.”
Barrett made the statement to pay tribute to National Wildlife Week in Canada.
-30-
For more information, contact MPP Toby Barrett at 519-428-0446 or toby.barrett@pc.ola.org
ONTARIO LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY
OFFICIAL HANSARD
Wednesday, April 12, 2017
Mr. Toby Barrett: Last weekend, I attended the annual meeting of the Long Point Waterfowlers’ Association held at Delta Waterfowl’s hunting heritage and conservation centre. It’s a former youth ranger station.
The Long Point waterfowlers co-manage public hunting in the provincial park. They put in hundreds of volunteer hours, coupled with significant public and private grants, improving wetlands in the park.
Delta Waterfowl is moving their Canadian headquarters to my riding, because Norfolk contains some of the best waterfowl habitat in North America.
At the former ranger station, Delta Waterfowl is hosting heritage hunt days for apprentice hunters. They’re hosting hunter safety courses and are looking at having students use the property. It’s all part of a significant and long tradition of wildlife conservation down in our area.
The concept of hunters supporting conservation isn’t unique. It’s the North American model of wildlife conservation. There are many success stories: the reintroduction of the wild turkey and elk, for example. The contributions of hunters to conservation: We’re now celebrating National Wildlife Week this week, a week that was to commemorate the birthday of Jack Miner, an internationally recognized conservationist and hunter.