- Location
- Nova Scotia
ht tp://thechronicleherald.ca/editorials/32560-hunting-sundays-liberals-back-bad-idea
OVA SCOTIA is one of just two provinces — with P.E.I. — that forbids hunting on Sundays.
Unlike the Liberals, however, we’re just fine with that.
Liberal natural resources critic Andrew Younger says his party will be introducing legislation to repeal that ban. The reason? The rule is archaic and unnecessary, possibly costing the province millions in revenue lost to more hunter-friendly nearby provinces.
Proponents also say allowing them to hunt on Sundays would help bring more young people into an activity that has been losing participants.
With respect, that logic is flawed for a number of reasons.
Although it’s true that there don’t seem to be more hunting accidents involving non-hunters in places where Sunday hunting is allowed, that’s not the point.
The reality is that when hunters are in the woods, non-hunters tend to avoid going there. There’s an economic cost to that non-use, as well.
As for involving more youth in hunting, it’s not government’s responsibility to set policy to encourage or discourage participation.
In any case, despite a majority of provinces allowing at least limited Sunday hunting — and all but seven states in the U.S. doing the same — our understanding is that hunting is still in decline.
Hunters argue that everyone else gets to use the woods 11 months of the year, so they should have full weekends (along with the entire work week) to hunt in the one month left. Except, of course, for the fact that no other activity excludes other users like hunting does.
Why should non-hunters have to avoid the woods entirely, seven days a week, during hunting season? Telling non-hunters they’ll be fine if they wear hunter orange is insulting. People have a right to be concerned about being in the woods when firearms are being used.
Hunters complain their activity is being singled out for restrictions. Well, yes. Their activity involves firearms, which can kill.
Nova Scotia, unlike most other provinces, is mainly — 70 per cent — privately owned. Farmers and woodlot owners should have one day free of concern about gunfire.
The rest of us would like a day to enjoy the fall outdoors, too.
OVA SCOTIA is one of just two provinces — with P.E.I. — that forbids hunting on Sundays.
Unlike the Liberals, however, we’re just fine with that.
Liberal natural resources critic Andrew Younger says his party will be introducing legislation to repeal that ban. The reason? The rule is archaic and unnecessary, possibly costing the province millions in revenue lost to more hunter-friendly nearby provinces.
Proponents also say allowing them to hunt on Sundays would help bring more young people into an activity that has been losing participants.
With respect, that logic is flawed for a number of reasons.
Although it’s true that there don’t seem to be more hunting accidents involving non-hunters in places where Sunday hunting is allowed, that’s not the point.
The reality is that when hunters are in the woods, non-hunters tend to avoid going there. There’s an economic cost to that non-use, as well.
As for involving more youth in hunting, it’s not government’s responsibility to set policy to encourage or discourage participation.
In any case, despite a majority of provinces allowing at least limited Sunday hunting — and all but seven states in the U.S. doing the same — our understanding is that hunting is still in decline.
Hunters argue that everyone else gets to use the woods 11 months of the year, so they should have full weekends (along with the entire work week) to hunt in the one month left. Except, of course, for the fact that no other activity excludes other users like hunting does.
Why should non-hunters have to avoid the woods entirely, seven days a week, during hunting season? Telling non-hunters they’ll be fine if they wear hunter orange is insulting. People have a right to be concerned about being in the woods when firearms are being used.
Hunters complain their activity is being singled out for restrictions. Well, yes. Their activity involves firearms, which can kill.
Nova Scotia, unlike most other provinces, is mainly — 70 per cent — privately owned. Farmers and woodlot owners should have one day free of concern about gunfire.
The rest of us would like a day to enjoy the fall outdoors, too.
