www.ocoa.ca

MEDIA RELEASE

October 4, 2005

Conservation Officers get a new tool in fight against Poaching

Just in time for hunting seasons across Ontario, Conservation Officers (CO) now have been given a long awaited tool that will make the job of protecting Ontario’s natural resources much more effective. On September 27, 2005 the Minister of Natural Resources, David Ramsay, opened the toll free Ontario Natural Resources TIPS Reporting Line. Now the public can pass on information about poaching or other illegal activity to on duty MNR Conservation Officers 24 hours a day.

Ontario Conservation Officers have been asking for just such a TIPS line for many years. With only about 200 Conservation Officers to patrol the wilds of a huge province, it has been very clear to them that they need information from the people of Ontario who know about natural resources abuse. “In our 113 years of protection history, Conservation Officers have always counted on the lawful citizens’ information to help us deal effectively with poachers.” Said Jim McMullen, OCOA President. “ It has become more difficult for the public to know how to contact their local CO, as the population of many small towns throughout the province has grown. In the past everyone knew who the local CO was and how to contact him, day or night. Unfortunately, for the resources and the caring public that has not been the case for many years. Prior to this TIPS line being set up, the public could not contact anyone at the MNR with poaching information outside of normal business hours. Lets face it 8 to 5, Monday to Friday is not prime poaching hours.”

The Ontario Conservation Officers Association (OCOA) wants to congratulate and thank our Minister David Ramsay and senior managers in the MNR for making this TIPS line a reality. It is going to assist Conservation Officers to catch and deal more effectively with more resource abusers.

It is very important to note that the TIPS line is of no help at all if the public does not call. So the OCOA is asking the public to continue to be involved in protecting our natural resources by keeping a lookout for illegal activity, collecting the information about it and then calling our TIPS line at 1-877-TIPS-MNR. Please keep the number handy whenever you venture out into our beautiful forests, lakes and streams. It is a Conservation Officers’ job to protect your natural resources, but it is everyone’s responsibility.

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Contact:

Rick Maw

OCOA Vice President

(705) 322-3211

vicepresident@ocoa.ca