In early December 1999, the radical animal rights movement earned one of its biggest victories in North America when the government of Ontario, Canada, was coerced into canceling the spring bear hunt.

This animal rights victory could well have far reaching implications on the democratic process and wildlife management efforts in countries around the world.

Pivotal events began in late 1998 when a multi millionaire industrialist and the International Fund for Animal Welfare (IFAW) spearheaded a campaign against politicians in vulnerable urban-based electoral ridings. Spending millions of dollars, the IFAW put up billboards featuring children with firearms and distributed videos of cuddly bear cubs being killed or orphaned. The media blitz was rounded out with damning radio and print advertisements. The plan by animal rights groups was to force the cancellation of the spring bear hunt by threatening to mount an even more vigorous anti hunting, anti government campaign during the next election mere months away.

The cancellation of the spring bear hunt was made at lightening speed, leaving hunters, tourism operators, outfitters and even entire communities on the hook for over $40 million in lost business annually. Of equal concern was the fact that emotional arguments and radical opinions won over science, truth and common sense, and animal rights organizations immediately began planning similar campaigns in Canada and abroad.

The cancellation of the hunt was, according to the Ontario government, necessary to prevent the accidental orphaning of bear cubs by hunters. However, evidence has been amassed to clearly show cancellation of the hunt has resulted in more dead and orphaned bear cubs, and that the cancellation is also illegal under both provincial and federal law.

The Province of Ontario's own Fish and Wildlife Conservation Act may have been breached when the spring bear hunt was cancelled, and several sections of the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms may have also been violated.

Adding fuel to the controversy has been a dramatic rise in the number of nuisance bear incidents across Ontario since the cancellation of the hunt took place. Many communities in Ontario are seeking government assistance to deal with bears that are destroying property, killing livestock, pets, and, on rare occasions, causing injury to people.

Today, the Ontario Federation of Anglers and Hunters (O.F.A.H.) is on the verge of a court case that could bring back the hunt, and, at the same time, reaffirm the constitutional right to hunt and fish. Such a ruling would, to a large extent, silence the animal rights attack on hunting and fishing heritage in Canada, and perhaps internationally.

The Court challenge issued by O.F.A.H. has been ongoing since the spring of 1999. A small mountain of evidence has been amassed and numerous court appearances, affidavits, hours of testimony and appeals are slowing being cleared to make way for the main case to be heard, possibly sometime in 2002.

Most recently, a court appeal to stop testimony from the Premier of Ontario and the Minister of Natural Resources on the cancellation of the spring bear hunt has been heard. But the courts have yet to decide on whether the government appeal of a lower court decision will stand.

The O.F.A.H. was in court November 22 to argue that both the Premier and the Minister should testify in the case. The O.F.A.H. contends that the testimony will be highly relevant to the decision to cancel the spring bear hunt. The O.F.A.H. has already presented evidence that the Premier ordered the cancellation of the spring hunt.

The decision to cancel the hunt had nothing to do with science or conservation. With upward of 150,000 bears, Ontario has one of the largest, most sustainable, populations of black bears in the world. If the decision is left to stand unchallenged, it creates a precedent upon which animal rights groups can mount more political campaigns against other forms of hunting and fishing.

The O.F.A.H. remains convinced that we have the necessary evidence to win this case and the return of the spring bear hunt. Any financial help to offset costs soaring into the hundreds of thousands of dollars is, however, greatly appreciated. Contributions can be made to the O.F.A.H. Hunting and Fishing Heritage Fund, Box 2800, Peterborough, Ontario, K9J 8L5.