New Ontario Leps Regulations

[Cris Guppy & Aud Fischer]

The original statement that the legislation cannot be changed for 3-5 years
is of course false. That is simply a bureaucratic stalling tactic (I am a
bureaucrat). Legislation can, and is, changed whenever there is sufficient
public pressure to change it. So if the butterfly people in Ontario want the
legislation changed, start writing and phoning every member of the
legislature you can. Get your friends and acquaintances to do it as well.
Tell the politicians outright that next election you will be voting for
which ever party supports your viewpoint. Politicians act very fast once
they think they are loosing more votes than they are gaining. This
legislation was initially proposed by someone, who was it and why did they
propose it? Can they be persuaded that they made a mistake, and "converted"
to getting rid of the legislation? Be forceful but POLITE, and never let up
the pressure. I have never tried such a campaign, but I have observed them
as a bureaucrat.

-----Original Message-----
From: Zaphod Beeblebrox <dzinta at idirect.ca>
To: leps-l at lists.yale.edu <leps-l at lists.yale.edu>
Date: October 23, 1999 8:32 AM
Subject: Re: New Ontario Leps Regulations


>Hi Donald,
>
>I read your posting with interest as I am new to Canada but I have a long
>held interest in Lepidoptera.
>
>Whilst I now understand that the Monarch is a "Protected Species", could
you
>give me an indication of just what that means to me as a very interested
>observer.
>
>Was I breaking the law, when in early October I took an almost fully grown
>Larva from the only plant of Milkweed for over 100 yards and fed it at
home,
>allowing it to pupate and then hatch out as the adult Butterfly which was
>then released, much to the delight of my 2 young Nieces.??
>
>Thanking you in anticipation,
>
>Allan Bannister
>
>PS Do you have any information ie; a web page etc for the Toronto
>Entomologists' Association??
>Thanks Again
>
>
>
>Donald Davis <donald.davis at utoronto.ca> wrote in message
>news:37EF20AF.72236649 at utoronto.ca...
>> On Saturday, a sometimes noisy meeting of the Toronto Entomologists'
>> Association was held at the Royal Ontario Museum in Toronto. Our guest
>> speaker outlined the new regulations concerning invertebrates under our
>> new Fish and Wildlife Conservation Act. As noted earlier, among the 13
>> "specially-protected species" is the monarch.
>>
>> The speaker indicated that he had received many inquiries from members
>> of The Monarch Watch, and stated that they are looking for ways to
>> support those who's primary interest in studying insects is as a
>> hobbyist/researcher/educator. They are primarily concerned with
>> regulating commercial ventures. Their philosophy is that wildlife should
>> be left in the wild, and that no one should have the right to do
>> whatever they want with wildlife (the example given was embedding
>> monarchs on an unlimited basis in plastic).
>>
>> Unfortunately, when the Act was put together, the list of specially
>> protected species was included in the Act, as opposed to being appended
>> to the Act as regulations that could be modified. Thus this list will
>> not be changed or reviewed until the Act is reviewed - perhaps 3 to 5
>> years. The specially protected species are primarily "showy" species,
>> including the monarch and all swallowtails (including the black and
>> tiger swallowtail).
>>
>> The speaker was quite frank about the fact that professional and amateur
>> entomologists in the province were not consulted. They are quite eager
>> to receive suggestions on how to remedy the present situation. They have
>> been sent copies of postings from this discussion group have found them
>> useful.  These gentlemen, who must administer this Act, are just now
>> finding out what entomological activities are carried out in Ontario.
>>
>> The speaker was severely criticized by some members of the audience for
>> the difficulties that have been created for those involved in the study
>> of insects in Ontario and the lack of public consultation.
>>
>> Don Davis
>> Toronto, ON
>>
>> P.S. Guest speaker at the January 22, 2000 meeting of the Toronto
>> Entomologists' Association will be Dr. David Gibo, speaking about
>> Migration Strategies of Butterflies and Dragonflies. Dr. Gibo has used
>> radar and his glider in his studies. The November 27th meeting concerns
>> Biological Insect Control and the October 23rd meeting describes
>> Butterflies and Dragonflies of Pardise (Sri Lanka).
>>
>>
>>
>
>