TORONTO - The Ontario
government is better protecting our natural resources by launching a
phone-tips line to report illegal activities, Natural Resources Minister
David Ramsay announced today.
"Ethical hunters, anglers and members of the public
can be the eyes and ears of the ministry and can report resource abuse
anytime of the day or night," said Ramsay. "This will better
protect all our resources and boost our enforcement efforts."
The toll-free tips line - 1-877-TIPS-MNR -
operates 24 hours a day, seven days a week, year-round. Anyone who
sees violations involving fish and wildlife, forests, parks, aggregates
and public lands is asked to call the line and report it. The
information will be used by conservation officers in their
investigations.
The slogan for the program is "Help Protect Our
Natural Resources". The program expands on the ministry's
successful Moose Watch phone line which operated over the
past five years during moose hunting season.
People can report natural resource violations to Crime
Stoppers, a longtime partner with the Ministry of Natural Resources, at
1-800-222-8477.
"We are blessed with an abundance of natural resources
in this province," said Ramsay. "The TIPS line will play a role in
protecting those resources now and for future generations."
Backgrounder
Each year the Ministry of Natural
Resources lays between 8,000 and 10,000 charges for natural resource
violations. Our natural resources are more fragile than you know.
Abuse of our natural resources reduces opportunities for everyone and
threateans the future sustainability of the resource.
The new toll-free TIPS-MNR reporting
line provides a direct line for the public to report resource violations
to the ministry 24 hours a day, seven days a week from anywhere in
Ontario. Natural resource
violations include any illegal activity against Ontario's fish and
wildlife, forests, parks, aggregate resources, and public lands such as:
- The illegal sale of species at
risk or wildlife or animal parts
- Fishing or hunting
out-of-season
- Taking more game than allowed
- Night hunting or shooting from
a roadway
- Unauthorized shoreline
alteration or dumping waste on Crown Land
- Illegally removing sand, gravel
or Crown timber from public lands
- Having fires in restricted
zones or without a permit, and
- Illegal activities in
provincial parks and protected areas.
A member of the public who sees or
suspects resource abuse should safely take notes of as much information
as possible and call 1-877-TIPS-MNR (847-7667).
Conservation officers will use the information to investigate. The
TIPS-MNR line is not an emergency response line.
Helpful information includes:
- Vehicle license plate number,
make and model
- Date and time of day
- Approximate location (road,
lake, street address, landmarks)
- Details about the suspected
activity
- Description of any people
involved in the incident.
By working together we can protect
our natural resources from abuse and illegal activity.
Contact:
Tim Moody
Enforcement Branch
705-755-1767 |
Media
Calls Only
Ginette Albert - Minister's Office
416-314-2212 |
Steve
Payne
Communications Services Branch
416-314-2103 |
|
