Members’ Statements
December 1, 2004

Deer and Elk Farming Must be an Agricultural Enterprise

Mr. Speaker, on November 1st the Ontario Deer and Elk Farmers Association held a reception at Queen’s Park to draw attention to problems in their industry and to ask for government help.

These farmers have a specific issue with an Environmental Bill of Rights regulation that considers deer and elk to be wildlife, regardless of the fact they are bred for genetic excellence, born in captivity and raised like any other livestock.

Because of this wildlife designation and EBR regulation, farmers will be subjected to restrictions that will take away the only source of income they have right now.

Just as with beef, deer and elk farmers have been unable to move their animals across the border and have found it very difficult to compete with cheap foreign venison. Many have only managed to keep their businesses by breeding trophy bulls for harvest preserves.

With the new regulation, this will no longer be an option.

The Deer and Elk Association has asked Minister Peters to move responsibility for farm-raised deer and elk from the Ministry of Natural Resources to Agriculture and Food. Farmers want this government to see that animals born and raised on farms or ranches should be treated like other farmed animals, not like wildlife.

And, they feel that if the government insists on expropriating their industry, it should at least do an economic impact study to consider the negative financial consequences and offer compensation.

At the reception, Minister Peters indicated to the Association that his Ministry could potentially play a role in dealing with their issues.

Mr. Speaker, that sounds like a promise to me.

While his government breaks promises, I ask that Minister Peters keep his personal word. I ask he take the appropriate steps to assume responsibility for the Cervid industry and help these farmers as he said he would.

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