MNR fails to enforce the law

[Chewie]

Well most of ya know how I feel about catching out of season bass. It gets my coils wound up a little to tight. It is obvious the Conservation Officer made a grave mistake by not giving out some fines.

Thanks to everyone who raked me over the coals and humbled me yesterday

[Bobber]

Yep, to many of us this would definately seem very cut and dry. They broke the law, they were caught, give them a fine, and all this discussion would not be happening. Assuming all the facts are correct, this just doesn't make sense and I believe the CO made a big mistake.

I'm not personally aware of what happened in the past around that area, but I don't think the discussion around different race has much to do with it, unless in fact this is the ONLY reason why they were let off, which they should not have been.

For the avid angler, who prides themselves on making sure we know the rules and obey them, we can all understand why something like this just boils the blood of everyone. It sounds like it's getting a fair bit of press, which is a positive thing, having comments made by Donna Cransfield, it's just too bad her comments were incorrect and perceived, by me at least, to be "skating around the bushes", like many diplomats do when painted into the corner unfortunately, but it is what it is.......

<i>A bad decision by a CO, on a hot topic, with the press around, who is also being supported by his/her Minister. </i>

I guess that's about it.

[Mr. T.]

Maybe the CO knew them and that's why he didn't do anything.

And when asked, he's not going to say, 'Yeah! me and him use to go to high school together.' (Just an example, I'm not saying that's the case) No, he's going to give some other excuse.

[Anton88]

This is in the Recorder & Times:

http://www.recorder.ca/ArticleDisplay.aspx?e=1086866

Well, the MNR is apparently afraid of the bad press it would get from doing it's job. I wonder if how many of us white folk would get away dead bass in our possession before the season opens.

" I'm sorry officer, all the regulation books were in chinese, the english copies were all gone.....I didn't know!!"
"No problem. please be careful and have a nice day!"

All this will do is cause even more confrontations.

DropShot'r

About a Year ago, I poseted a message on this forum about Chinese fishermen, and said no more, and no less then the fact that they fish and keep every damn fish the size of your thumb ..

Every little fishie the size like I have in my Aquarium back home... they put in a bucket, take home and eat.. They are not so much concerned about regulations, or about fishing with this or that illegal bait, or introducing dangerous species into lakes and river..
Anways, I just stated that fact and some idiot on this forum started calling me racist and aksing why "I had to single out a group of people"...and all that political-correct BS that you only hear in Canada.
First of all, - "Pal" - (if you're reading this)... I'm europen and I can say whatever the hell I want.
There is more freedom of speech in my land, then there is your's - and minorities don't dictate how we run our country -
The difference between Canada, and my land is that in my land "We (the majority) have more rights then the foreigners, and don't let anyone screw around with us - In Canada ~ It is the foreigners who have more rights then Canadians. And at the slightest comment they don't like, they can bring the Canadian before the Human rights court and win.
(they always win).
Don't get me wrong, I have chinese neighbors, both to the left and right of me and they are decent people, but I believe protecting natural resources, fish stocks, and the environment should take first priority, .. not 'human rights'. It's Canada's future that is at stake

[bamboozler]

I 100% agree that these guys should have been fined for their actions. Ignorance is never an excuse.

I do take exception to the fact that the mayor of Westport, in his opinion, had to put the "racism" card as the excuse for NOT getting fined. This issue is about 2 people fishing illegally, not about "race", and about a CO not doing his/her job.

It's too bad, however, that the focus of peoples anger can be directed to a minority group rather than the unlawful act by 2 individuals of a specific group. I do not know the issues related to the racism Human Rights case, however, I can attest to the fact that the people of Westport are good honest people, and I know and have worked with many in that area. I've never felt discriminated against while living near there.

Clearly, I think we should be directing our anger to the MNR who is not policing well enough and for not doing their job (ie fining them). We should commend the people of Westport for not taking the matter into their own hands and letting the MNR deal with it, albeit poorly.

[Seabass81]

Anton try fishing sometime and relax dude

[Mr. T.]

Anton88 you say that,

In your 'land', you're considered part of the majority so you have more rights than foreigners.

And right now, you're a European in Canada, so that would make you a foreigner so this means that you have more rights then Canadians.

If what you say is true then it's a win-win situation for you, eh?

[Gravelguy4]

I don't care what race they were. they should be charged. i've seen just as many white people breaking the laws as any other nationality.

I find it strange that the MNR didn't take the opportunity to prove to the "Nipper tipping" rednecks that they were on top of the situation. All this does is encourage the vigilanties to take matters into their own hands.
The MNR's lack of action has done more to hurt the Asian fisherman than help it. Is he going to help that guy out the next time the locals catch him poaching?

The MNR needs to step it up; Charge people who are guilty and protect the future of the fishery for all races.

[Fishboy]

Unfortunately, the "race" that suffers the most in this incident is the kind that swims......

[orrsey]

"Nipper tipping" rednecks

The people of Westport are good people and I dont think that this comment is right. People in Westport are more than used to having tourists come to their town of every cultural background. Very friendly community. We dont know exactly what happened last time and we only got a news report and we all know that what is published is what sells.

[Gravelguy4]

"Nipper tipping" rednecks

The people of Westport are good people and I dont think that this comment is right. People in Westport are more than used to having tourists come to their town of every cultural background. Very friendly community. We dont know exactly what happened last time and we only got a news report and we all know that what is published is what sells.

I wasn't referring to the people of westport, i was referring to those who made the news last year (and i think a couple earlier this season) who were making a sport of harrassing Asian fisherman on causeways and bridges. The term "Nipper tipping" was not my term but one used in the news when these attacks were being carried out.

I believe my wording did not point at Westport but to the idiots who would harrass fishermen based on race. I appologize if i was too vague or if it came off that way.

Thanks Orrsey for pointing it out, I appreciate the chance to clarify.

[steve2112]

Hello All

Maybe the CO's are worried that they may end up in a human rights tribunal ( kangaroo court) if they proceed against non English reading Ontarians. Believe it or not Ontario's official language is English

Steve

[Jimmy_1]

I realize we may not have all of the facts.

But of this I can be certain there are far TOO many folks in uniform who are spineless.

To those that aren`t, congratulations and thank you!!!

[TLunge]

Our ministry is showing unbeliveable and scarry incompetence here. Also they are being racist in their scramble to not be seen as racist. Law abiding anglers have to fight this some how, and vigorusly, like maybe a class action lawsuit by the OFAH and other groups might get something done.
Beware people these enlightened politically correct giant brains that run the show around here will move to ban fishing for all rather than deal with the problem. The recent ban on nighttime fishing in the area should be your first clue on how these lefties will try to solve it, and we cannot let that happen either
TLunge

[DonD2]

The MNR officers could care less about someone catching an oos fish...they are after the bigger operations that stock freezers and sell fish.
They to are frustrated, like the OPP...catching youth offenders and going to court and have the youth get a slap on the wrist and allowed to go out and do it again...the same applies to ticketing an oos fisherman..90% of the time they get away with it in court if they fight the ticket.
The reason I'm saying this is because I work with a gentleman now that was bought out by the ministry when they had all their cutbacks...he was fairly high up in the Administration, and has over 30 yrs knowledge of how they work...end of story..