MNRF Guts Wildlife Rehabbers Right of Appeal
After seven years of struggle, in 2018 Wildlife Rehabbers got the "Right of appeal" by the Minister of Natural Resources (MNRF) at the time Natalie Des Rosier. The reason given by the Minister was "fairness" for Wildlife Rehabbers. The "Right of Appeal" was originally intended to allow Wildlife Rehabbers to present their side of an issue. They could appeal to the District Manager (1st appeal) and, if not resolved appeal to a Regional Panel (2nd appeal). The intent was to be open and transparent.
The policy has now been gutted with any appeals being decided behind closed doors with no representation by the Wildlife Rehabber. The Wildlife Rehabber is not present and not allowed to present their side (as in the Elizabethan Star Chamber approach). The appeal process is now a rubber stamp for any decisions made by any and all MNRF staff.
The original " Right of Appeal" (interim process) was supposed to be formalized later, which never happened. We are now back at the pre-2018 situation where Wildlife Rehabbers have effective no "right of appeal" and are at the mercy of whatever interpretation of the regulations an MNRF person makes. The gutting of the "right of Appeal" is a direct result of the MNRF raid on Mally's Raccoon Rescue last September. Whenever there is a major disagreement with a Wildlife Rehabbers the MNRF creates more and/or more restrictive regulations that applied to all Wildlife Rehabbers.
For all those in the Wildlife Rescue field who worked on getting the "Right of Appeal" this is a major disappointment and set back. "Right of Appeal" is now back on the MNRF Priority list (Monique's list) to do list. This also highlights the MNRF policy of doing things behind closed doors is not working and is damaging Wildlife Rehabbing in Ontario.
Media Contact
Sandy Donald
416-436-9892
sandy@ontariowildliferescue.ca
