Randy Hillier, MPP for Lanark-Frontenac-Lennox and Addington spoke out in the Legislature today on the government’s longstanding failure to solve the problem of nuisance elk near Bancroft, ON.

“Frankly, it’s ridiculous,” said Hillier. “They release a herd of elk, and then are surprised when these elk eat crops.”

The elk, first brought to Ontario from Alberta’s Elk Island Park as part of a Ministry of Natural Resources repopulation program in 2000, have been a problem for local farmers and landowners ever since. Farmers have not had the ability to do anything to protect their land or livelihood, as the elk are protected.

“It’s about time this government woke up to the problems that it’s caused for average citizens,” stated Hillier. “The member for this riding is the former Minister of Agriculture. Leona Dombrowsky has no excuse for failing her constituents in this fashion.”

Despite the fact that the government had passed Bill 212 late last year, which would allow farmers to shoot nuisance elk, the Ministry of Natural Resources has told some local farmers that it may be two years before the law is fully implemented.

“This liberal government has the capacity to move with frightening speed when it’s passing a law for their liberals friends, like consultants or environmental special interests,” noted Hillier. “When it comes time to defend the everyman from their own intrusions, however, they’re slow as molasses.”

“It’s not right, and they need to answer for it.”