The federal government has weighed in on Ontario's proposal to open up a cormorant hunt by warning the province's hunters that they could be charged if shooting disrupts the protected birds. Documents obtained through a freedom-of-information request show the Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry received feedback from Environment Canada when it opened its proposed cormorant hunt to public comment last November. The proposed hunt would allow hunters to kill 50 birds each day for 291 days a year, between mid March to December — the longest hunt of any game bird in the province. She said the birds are federally protected under the Migratory Birds Convention Act, 1994 and the Migratory Birds Regulations. "Any hunter causing harm to federally-protected migratory birds or their nests could be charged under federal law."

Source: CBC News March 16, 2019 21:22 UTC