March 26th, 2023 at 10:00am
Location- via Zoom
- Conservation Pledge- By John Hinton
- Moment of Silence for Those Who Have Passed- By Eric Smith
- Chair’s Report- By Eric Smith
– Zone executive introduction, John Hinton- First Vice Chair, John Hockley- Second
Vice and Alt. Director, Brian Sutcliffe- Director, Taylor Smith- Secretary/Treasurer
and Website Administrator
– Written report read.
o Funding requests involving children as well as conservation projects.
o The O.F.A.H general meeting is on April 4 th , 2023, at 7:00pm. Members
should have received the e-blast to register for the meeting. - Business Arising From Chair’s Report
– None
o Moved by Eric Smith and seconded by John Hinton, voted/carried. - Minutes of the Last Zone “E” Meeting
– Offered via website. - Business Arising from the Minutes of the Last Meeting
– None
o Moved by Taylor Smith and seconded by John Hockley, voted/carried. - First Vice Chair’s Report
– Avian Flu has been found in the G.T.A, some chance it could come into our area.
Several dead birds have been tested positive. There have also been skunks that have
tested positive as well so a possible concern that it can also be passed to humans.
Take caution when finding deceased birds.
– Sales happening in the O.F.A.H Pro Shop
New insect has been discovered in Buffalo, Spotted Lantern Fly which is native to
South Eastern Asia, which may soon arrive in Ontario. It’s main source of transport is
from humans while moving wood. - Second Vice Chair’s Report
– Nothing to report at this time. - Director’s Report
– MNR&F is taking a look at changing the catch and release rules. At this point in time
if the fish was not legal, you had to release it immediately but now they have decided
that they are going to make it more flexible so that you would be able to take a
picture, measure it, etc. as long as the fish is released back in a reasonable time.
These changes won’t be appearing in the regulations until 2025. A survey is taking
place until April 30 th at Ontario.ca/fishing updates.
o Moved by Brian Sutcliffe and seconded by Paul Goggan, voted/carried. - Secretary/Treasurer’s Report
– Recap of last meetings lunch donation which has since been deposited.
– Kawartha Credit Union, had to order new cheques due to previous chair member
signing them in advance and now no longer having signing authority. Waiting on
more information from the bank to assist in finance report.
o Moved by Taylor Smith and seconded by Brian Sutcliffe, voted/carried. - Business Arising from the Secretary/Treasurer’s Report
– None - Correspondence
– None - Business Arising from Correspondence
– None - Old and New Business – Funding Requests
– Peter Armour- Kawartha Highlands Signature Park, banning generators as well as
chainsaws. Concern is who else is being affected.
– Andy Buffam- 55B
o Had a meeting this past Friday with MNRF group in Pembrooke and met with
the manager, supervisor, and the district biologist as well as regional biologist.
Presented and update on the current situation with the deer in 55B as this is
the area Andy is most familiar with. Suggested that we should once again
look at reducing the doe tag allocations as well as review shortening the bow
season which runs until December 15 th .
o Overall, the deer population in this area is low.
o Made a request that they look at forming a committee with people who live in
area 55B and possibly 55A and examine ideas on how we can increase the
deer population.
– Peter Armour- Thank you to the O.F.A.H. Zone E
o The work that was done in regard to the firearms.
– Paul Goggan- Thank you to the O.F.A.H
o For the donation back in August to the Bancroft Fish and Game Club for the
youth membership program taking place in July of this year. Will help 10
youth get their firearms licence as well as their hunters education course over
the course of a week.
– Funding Requests
o Alus Peterborough
– Have a commitment to them for the next two years for $5,000.00
– They’re taking marginal farm land out of production and putting it into
natural habitat.
o National Archery Program (N.A.S.P.)
– Running a program in Barry’s Bay at the Madawaska District High
School and are expecting 200 students.
They are looking for $2,000.00 to keep fees for the students down to
$10.00 each.
– Moved by John Hinton and seconded by Taylor Smith.
o NeXgen
– Fishing derby to be held in Lindsay. They are expecting 110-120 youth
there and between 135-150 adults.
– They are looking for $1,000.00.
– Moved by John Hinton and seconded by John Hockley.
o Water Sheds Canada
– Looking for $1,000.00 funding to plant the banks along the cold water
stream that has Brook Trout in it. The stream flows into Carlson Lake
near Barry’s Bay.
– Moved by Paul Goggan and seconded by Taylor Smith.
o Carleton University
– Looking to do a study tracking sturgeon and musky in the Ottawa and
Petawawa River.
– They are looking for $8,500.00 to buy 20 transmitters for tracking the
fish.
– Discussed giving a smaller amount of funding.
– $1,000.00 will be given to them for funding.
Moved by Paul Goggin and seconded by Andy Buffam.
– Eric Smith informed the group that John Hinton will have signing authority.
- Question and Answer Period
– Andy Buffam- comment on funding.
o Should we be actively looking for ways to spend funds-taking initiative?
o John Hinton brought up annual fees that we have to pay into.
– $3,000.00 to the Mario Cortellucci Heritage Centre as well as a few
other things.
– The reason we have as much money in the bank as we do is due to the
COVID-19 restrictions.
o Eric Smith brought up investing in more GICs. Will be able to look more into
this once we have the banking situation sorted.
– William (last name not available) thanked the executives for the work that they put in
behind the scenes.
- Next O.F.A.H. Zone “E” Meeting
– Next meeting will take place on August 27 th , 2023 with the location to be
determined.