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The province is taking action to protect Ontario wildlife from Chronic Wasting Disease by stopping the transport of certain deer and elk parts into the province, Natural Resources Minister David Ramsay announced today.
“There are no known cases of Chronic Wasting Disease in Ontario but we must continue to be vigilant,” said Ramsay. “This government is taking measures to minimize the potential impact of this disease on Ontario ’s wildlife, biodiversity, the environment and the economy.”
The ministry is implementing a regulation that bans hunters and others from bringing high-risk parts of deer and elk from other jurisdictions into Ontario to address some of the risk factors. A Chronic Wasting Disease Surveillance and Response plan has been developed by the ministries of Natural Resources, Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs, and Health and Long-Term Care, along with the Canadian Food Inspection Agency. There is no evidence to date that Chronic Wasting Disease is a health risk to humans.
“We will also work with deer and elk farmers as they implement the elements of the response plan that apply to their farming operations,” said Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs Minister Leona Dombrowsky.
The response plan sets out priorities for monitoring for Chronic Wasting Disease. It also sets out actions to control, eradicate and recover if the disease is found in Ontario wildlife. The Ministry of Natural Resources has tested wild deer since 2002. This year it is expanding the testing to a larger geographic area in central and eastern Ontario .
For more information about this plan and legislation, visit the Environmental Bill of Rights Registry at www.ene.gov.on.ca/samples/search/ and enter Registry Number xb05e6803.
Chronic Wasting Disease is a fatal disease of the nervous system of deer and elk species. It has been found in Alberta and Saskatchewan and some American states. For more information, visit www.mnr.gov.on.ca/MNR/hunting/cwd.
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