<p>July 03, 2013 </p><p>Mr. Rick Watchorn, District Manager Pembroke District Ministry of Natural Resources 31 Riverside Drive Pembroke, ON K8A 8R6</p><p>Re: Life Bait-Fish Ban in the Quebec Portion of the Ottawa River</p><p>Dear Mr.Watchorn:</p><p>We appreciate that, under normal circumstances, Ontario does not publicize fishing regulations of other jurisdictions, however, the Ottawa River being an interprovincial waterway and its use for fishing being shared by anglers from Ontario and Quebec, certainly warrant an exeption.</p><p>We are certain that ... other than anglers who are lucky enough to be warned by an Ontario conservation officer ... the majority of anglers with an Ontario resident or non- resident fishing licence are totally unaware of the Live Bait-Fish Ban in the Quebec Portion of the Ottawa River, unless they were to obtain a Quebec Fishing Regulations summary in English, copies of which are always in short supply and not available in Ontario to our knowledge.</p><p>Pembroke Outdoor Sportsman’s Club (POSC) is engaged in a fact finding exercise and in the course of this investigation encountered varying explanations on the enforcement of that ban given POSC members by Quebec conservation officers, e.g. a) There supposedly exists a live bait-fish dealer (or more?) who is Quebec- licensed to sell live bait-fish for their exclusive use in the Ottawa River. (Name and address of that dealer remains unknown.)</p><p> b) At a bass-fishing enthusiasts meeting held at LaPasse, an attending Quebec conservation officer exclaimed ‘that live bait-fish could be used in the Quebec Portion of the Ottawa River provided that the live bait-fish were obtained from a Quebec-licensed dealer!’ (It remains unknown whether live bait-fish could be used if they were caught with hook & line in that Quebec Portion of the river.)</p><p>. . ./2 Mr. Rick Watchorn, District Manager</p><p>Page Two</p><p> c) Differing the above, a POSC member who resides in Quebec was informed verbally by a Quebec conservation officer that he will lay charges against any anglers from Quebec and Ontario when using live bait-fish. </p><p> d) The most bizarre information seems to have been received by a Pauline Rantz who, together with friends had a Quebec fishing licence and had used live bait- fish and was approached by Quebec conservation officers near Des Joachims at the end of their fishing and alleges having been told ‘ to empty their minnow bucket while in Quebec because she was not allowed to bring “Quebec water” back into Ontario.’ (See letter to the editor in The Daily Observer of June 22nd)</p><p>You have to agree that all that confusing information above obtained so far needs official clarification to avoid that Ontario residents and tourists having to defend themselves in a Quebec court of law.</p><p>In order to bring a definite end to the existing confusion, we strongly recommend that you take the initiative for:</p><p> i. Officially obtain information from the Quebec Ministry of Natural Resources and Wildlife containing a clear and definite description of the rules by which that Quebec live bait-fish ban is being enforced.</p><p> ii. Arranging a “method of publicity” by Ontario and Quebec by which Ontario and Quebec anglers will be meaningfully informed of:</p><p>- The existing Live Bait-Fish Ban in the Quebec Portion of th Ottawa River, and - The clear and straight forward rules of enforcing same.</p><p>Continuing leaving Ontario and Quebec anglers plus tourist-anglers in the dark is not an option and immediate remedial action is needed!</p><p>We look forward to your reply.</p><p>Yours, in Conservation</p><p>Troy Gervais, President Pembroke Outdoor Sportsman’s Club </p>