By Cecilia Nasmith
The importance of social distancing doesn't end when fishing season begins, Northumberland-Peterborough South MPP David said at Cobourg council Monday.
Piccini made an appearance at the virtual meeting to share his own perspectives on the fishing season that began last weekend in a year with unprecedented challenges.
Had it been only his decision, Piccini said, he would have cancelled it this year.
A key concern is the fact that fishing season attracts crowds, he stated - “folks who come from the GTA and as far as neighbouring provinces to fish along our beautiful river and along the 401 corridor.
“My position was to request temporary suspension of the fishing season. It was after great deliberation with members of the angling community and with long thought towards balancing individual freedoms and things we all enjoy with the health and safety of our local residents that I asked for a temporary suspension because of the nature of how we find ourselves with a high number of visitors.”
Piccini noted that the Municipality of Port Hope recently issued a number of tickets at the fish ladder.
However, certain lands in Zone 17 (where the riding is located) are subject to the Williams Treaty, which ensures the right to hunting and fishing on those lands.
“The government always weighs the options of all the members across the province, and the decision was to go forward with fishing season,” Piccini reported.
Even so, he added, we must heed the advice of the Chief Medical Officer of Health and check local restrictions. For example, Port Hope has instituted regulations restricting access to the Ganaraska River.
“I commend MNR officials, local bylaw and police with whom we are working closely,” Piccini said.
“The first weekend of the season can be a busy time, but it went off relatively easy for having people coming in from outside.”
Referring to the day's address from Premier Doug Ford setting out the parameters under which restrictions might ease throughout the province, Piccini said, “I wanted to stress that we all, as elected officials, balance the very real recommendations of our health officials with the health of our economy and the health and safety of our resident population as we climb the path to reopening.”
Mayor John Henderson took a moment to thank the MPP for participating in regular Friday meetings to deal with the health emergency, weekly virtual sessions that include all the mayors in the riding as well as Alderville and Hiawatha First Nations chiefs, along with MP Philip Lawrence.
