AR-News: (CA) Press Release: Cormorants get their say in the by-election

[Barry Kent MacKay]

Cormorants get their say in the by-election

Liberals "culled" from Hamilton East

May 14, 2004, Toronto:  The coalition of organizations opposed to the
Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources cormorant slaughter on High Bluff
Island in Presqu'ile Provincial Park celebrates the defeat of the Liberal
candidate, Ralph Agostino in the Hamilton East by-election.

Environment Voters, the political arm of Animal Alliance of Canada paid for
radio ads, asking people not to vote for the Liberal candidate and but
instead support NDP candidate, Andrea Horwath.  Hamilton East voters were
asked to help protect Ontario's wildlife by punishing the Liberals for their
arrogant and heavy handed decision to slaughter 6,000 cormorants.

"Environment Voters helped defeat Ralph Agostino because the sentiment
expressed in the EV ad mirrored the sentiment of the majority of voters of
Hamilton East."  said Liz White, Director of Environment Voters.  "Ontario
Liberals called a snap by-election assuming that the Agostino name would
carry the day.  They treated Hamilton East voters with the same disregard
and distain as they treated the dozens of scientists and conservation
organizations who opposed the cormorant slaughter because there was no
scientific justification for the action."

"The Liberals have chosen to use the cormorants for political opportunism,
so we will do the same." said White.  "We intend to make sure that the
Liberals pay a price at the ballot box in every by-election for their
terrible mismanagement of a native species."

"The Liberals should ask themselves, if the Ministry will not allow
cormorants to nest in a bird nesting sanctuary in a provincial park, where
can they nest.  "The answer to that question is just too terrible to
contemplate." said White.  "That's why we will continue to make the Liberals
pay until they stop the cull."

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For further information please call Liz White at Environment Voters:
416-462-9541 (p) or 416-809-4371 (cell)


Environment Voters Radio Ad
Hamilton East By-election

A message from Environment Voters.

Please, we urge you to vote for the NDP candidate Andrea Horwath in the May
13th Hamilton East by-election.

The Liberals, refusing to do an environmental assessment, have ordered the
slaughter of 6,000 cormorants in Presqu'ile Provincial Park.

Dozens of scientific reports show there is no environmental protection
reason to kill the birds. Leading scientists are opposed to the slaughter.
The Liberals are ordering the unnecessary and cowardly killing of 6,000
animals because they believe it will give them some local political
advantage.

Killing animals for no other reason than it's good politics is wrong.

Please, use your vote to punish the Liberals, and tell all politicians that
environmental and wildlife protection must be based on science and
conservation not immoral political opportunism.

Please vote for good government, and good environmental and wildlife
protection policies.

Vote for Andrea Horwath, your NDP candidate.



_________________

  Barry Kent MacKay
  Canadian Representative 
  ANIMAL PROTECTION INSTITUTE 
  www.api4animals.org