Free Fishing for Vets......

I know this is going sound petty, mean-minded and perhaps even unpatriotic - but for the life of me I do not understand why the Ontario government has decided that members of the Canadian Armed forces - veterans and those presently serving - no longer are required to purchase fishing licences. I understand the optics of it - it makes the provincial government look caring and patriotic as opposed to the federal Liberals and perhaps by extension such a gesture enhances the reputation of the federal Conservatives. But is this the best way of doing it? While I would never suggest that Canadians should not respect the services that the Canadian Armed Forces provide - I would argue that (1) most of the members do not put themselves at any risk and (2) there are other professions that contribute just as much to Canadians' wellbeing.

There are approximately roughly 68,000 men and women, plus 27,000 reservists who are employed by the Canadian Government (1). Of those approximately 95,000 individuals - a very small percentage ( less than 4%) are serving in other countries (2). While just over half of those individuals are serving in areas that are clearly potentially dangerous, many of the personnel are not. To suggest, as did Ontario Provincial Minister Yakabuski that we need to " salute the sacrifice and bravery of our service members who have defended and continue to defend the rights and freedoms we enjoy" (3) feels as if the government is getting cheap political points for little work. It is an easy way to get votes and means little.

The vast majority of our Canadian Armed Forces personnel are engaged in activities that are, at the very least, no more dangerous than most Canadian occupations. For example -a care aid in a long term residential care facility is far more likely of being injured on the job (4) than is a member of the Canadian Armed Forces. Perhaps even more importantly, by singling out one type of employment, the Ontario Government has suggested that others in Ontario who do much to contribute to Ontarian's rights and freedoms and the province's quality of life are less valued and certainly less recognized or rewarded.

There are thousands of workers in Ontario who do difficult jobs, frequently with poor pay, few benefits and no job security who are never recognized for their service. Care aids, early childhood educators, developmental service workers or those who support individuals living on the street or in halfway houses are never recognized for their contributions to the fabric of our society. The thousands and thousands of individuals who are employed by the multitude of not-for-profit agencies and who (in Ontario) carry out the government's social programs do so without fanfare and certainly no additional benefits other than the satisfaction of doing a good job. If armed services personnel, the majority of whom never leave the country deserve to be recognized - then so to do those who commit their lives to serve others.

There are significant problems and gaps in the way that the Canadian government supports members of the armed forces who are struggling with the consequences of their service. Letting them fish for free seems to be a not particularly useful response.



(1) Canadian Armed Forces - Wikipedia
(2) https://www.ctvnews.ca/canada/canada-s-current-military-operations-abroad-1.3154603
(3) https://news.ontario.ca/mnr/en/2019/01/recreational-fishing-now-free-for-canadian-service-members.html
(4) www.vancouversun.com/health/long+term+health+care+workers+highest+risk+injury /11688532/story.html