Limits on foreign bear hunters bad for business, says Outdoor Tourism Ontario

Northern Ontario outfitters say the return of the spring bear hunt has not been as successful as the Liberal government promised it would be.

Halfway through the hunt, many outfitters say their business is being hurt by surprise government regulations.

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This is the first time since 1999 that bears are being hunted across the north, with tourists from the U.S. and Europe taking part.

But the Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry has told lodges they could only welcome a set number of foreign bear hunters this year, no matter how many customers were already booked.

Laurie Marcil, executive director of Nature and Outdoor Tourism Ontario, says mixed messages are causing confusion between outfitters and the government, and that the restrictions vary from district to district.

"I know of outfitters that have decided at the last minute to cancel their entire spring hunt because of all the problems," says Marcil, "and they didn't want to have that impact their fall hunters."

It appears there is some real lack of communication from top to bottom- LaurieMarcil, executive director Outdoor Tourism Ontario

The ministrysays with the return of the hunt, it couldn't give much advance notice to outfitters.

Marcil says some outfitters got their problems resolved, but others did not.

"It appears there is some real lack of communication from top to bottom," Marcil says, "and it's really tricky, foran organization like us to know who we should be talking to."

A total of197 bear hunters from outside Ontario have bought licences, the ministry says.

The ministry reportsit has spoken to all bear outfitters about the policy changes, but plans on giving more notice next year.