You can fish without a licence for a bit longer in Ontario.
John Yakabuski is the Minister of Natural Resources and Forestry, and tells us due to the hardships from COVID-19, the province is extending the week of free fishing which normally follows Canada Day.
“From July 4th, to July 19th. We’re also hoping this will encourage more people to take part in this great family activity, give it a bit more time, because not everyone can fit it into one particular week,” says Yakabuski.
The government minister adds he is hopeful this will help tourist operators recover more quickly. But he also admits the loss of revenue for the government will be difficult to track, “If you stop someone on the lake, and they have a licence, well, they’re already licenced. There might be someone with them that doesn’t have a licence. We don’t know how many people will participate.”
The MNRF minister says there are other free weekends of fishing in Ontario, such as Family Day in February, as well as Mother’s and Father’s Day, all to encourage more people to pick up a rod and lure.
“If they’re taking up fishing for the first time, they may get out onto that boat, dock, canoe, shoreline or wherever, and actually say to themselves ‘This is something I really enjoy’,” says Yakabuski.
