A decision over whether to expand an obscure dog sport in Ontario sparked division within Doug Ford's Progressive Conservative caucus that saw the premier agree to cancel a new licensing regime before later resurrecting it, The Canadian Press has learned.
At trial and train areas, hunters can unleash dogs inside massive, fenced-in areas to hunt down prey such as coyotes, foxes and rabbits. The provincial government insists they are safe for both dogs and wildlife.
In the spring of last year, after a prolonged lobbying campaign from some train and trial hunters, the province released a proposal through the Environmental Registry that would allow for a one-time, 90-day licence application period and allow licences to be transferred to new owners. The changes were part of an omnibus red tape bill that became law in June 2023.