ACTION ALERT – April 3, 2008 A vote scheduled for Friday in the House of Commons on federal animal cruelty legislation (Bill S 203) will be critical for people who fish and hunt. S-203 protects anglers and hunters and other traditional animal uses while significantly increasing fines and penalties for wanton animal abuses.  The US based animal rights groups like the International Fund for Animal Welfare and others are mounting a full scale effort against this legislation. For ten years they have aggressively supported alternative legislation (C-373) which would make it a crime to kill a fish or a deer, even if the animal dies immediately. Extensive legal opinion obtained by the CSIA from the firm of Lang Michener confirms these threats to our traditional outdoor heritage activities. A fishing license affords no legal protection for killing a fish. In recent days the animal rights groups have mounted a last minute ‘blitz’ in the press and in Ottawa against S-203, and against legal protection for fishing and hunting. These are the same groups who led the campaign to ban spring bear hunting in Ontario and they are out to make it a crime to take your kids fishing. Federal Members of Parliament need to hear TODAY from all of us who value our right to fish. Call your MP’s office right now and tell them you vote, and you want them to vote IN FAVOR of Bill S-203. Please refer to your local phone book listing for your MP’s number. Stand up for our freedom to fish along with the other eight million Canadians who enjoy a day on the water – before the animal rights people make it a crime. CANADIAN SPORTFISHING INDUSTRY ASSOCIATIONThe Canadian Sportfishing Industry Association is a national alliance of fishing-related businesses including manufacturers, distributors, retailers, outdoor media and other fishing-related organizations. The CSIA and its members serve the interests of 8 million anglers who contribute over $7.5 billion to the Canadian economy. Its mandate is to ensure the stability of the recreational fishing industry while advocating sound fisheries management. Through its sister foundation, the Canadian National Sportfishing Foundation, they receive overwhelming, national support for their National Fishing Week, Canada’s largest coast-to-coast-to coast awareness program promoting our angling heritage. For more information or if you have any questions, contact: Canadian Sportfishing Industry AssociationUnit 11 – 1434 Chemong Road, Peterborough, ON K9J 6X2Toll Free (877) 822-8881   Email tina@catchfishing.com