No co-operation from us, IFAW

This is in reference to a letter in The Telegram on April 6, titled “Why not collaborate with IFAW,” by Jerry Conway of Wilsons Beach, N.B., in which he was referring to a letter by Jim Winter on the issue of the Canadian government logo being next to that of the International Fund for Animal Welfare (IFAW).

Mr. Conway alluded to the fact that the IFAW was protecting animals at risk.

Jim Winter, as first president and myself, as first treasurer, were elected to the Canadian Sealers Association at a meeting in Baie Verte, approximately 35 years ago. This association was born out of desperation because the anti-sealing groups, including the IFAW, had destroyed an industry and a way of life we have had for 500 years. They destroyed it with their falsehoods and deliberate lies, with no facts whatsoever.

The seal herd went from 2.2 million in 1975 to the present day count of approximately nine million and now is having a detrimental effect on the remaining few fish stocks that we have left on the northeast coast of Atlantic Canada, including the province Mr. Conway is from. And this group is still spreading lies, and because of them we have a dead seal industry.

To collaborate with the IFAW would be like admitting that they are right and we were wrong.

I firmly believe that the people of the Maritime provinces are behind me when I say to you we will never collaborate with this bunch.