Frederick Blake Jr.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. In reality, it would be nice if this motion was true, and we were going to give our residents a four-month tax break, but it's really not true, because we have a letter here stating that, on September 1st, if the NWT doesn't put their package in place, the federal government will implement theirs. That means that home heating fuel, for example, as the Minister mentioned, will be taxed. We have a lot of small companies in our territory, small businesses, large businesses, and homeowners who use a lot of home heating fuel and fuel during the winter months. Everybody will be...

I know that it has only been a week, but have discussions started with co-management partners on increasing grizzly bear hunting tags for bears?

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. In follow-up to my Member's statement, I have a few questions for the Minister of Environment and Natural Resources. As I mentioned, we have an issue with grizzly bears in the community of Aklavik, upwards of 14. I would like to ask the Minister: can the Minister update the House on what steps are being taken by ENR officers to deal with the grizzly bear problem? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Last week I spoke about the grizzly bear problem in Aklavik. This is becoming a major issue for my constituents. Bears are wandering throughout the community and making everyone feel unsafe. Parents are worried about their children walking to school soon or playing outside unsupervised.

Mr. Speaker, bears will travel up to 100 kilometres to get back to an easy food source like town dumps. Once a bear is food-conditioned and human-habituated, it will keep coming back. The Yukon government has been proactive in putting information about bear relocation on their Facebook...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. As I mentioned, we have a huge problem, especially after dark. Yesterday we had three bears coming into the community. Will the Minister make sure that the department have officers on patrol in the evenings while they are in the community, just to make sure that there is safety? Safety is always number one for the community. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

I am glad that the department is taking some action. Has relocation been looked at, and what would be the cost to relocate one or two grizzly bears or more?

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I would like to recognize two of my constituents from Aklavik, Mildred and Agnes Edwards. Mildred received the Minister's Choice Award earlier today for her passion to our culture, tradition, and preserving traditional knowledge. I also had the opportunity to serve alongside her when she was Chief of Aklavik and I was the Chief of Tsiigehtchic. We had a lot of good discussions at the board of directors and a lot of the meetings, so it is good to have her with us today. Thank you.

Thank you, committee. We decided to double check a couple of things here, but we will continue with a question by Mr. O'Reilly to the clerk, law clerk. Sorry, Mr. O'Reilly. With all the commotion there, could you restate the question, if there is one for the law clerk?

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I, too, would like to recognize Lesa. We went to Samuel Hearne together. I wish you all the best in the upcoming election. Also Robert Bouchard, the former MLA. It's good to have him here. It must be election time; just kidding. It's good to have him. We became good friends in the last Assembly, and it's always good to see him. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Testart. Next, we have Mr. O'Reilly.