Date
February
18
2005
Members Present
ITEM 1: PRAYER
Assembly Members
Debates of February 18, 2005 (day 39)
Topics
Statements
Member’s Statement On Bathurst Caribou Management Plan
Sandy Lee
Range Lake
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker I would like to take this opportunity to comment on the Bathurst Caribou Management Plan, tabled in the House this week. Mr. Speaker, my riding of Range Lake is most noticeable as the home of national chain stores like Wal-Mart and Canadian Tire. But what many may not know is that it is also home to many avid hunters, both aboriginal and non-aboriginal. In fact, Mr. Speaker, I have to tell you, I was quite surprised at how often the issues of rights and privileges of game hunting came up during my door-to-door campaign. This is an intense passion for many of them, not just for recreation but for subsistence.
Many of my constituents love living in the North because they can hunt, and many of them love to hunt because they live in the North. My experiences have shown also, Mr. Speaker, that avid hunters have very strong respect for wildlife and they are very much committed to conservation of wildlife, whether they are aboriginal or non-aboriginal.
In light of the recommendations made in this plan, I believe it is incumbent on the government to bring all of the expertise and players together to work out a way to conserve wildlife for the benefit of all.
Mr. Speaker, this plan speaks to the importance of conservation, as well as how to avoid reducing or eliminating the quota for anyone. I would like to remind the government that the implementation of the recommendations of this plan has to include all stakeholders and consultation with all stakeholders, if the plan is to be accepted and to be ultimately successful for the benefit of everyone.
Mr. Speaker, I would also like to take this opportunity to remind the government of the lack of movement the government has shown in introducing the new wildlife legislation, which has been in the books, in the works, and has been in the consultation process for at least a decade. This legislation is supposed to address the issue of hunting rights and privileges, as well as conservation and management. At the appropriate time I will be asking the government as to where they are with that. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.