Debates of February 18, 2005 (day 39)

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, further to my Member’s statement about the recently released management plan for the Bathurst Caribou herd, in light of the rather eye-catching headline in the newspaper today that read, “Caribou hunt ban in plan." It is something that would raise concerns of many avid hunters everywhere in the North. I suppose, Mr. Speaker, that might be the outcome in the end, is we don’t collectively manage the caribou herd in a way that could sustain and that could give all of the residents of the Territories the privilege to hunt for sustenance as well as recreation. I think it is understood that, should there be a risk in a herd, the rights of hunters of non-aboriginals and outfitters will go first before anything like that is done for the aboriginal hunters. It is in the interest of everybody to protect this. I would like to ask the Premier, as the stakeholder in this whole management plan because the GNWT is the essential player in that, whether he could commit to making sure that all the stakeholders are consulted and be part of the team to make sure that this potential ban, if it exists, does not happen. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Ms. Lee. The honourable Premier, Mr. Handley.

Return To Question 428-15(3): Bathurst Caribou Management Plan

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. In terms of consultation, then certainly there has to be more consultation. Let me say that the Bathurst management plan that was introduced is the recommendations from the committee which is made up of our government, federal government, Inuit organizations, First Nations people and so on. It doesn’t represent, necessarily, the views of each of the organizations that the individuals are from, but it is committee’s recommendation. Before our government would take action on this plan, we would want to take into consideration the needs of all and the interests of all the users of that caribou herd. So, Mr. Speaker, that does include the commercial operators, the tourism operators, the non-aboriginal hunters, the aboriginal hunters, and all of the people who are using that herd. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Handley. Supplementary, Ms. Lee.

Supplementary To Question 428-15(3): Bathurst Caribou Management Plan

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. In fact, one of the objectives of the committee is to ensure that the plan is implemented and information about progress on management actions is shared with all stakeholders and users. Mr. Speaker, I might add that most of the plan is about how to monitor and manage the herd better. One of the things that the plan recommends is that the GNWT change the regulations with regard to the quotas and the numbers. We know that, being here for so many years, wildlife legislation has been in the works for a very long time. It hasn’t been introduced. Could I ask the Premier when the government is planning on bringing that legislation forward? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Ms. Lee. The honourable Premier, Mr. Handley.

Further Return To Question 428-15(3): Bathurst Caribou Management Plan

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. We expect that we will be able to introduce the Wildlife Act to this Assembly in May 2005. Mr. Speaker, there is also a companion piece of legislation. That is the species at risk legislation. That one I expect we should be able to have ready for introduction to the Legislative Assembly within the next month or so. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Handley. Supplementary, Ms. Lee.

Supplementary To Question 428-15(3): Bathurst Caribou Management Plan

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I don’t know if the Premier could answer this, but I see that there are many people at the table in this committee and GNWT and DIAND being the government representatives, but all of the other aboriginal governments both in Nunavut and the NWT are represented. I am just wondering if the government is expected to answer to this and if there is an opportunity for the government to respond whether the government could reiterate the importance of consultation for the committee to put this action plan into work. Thank you.

Thank you, Ms. Lee. Mr. Handley.

Further Return To Question 428-15(3): Bathurst Caribou Management Plan

Mr. Speaker, definitely our government will have to respond to the recommendations from this team who was put together to look at the Bathurst herd. So we will be doing that. In doing that, we will be consulting with parties who are not part of the team that was studying the herd. That includes the hunters and those who have commercial operations for tourism. Mr. Speaker, in looking at this plan, the plan does acknowledge that it is very complex because the Bathurst herd doesn’t have an area that is exclusively occupied by them. There are other herds that get mixed in with them from the Beverly and Qamanirjuaq Caribou herd. There are other herds. There are more herds that mix together. We will have to look at this very carefully. Mr. Speaker, I can assure that what we will do is be responsible to all users. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Handley. Final, short supplementary, Ms. Lee.

Supplementary To Question 428-15(3): Bathurst Caribou Management Plan

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I appreciate the government’s commitment to make sure that all the communication and consultation is done. Mr. Speaker, one of the recommendations that the plan makes is to develop, publicize and implement community-based hunting rules and territory hunting regulations in order to avoid wounding and wastage of wildlife. I think there could never be enough promotion and publicizing of the importance of hunting responsibly. Could I ask the Premier to direct these officials to make sure that this is done properly and well? Thank you.

Thank you, Ms. Lee. Mr. Handley.

Further Return To Question 428-15(3): Bathurst Caribou Management Plan

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Responsible hunting has always been a key principle that our wildlife people have operated on. I know many hunters do. I have seen hunters go to great lengths to track down a wounded animal to make sure that it is not just being wasted out there. Mr. Speaker, when talking about these herds, I also want to emphasize that the herds tend to increase in size and decrease in size, decline in numbers and so on. Nobody should feel that there is a guarantee that what they have today will necessarily be there in the long term. That has never been part of our plan. The sustainability of the herd is what is most important. RWED has no intentions at this point to reduce anything for anybody, but we do want to look at this plan very carefully and, in the interests of all users, make sure that we are being fair to everybody. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.