Debates of November 27, 2007 (day 3)

Mr. Speaker…(English not provided)

Mr. Speaker, I would like to speak about the ongoing problems with buffalo in Fort Liard. The community of Fort Liard has had serious concerns about the free-roaming buffalo in and around their community. The buffalo roam right through town and through the schoolyard. They are in the middle of the roads. They destroy people’s gardens and yards. We are just lucky that nothing has happened to any children and no one has been hurt. The airport is there, Mr. Speaker. The safety is at stake because animals roam right through the airport runway and they’re not even scared anymore being chased away, and there’s a high risk of passenger safety.

Mr. Speaker, this issue is not new, since I started bringing it up in the 15th Assembly. The community and residents have not seen adequate action and the community of Fort Liard has been looking for solutions to their bison problem. The government has been there. Action plans were developed. But what’s still missing, Mr. Speaker, is the action.

Mr. Speaker, the Department of Environment and Natural Resources committed in its framework for action that the Deh Cho communities develop a bison management plan. This plan is supposed to address the expanding population and also public safety concerns of my constituency. Last year, in June, the department even reported that they have project teams in place that will develop a bison plan for the Liard herd by the fall of 2007.

Mr. Speaker, fall of 2007 is coming to an end, yet the community of Fort Liard is still struggling with the same bison problems without a management plan. I urge the Minister to take immediate steps to rectify the bison problems in Fort Liard before an unavoidable tragedy happens. Mahsi cho.

---Applause