Debates of October 20, 2004 (day 24)

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Earlier today, Mr. Speaker, I spoke about the recent grizzly bear attack on one of my constituents, and the increasing problems our hunters, outfitters, and others are experiencing with grizzly bears. My question to the Minister of Resources, Wildlife and Economic Development is can the Minister tell me what are the steps he and his department are taking or have taken to curb the increasing problems we are having with grizzly bears? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Zoe. Minister of RWED, the Honourable Mr. Bell.

Return To Question 268-15(3): Steps Taken To Address Encounters With Grizzly Bears

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Let me first say, Mr. Speaker, that it was a very unfortunate incident that happened recently at the Colomac mine site, and very unfortunate that two people were injured. Although it’s not the first time this has ever happened, I would say injuries of this nature and these encounters are still relatively rare. Not to say that they don’t happen, and many times when they do happen it’s a very bad outcome.

The Member, in his statement, pointed out that we are involved and responsible for the protection of wildlife, but I would say that the department is very active in making sure we discuss with people in communities around the North, bear safety issues. We want to make sure that when people are out on the land that they are safe, whether they are working or hunting.

Unfortunately, in this incident the Member is correct; the people working did not have a gun at their disposal. A gun is not always assurance that the outcome will be successful either, certainly not for the bear, but it is no guarantee for the people out on the land. We have all heard of incidents where somebody is attacked by a bear and they are carrying a gun and unable to down the bear. So we work with communities, we have a web site that disseminates information about bear safety. The regional offices all have this information and meet with community members, and there are occasions when they are in schools talking about bear safety. I think that this is the kind of thing that we can do to ensure that when people are out in bear territory, they are aware of it and understand the steps that they need to take to be safe. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Bell. Supplementary, Mr. Zoe.

Supplementary To Question 268-15(3): Steps Taken To Address Encounters With Grizzly Bears

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. In my view, the response from the Minister is that it’s not something new that he’s taken to date. It’s been an ongoing thing. The department has been doing everything that he said he’s doing. My question was what steps has he or the department taken, because this problem has been on the increase for the last number of years, but nothing has been done in terms of changing the Wildlife Act or the regulations respecting grizzly bears. I know the department is working on a new proposed Wildlife Act and they’re always saying they’re going to deal with these types of issues within the new Wildlife Act. But because of the existing problems, are they going to do anything specifically to curb this issue that we’re having with grizzly bears right now? He didn’t really answer my question, Mr. Speaker, so I’d like to reiterate the same question to the Minister. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Zoe. Mr. Bell.

Further Return To Question 268-15(3): Steps Taken To Address Encounters With Grizzly Bears

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The Member is right; the development of the Wildlife Act and the Species at Risk Act is underway. It has been underway for a number of years and obviously it’s a very slow process. We are required to consult with land claim organizations and with wildlife management groups. We want to make sure we consult with the entire public across the territory and all of the aboriginal organizations. It has been unwieldy. We have to make sure that we comply with the spirit and intent of all the land claim agreements, and we are aiming to do that. So, yes, I’ve run down a number of safety issues related to grizzly bears and black bears and the kinds of things the department has been doing for some time. The Member is right; this is nothing new. There are increased encounters because we’re spending a lot more time on the land because of the development, I think. It’s not my intention to come out with new provisions related to grizzly bears at this point. We know that you can’t sport hunt grizzly bears. I don’t think that’s what the Member is suggesting. If you are attacked by a grizzly bear, obviously you can kill it. You have to report to us that you’ve done so, but I think that short of the new wildlife legislation that we’ve been working on for some time and are implementing, I’m not aware of anything that the department is doing currently to change the rules around how we deal with problem grizzly bears. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Bell. Supplementary, Mr. Zoe.

Supplementary To Question 268-15(3): Steps Taken To Address Encounters With Grizzly Bears

Thank you. That’s the point I’m trying to make, Mr. Speaker, exactly what the Minister has indicated. It seems like the government, although they know we’re having increasing problems with grizzly bears, is not willing to do anything at this point in time. So my question to the Minister is would the Minister undertake to consult with all the regions pertaining to this specific grizzly bear issue to see what the best way is to resolve or manage or deal with improving the safety of the people on the land so it can be assured. Could he undertake that so he goes to the communities and talks to the band councils, the game councils, and seek information from them to see what the best way is or what else we can do to try and curb these increasing problems we’re having with grizzly bears? If it happens to be to change regulations, so be it. But if they come up with a different solution, let’s hear it. Why can’t he do something specifically to deal with this particular problem that we’re having with grizzly bears? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Zoe. Mr. Bell.

Further Return To Question 268-15(3): Steps Taken To Address Encounters With Grizzly Bears

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. We can do that. We can certainly engage the regions in this discussion with communities. I think the first thing we can and will do is, in fact, confirm what the Member is suggesting, that there are increased incidents and run-ins of people with grizzly bears. I think that’s the first step. But even if we find that there isn’t a dramatic increase, I think it’s always a good practice to sit down and talk about safety and safe practices when out on the land. Obviously, when you go out into bear country there are a number of steps that you need to take to make sure you’re safe. Workplace safety issues, as well. I think in the case near Colomac, I’m not sure if it was a DIAND contractor, we need to be able to work with contractors and federal government departments to make sure that the kinds of things they require on their worksites don’t preclude worker safety. I think that’s very important. Where we can play an information dissemination role we’ll do that, but I would be interested in working with the regions who, I think, are going to have a very good handle on the issues locally and see if there aren’t other things that we can do besides the Wildlife Act and these kinds of things, see if there aren’t other things we can do to increase safety. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Bell. Your final supplementary, Mr. Zoe.

Supplementary To Question 268-15(3): Steps Taken To Address Encounters With Grizzly Bears

Final supplementary. Mr. Speaker, if the department is going to undertake my suggestion that they go to the regions and talk to people and part of that consultation as to how we can curb this increasing grizzly bear problem that we have for hunters and outfitters and other people who are going out on the land, as part of their consultation I know that the department has videos pertaining to bear safety. It is my understanding that they’re not translated into aboriginal languages. Could the Minister undertake to get these videos translated into aboriginal languages, so that when they do go talk to the communities they can also show these videos in terms of safety? At the same time, while he’s doing that, maybe he could also get suggestions from various people who are knowledgeable about the grizzly bear, how they act and how they do things in traditional ways out on the land. Maybe we can find some solution to try and curb this problem we’re having. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Zoe. Mr. Bell.

Further Return To Question 268-15(3): Steps Taken To Address Encounters With Grizzly Bears

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I’ll certainly find out what information and materials we have available to us and what materials we use in the regions. I haven’t seen the videos. I’ll take it that they exist and the Member has seen them. I assume that they aren’t available in some of the aboriginal languages and we can look at that too, especially regionally. Obviously it’s not relevant for all regions, but we can talk about where it is relevant. I think there’s also some merit in looking at other materials and making sure that people in communities understand these. Obviously that’s the idea behind communicating. We need to make sure that people understand the material, and understand the issues that we’re discussing. If they can’t, then it’s certainly of no use. So we’ll look at that, and I can discuss that with the Member and we can talk about the usefulness of having these materials translated. Thank you.