Thank you, Madam Chair. I appreciate that this is a step in the right direction to actually getting Wildlife Management 101 the possibility of coming into action here. If we don’t know how many animals we’re taking, especially from a limited population, we can get into trouble and that’s exactly what we saw, of course, with our caribou situation today. It has a generational impact, I would say, on people’s culture.
I understand in the act that there are consequences for those without Aboriginal treaty rights if they fail to report their take. Now, it’s sad that this had to be put in regulations because those people have always had to report their take of wildlife and they have done so at an extremely high rate, without any clubs over the head. I think people, as I mentioned, are very connected to wildlife and want to do the responsible thing. I would say that’s true of all people.
I guess my comment is, if there’s a consequence for one group of people and we are talking about this applying to all groups of people that the Minister requires it of, what are the consequences for all people if they do not conform, since we have consequences stipulated in the act for some? Thank you.
Thank you, Mr. Bromley. To the motion. Minister Miltenberger. [microphone turned off] …anyone speaking to the motion except yourself. To the motion.
Thank you, Madam Chair. Once again it’s the issue of putting any restrictions on a right. There is an interest of the Aboriginal governments to work out, through regulations, the mandatory reporting, because we all agree, you can’t manage what you can’t count. So the intent is to do that.
In terms of consequences, there can be penalties, which will be sorted out in regulation, but we can’t deny a licence. Thank you.
Thank you, Minister Miltenberger. To the motion.
Question.
Question is being called.
---Carried
Clause 98 as amended.
---Clause 98 as amended approved
Clauses 99 to 120.
---Clause 99 to 120 inclusive approved
Thank you. Clauses 121 to 141.
---Clause 121 to 141 inclusive approved
Thank you. Clauses 142 to 167.
---Clause 142 to 167 inclusive approved
Clause 168. Mr. Hawkins.
Thank you, Madam Chair. I have another motion. I move that Bill 3 be amended by adding the following between the headings: “PART 8 GENERAL” and “Disclosure of Information” that proceeds clause 168:
Appeal
167.1 A person who, under this act or the regulations, has been refused a licence, permit or other authorization, may appeal the refusal in accordance with the regulations.
Thank you, Madam Chair.
Thank you, Mr. Hawkins. Motion is on the floor. Motion is in order. To the motion.
Question.
Question is being called.
---Carried
Clause 168 as amended.
---Clause 168 as amended approved
Clauses 169 to 172.
---Clause 169 to 172 inclusive approved
Agreed. Thank you. Clause 173. Mr. Hawkins.
Thank you, Madam Chair. I have a couple of motions to read and I will obviously do them one at a time.
I move that subclause 173(1) of Bill 3 be amended by deleting paragraph (z.6) and substituting the following:
(z.6) respecting exemptions from the requirements under subsections 48(1) and (2) to complete an approved harvester training course and prescribing provisions of the act and the regulations for the purpose of subjection 48(2);
Thank you, Madam Chair.
Thank you, Mr. Hawkins. The motion is on the floor. The motion is in order. To the motion.
Question.
Question is being called.
---Carried
Mr. Hawkins.
Thank you, Madam Chair. I move that subclause 173(1) of Bill 3 be amended by adding the following after paragraph (z.26):
(z.26.a) respecting exceptions to sections 62.1 and prescribing wildlife and time periods for the purpose of that section;
Thank you, Madam Chair.
Thank you, Mr. Hawkins. The motion is on the floor. The motion is in order. To the motion.
Question.
Question is being called.
---Carried
Mr. Hawkins.
Thank you, Madam Chair. Out of habit, I’ll stop saying dot and I’ll say period. I have one last motion at this particular time before me.
I move that subclause 173(1) of Bill 3 be amended by deleting paragraph (z.54) and substituting the following:
(z.54) respecting reporting in relation to the wounding, killing or capture of big game or other prescribed wildlife for the purpose of section 98.1, and requiring and respecting reporting of other matters in relation to the harvest of wildlife;
Thank you, Madam Chair.
Thank you, Mr. Hawkins. The motion is on the floor. The motion is in order. To the motion.
Question.
Question is being called.
---Carried
Clause 173 as amended.
---Clause 173 as amended approved
Clauses 174 to 180.
---Clause 174 to 180 inclusive approved
Agreed. To the bill as a whole as amended.
---Bill 3 as a whole as amended approved
Does committee agree that Bill 3, Wildlife Act, is now ready for third reading as amended and reprinted?
Agreed.
Mr. Hawkins.
Thank you, Madam Chair. I just wanted to use this last second to say thank you to the Minister. He did hear a lot of the issues committee had raised, although, as you heard from other Members, we had not been able to get them all as far as we wanted to, but he was willing to work with us and, as such, you can see today the support of Cabinet on all of those motions. Could we have had more? I’m not sure. We may have wanted more sometimes, but it’s all about trying to get the best bill and work together and get a solution for everyone. Certainly I’m pleased to support this bill at large.
Once again, I want to thank Minister Miltenberger in particular for his repeated efforts to carry this bill. I don’t think it has been recognized enough how much work he has put behind this bill. That said, I don’t think it could be stated well enough or far enough on how much passion he’s brought to the table on getting the Wildlife Act organized, put through, dealt with, consulted on and certainly supported.
Madam Chair, I know there isn’t everything that everyone wanted, but we’re certainly further today than we were before. I just want to put on record my thanks and appreciation for his hearing a lot of committee issues. Thank you very much.
Thank you very much, Mr. Hawkins. I would like to add my thanks to the Minister. He mentioned that it took five terms of this Legislature to deal with this legislation and he had to come back for all five of them.
---Laughter
I would also like to thank the Minister’s officials for all of their hard work in bringing this to the table. Does the committee agree that Bill 3, Wildlife Act, is now ready for third reading as amended and reprinted?
Agreed.
Thank you, committee. Bill 3, Wildlife Act, is now ready for third reading as amended and reprinted.
---Applause
Thank you. I will ask the Sergeant-at-Arms to escort the witnesses from the Chamber.
Does committee also agree that we have concluded consideration of Committee Report 6-17(4), Report on the Review of Bill 3, Wildlife Act? Agreed?
Agreed.
Okay. Thank you, committee. You’ve now agreed to conclude Committee Report 6-17(4). At this time, I’m going to call a brief break. Thank you, committee.
---SHORT RECESS
I will call committee back to order. What is the wish of committee? Mr. Hawkins.
Thank you, Madam Chair. I move that we report progress.
---Carried
