Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I almost want to ask the Minister of MACA for some stuff already. But not today. That’s for tomorrow.
Mr. Speaker, just following up on my Member’s statement today regarding Industry, Tourism and Investment with a few questions…. We know that the U.S. government has banned importation of polar bear hides into the country. What is the GNWT going to do to get this decision reversed?
Thank you, Mr. Jacobson. The honourable Minister of Industry, Tourism and Investment, Mr. Bob McLeod.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. When we travelled to Washington and met with the United States Fish and Wildlife and an assorted number of senators and congressmen, we heard that the sports hunting of polar bears was an unintended consequence of the action that was taken in listing the polar bear as threatened. Basically, we were told that in order to get this changed, we would have to get legislation changed in the Marine Mammal Act. So I guess technically that’s what would have to get done to change it.
There was some suggestion that, in the way they do business in the United States, they could just tack it onto a finance bill or something like that to get it done. So I think there will be lots of those opportunities. We just have to get a champion to work on our behalf, and I think we have to continue to engage our consulate, our embassy office in Washington.
Mr. Speaker, to the Minister. The outfitting industry is an important sector in Tourism and Industry, and outfitters in my communities are going to be affected by the decisions. What will ITI do to help us?
Outfitting is a very important part of our NWT economy, and through the business planning process we intend to put forward some proposals to help the outfitters.
Mr. Speaker, just to let the Minister know, I look forward to working with him in the endeavour.
Thank you. I didn’t hear a question there. The honourable Member for Yellowknife Center, Mr. Hawkins.
