Debates of March 10, 2020 (day 16)

Thank you, Madam Chair. Okay, now I know where the fish are. You said that it deals with sport fishing. In Hay River, I know that we have the pickerel runs, and our concern is that we get people from the South come down and the quantity they take is, usually, probably beyond what their allowed limit is. Was I correct in hearing that you said that your department will monitor, I guess, that portion of it, policing the recreational? Thank you, Madam Chair.

Thank you, Member for Hay River South. Minister of ENR.

Thank you, Madam Chair. We enforce it, and we send officers when we hear concerns to that location. Thank you, Madam Chair.

Thank you, Minister. Member for Hay River South.

Thank you, Madam Chair. Is there a budget item or a budget amount for the policing? Thank you, Madam Chair.

Thank you, Member for Hay River South. Minister of ENR.

Thank you, Madam Chair. We'll have to get back to the Member to tell you exactly where it is. Thank you, Madam Chair.

Thank you, Minister. Member for Hay River South.

Thank you, Madam Chair. In terms of monitoring, I guess, or policing that, how many people or officers would be in place during the summer, or during the run of, say, pickerel in the South Slave? Thank you, Madam Chair.

Thank you, Member for Hay River South. Minister of ENR.

Thank you, Madam Chair. Just our standard officers who we use for fishing and hunting, as well. Thank you, Madam Chair.

Thank you, Minister. Member for Hay River South.

No, I think that's all. I just want to make sure that fish are protected. Thank you, Madam Chair.

Thank you, Member for Hay River South. Are there any further questions under the section wildlife and fish? Member for Nunakput.

Jackie Jacobson

Nunakput

Thank you, Madam Chair. Just one quick comment. In regard to your caribou monitoring up in the Delta, right in Husky Lake area, they're flying around with helicopters, they're buzzing; they shouldn't be buzzing hunters, when they're hunting. It's kind of dangerous. I just came to a couple of text messages in regard to that, so where does it say, with the department, when you're doing stuff like that, don't they have to fly at a certain level and stuff like that, when they're doing stuff like that, in regard to caribou monitoring, instead of scaring them? Thank you, Madam Chair.

Thank you, Member for Nunakput. Minister of ENR.

Thank you, Madam Chair. We follow the best practices out there across Canada. Thank you, Madam Chair.

Thank you, Minister. Member for Nunakput.

Jackie Jacobson

Nunakput

You're going to start following the best practices by some of your officers who are doing their job. I commend them and all, what they're doing, and working safely, and stuff like that, but when you're starting to do that, that's almost a Member's statement, but for myself, that has to stop. You shouldn't be buzzing hunters, and in regard to safety and that of them, and your workers. More a comment. Thank you, Madam Chair.

Thank you, Member for Nunakput. Minister of ENR.

Thank you, Madam Chair. With the Member, with that concern, if the public has concerns about what's going on, please report it so we can address it, if there are situations, locations, and that, so we are aware. Thank you, Madam Chair.

Thank you, Minister. Are there any further questions under the activity wildlife and fish? Seeing no further questions, please turn to page 88. Environment and Natural Resources, wildlife and fish, operations expenditure summary, 2020-2021 Main Estimates, $16,688,000. Does committee agree?

Speaker: SOME HON. MEMBERS

Agreed.

Thank you, Members. Please return now to the department summary found on page 65. Mr. Norn.

Steve Norn

Tu Nedhe-Wiilideh

Thank you, Madam Chair. I just want to see if we're going to address some of the pages, like pages 90 or 91, like the Environment Fund, that area.

Pages 90 to 91 were part of the last section. Just to clarify, those pages, yes, they are information items under the last section that we just went through. So, going into the departmental summary on page 65. Mr. Norn.

Committee Motion 6-19(2): Tabled Document 30-19(2): Main Estimates 2020-2021 – Environment and Natural Resources – Deferral of Further Consideration of the Estimates for the Department of Environment and Natural Resources, Carried

Steve Norn

Tu Nedhe-Wiilideh

Thank you, Madam Chair. I move that this committee defer further consideration of the estimates for the Department of Environment and Natural Resources at this time. Mahsi cho, Madam Chair.

Thank you, Mr. Norn. The motion is being handed out, distributed. The motion is in order. To the motion.

Speaker: SOME HON. MEMBERS

Question.

Question has been called. All those in favour. All those opposed. The motion is carried.

---Carried

All right. Sergeant-at-Arms, will you please escort the witnesses out of the Chamber. I'll let you go. Member for Tu Nedhe-Wiilideh, what is the wish of committee?

Steve Norn

Tu Nedhe-Wiilideh

Mahsi cho, Madam Chair. I move that the chair rise and report progress.

There is a motion on the floor to report progress. The motion is in order and non-debatable. All those in favour? All those opposed? The motion is carried.

---Carried

I will now rise and report progress.

Report of Committee of the Whole