Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Members of this House and the people of the Northwest Territories have made it clear that we need to complete a new Wildlife Act.
We need legislation that incorporates the most current tools for wildlife management. This is vital to conserving our wildlife populations for current and future generations.
The Department of Environment and Natural Resources has developed a process to address outstanding issues and to revise the proposed new legislation accordingly.
We are proposing to use Bill 9, introduced in the 16th Legislative Assembly, as a starting point for consultation and engagement. It includes changes that resulted from input received during consultation and public engagement meetings held between November 2010 and February 2011.
representatives from industry, tourism, outfitters, resident hunters and the public at large.
Strengthening our relationship with Aboriginal governments is one of the priorities of this Assembly. I intend to meet with Aboriginal government leaders to discuss possible mechanisms to address wildlife management issues of common interest. These include the management of migratory species that cross regional boundaries within the NWT, wildlife management plans, management strategies and action plans to guide the conservation and management of shared wildlife and habitat.
Public information materials, including a plain language version of the draft Wildlife Act, will be developed and widely distributed.
Our regional and local offices will be involved in providing information on the draft act in our communities. We also intend to hold public meetings in each of the five regional centres.
By working together with Aboriginal governments, harvesters, industry and other user groups and stakeholders, we can introduce a new Wildlife Act during the 2012 fall session; a bill that is built on mutual respect, is a practical, workable and efficient system for wildlife management in the Northwest Territories and respects the rights and freedoms of all northern residents.
Thank you, Mr. Miltenberger. The honourable Minister of Education, Culture and Employment, Mr. Lafferty.
