Debates of October 18, 2004 (day 22)

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, my question today is to address the trappers’ process facility that was announced sometime this last summer. My question is to the Minister of RWED. In light of the announcement of the trappers’ facility, what has the Minister done to help the trappers of the Northwest Territories in light of the announcement by the federal department? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Yakeleya. The honourable Minister of Resources, Wildlife and Economic Development, Mr. Bell.

Return To Question 242-15(3): Closure Of Trapping Facility In Vegreville

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. When I last met with committee we discussed this and I think it was quite a concern to the committee, certainly for my department, and I know also a concern for federal Minister Ethel Blondin-Andrew, that the agreement on humane trapping standards that we have with the European Union and Russia was at risk without the research being done at this Vegreville facility. We met with federal Minister Dion to express our concerns and we were able to get the resolution of that issue for this year. There will be continued funding for that Vegreville facility to keep us in compliance, which I think is great news. We also have an agreement to sit down with the other provinces and territories and work out a solution going forward so that we can keep the borders open, which was really the intent in the first place. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Bell. Supplementary, Mr. Yakeleya.

Supplementary To Question 242-15(3): Closure Of Trapping Facility In Vegreville

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, can the Minister tell the House how serious this announcement is by the federal government in terms of closing the trappers' research facility in Vegreville to the northern trappers here in the Northwest Territories? I’m not too sure what kind of information went out to our trappers to know the seriousness of the closure of this facility and what impact it will have on our people in the Northwest Territories, especially the trappers. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Yakeleya. Mr. Bell.

Further Return To Question 242-15(3): Closure Of Trapping Facility In Vegreville

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. This agreement is very important for us and it was signed a number of years ago by the Prime Minister. The European Union was concerned, or said they had concerns with our humane trapping standards. We agreed that we would fund research as a country to ensure that we were doing the most we possibly could to find the most humane methods of trapping, and this Vegreville facility was where that work and research was done. Without the continued funding of this facility and in effect without us complying with the agreement, we were in real danger of having the EU step in and suggest to us that we weren’t living up to our obligations and there was a very real risk that they would shut down their borders to Canadian furs. By and large, the majority of our furs end up going to the EU area. This would have been devastating to trappers across the country and, obviously, to trappers in the Northwest Territories. So I’m certainly glad that this has been resolved for this year. There’s still a challenge for us to get funding for this going forward, but this is certainly, in the short term, a welcome step, and I know trappers across the territory will be happy with this. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Bell. The time for question period has expired. Mr. Yakeleya, I will allow you a supplementary.

Supplementary To Question 242-15(3): Closure Of Trapping Facility In Vegreville

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I’d like to ask the Minister of RWED if he would commit to talking to our northern trappers, aboriginal trappers, and to look at a game plan because this agreement is only for one year. I have trappers now who are going out on the land, and maybe they need to sit down with our trappers and really look at the significance of the closure of this facility that’s in Vegreville and to let the trappers know the extent or the impact of such a closure if we are not successful next year in renewing that agreement with the federal government. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Yakeleya. Mr. Bell.

Further Return To Question 242-15(3): Closure Of Trapping Facility In Vegreville

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Yes, we can do that. One of the things I’ve been very impressed with is our regional operations right across the territory. I know our regional staff are working very diligently with trappers. They make sure that they take in furs, they advance monies to trappers, we have a grubstake program to get trappers started at the beginning of the year, so we already have a lot of contact with trappers. Certainly, we can sit down and discuss the potential implications of not resolving these issues. They are very important to us. I would like to hear from trappers how they feel about the programs that we are implementing, because it has been two to three seasons now that we’ve had this new program, which we are very happy with, by most accounts. So I would like to get some more feedback from them. I think our regional staff are best suited to conduct that and carry that out, and we’ll certainly commit to discussing this with our regional staff and make sure they engage the local trappers in this regard. Thank you.

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

Supplementary To Question 242-15(3): Closure Of Trapping Facility In Vegreville

Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. I congratulate the Minister for working really hard on our behalf and on behalf of the trappers. I would like to ask the Minister, would he inform or advise his workers in the regions on things like this that we need to do and, most importantly, to inform the trappers that are going out into the region because if this industry dies that’s a crucial part of history dying with it. I guess I would ask the Minister would he look at this issue and have the trappers have a place in this department’s vision and goals in terms of a long-term goal of this government? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Yakeleya. Mr. Bell.

Further Return To Question 242-15(3): Closure Of Trapping Facility In Vegreville

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Yes, I will. Support to the traditional economy and for the traditional economy is very important for this department. We’ll have continued discussions with committee about how we can continue to raise the profile of trapping. I think it’s very important, and I agree with the Member that if a generation loses their trapping skills, it would be very difficult to get them back. We have to do what we can to make sure the people who want to live this lifestyle can do so. Mr. Speaker, obviously it’s not an easy living. I think we recognize that. This is very difficult work, but I applaud the people who continue to make their living from the land and certainly the department is very interested in the support and I’m very interested in working with committee to make sure we can maintain a sustainable industry. Thank you.