Debates of March 4, 2005 (day 49)

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My questions this morning are for Mr. Bell, as the Minister of Resources, Wildlife and Economic Development, and they relate to the recently-tabled document, a management plan for the Bathurst Caribou herd. Mr. Speaker, I wanted to ask the Minister where this plan goes from here. It is phrased in here as a recommendation of the planning committee. The question that I have for the Minister, Mr. Speaker, is what obligation is on the department to adopt this recommended plan? Thank you.

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

Return To Question 547-15(3): Adoption Of Plan To Manage Bathurst Caribou Herd

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. We are going to sit down now and talk to the planning committee that put this document together about the next steps forward in terms of public consultation. Obviously we have had many discussions. The groups involved with the planning committee are those charged with management of the herd, but there are many more stakeholders who have an interest in the management of caribou and need to be consulted. We need to have that discussion with them prior to anything taking place in terms of changes to the plan or, as I have indicated before, adoption of the plan. None of that will take place until we’ve had discussions in consultation with stakeholders. Only then, if there is some agreement amongst those stakeholders about how we move forward, are we discussing options at that point. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Bell. Supplementary, Mr. Braden.

Supplementary To Question 547-15(3): Adoption Of Plan To Manage Bathurst Caribou Herd

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I am pleased to hear about the public and stakeholder response. I think one of the things that is reasonably standard and conventional with this kind of thing is a peer review at the scientific and the professional level. Will this plan be subjected to that kind of scrutiny? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Braden. Mr. Bell.

Further Return To Question 547-15(3): Adoption Of Plan To Manage Bathurst Caribou Herd

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Maybe the Member can provide me with more clarification by what he means by peer review. As we go out to consult with stakeholders, many, through that consultation, will have a chance to weigh in on the recommendations, discuss the potential ethicality, or lack thereof, as they see it, of some of some of the options. If he’s referring to technical experts, academics, scientists or other hunters, I am not exactly sure. But there will be a broad-based consultation on this and I think that’s what the Member is looking for. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Bell. Supplementary, Mr. Braden.

Supplementary To Question 547-15(3): Adoption Of Plan To Manage Bathurst Caribou Herd

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The Minister has pretty much outlined the area that I had in my questioning; that is, technical professionals in wildlife management from other jurisdictions. I can certainly confirm that that is where I would like this to go. Mr. Speaker, a particular stakeholder concern has been with those commercial stakeholders, including outfitters, who are potentially put into a very tenuous position with some of these recommendations, one of which has seen them put out of business if herds get to a dangerously low level. Mr. Speaker, would implementation of this plan include backup plans or default plans or assistance for these commercial organizations if, indeed, they have faced a shutdown? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Braden. Mr. Bell.

Further Return To Question 547-15(3): Adoption Of Plan To Manage Bathurst Caribou Herd

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. We haven’t had any of that type of discussion because we are really not there yet. I want to give the assurance to everybody out there listening, we are not talking at this point about a reduction in tags. So I think it’s premature to start talking about what we do if the industry fails. We are not there. I want to give that assurance. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Bell. Final supplementary, Mr. Braden.

Supplementary To Question 547-15(3): Adoption Of Plan To Manage Bathurst Caribou Herd

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Could the Minister provide some information about when he anticipates this public and stakeholder consultation will proceed and when we may see some finalization? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Braden. Mr. Bell.

Further Return To Question 547-15(3): Adoption Of Plan To Manage Bathurst Caribou Herd

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. RWED has agreed to organize this consultative process, which should, we think, with current timelines, culminate in a forum to be held in May of this year. At that point, we will have solicited public input and feedback. The planning committee has asked for that feedback to happen by the end of April. So we think in May we can provide that, have that forum in May of 2005 and then have a discussion around what we do next. If the report is not already posted on the web site, it will be very shortly so that everyone can have easy access even if they are from outside the jurisdiction. Only at that point will we be discussing harvest levels and having some more information in terms of the strength of the herd and the monitoring we’ve been doing. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.