Debates of March 2, 2006 (day 40)

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, the barren-ground caribou management plan has always been a topic of many discussions, Members’ statements and public interest since the strategy was first made public. It may as well continue to be a contentious issue, especially for hunters and trappers here in the NWT.

I would hope that this being the last session until May, that my Member’s statement will be the final gut shot on this issue. Mr. Speaker, the seven immediate actions that the government has come out with in this strategy have to be revisited and rewritten to more accurately reflect some of the recommendations and ideas that will no doubt be coming from the caribou management meetings by the various co-management boards and agencies over the next couple of weeks.

I would like to get the Environment and Natural Resources Minister to retract a couple of these rules, especially to hunt bulls only requirement which many hunters and trappers do not support and the increase in wolf tags for non-resident harvesters.

I believe that a full-blown public education campaign will alleviate a lot of this public pressure and put to rest especially the public’s perception that this government continues to enforce wildlife management rules without proper consultation or public input. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

---Applause