Debates of March 2, 2006 (day 40)

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. My question is to the Minister of Environment and Natural Resources just for public record on what the bison recovery management plan that this government intends to follow through on. Maybe the Minister could just provide this House with information on the results, I guess, of the last meeting that we had this afternoon with some community members on how the Hook Lake bison recovery project is going to be handled over the next few months. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Mahsi, Mr. Villeneuve. Minister Miltenberger.

Return To Question 506-15(4): Hook Lake Bison Management Program

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I would say that we had a good meeting at lunch with the chief and the Metis president and some councillors and the Member himself. We’ve agreed to a number of steps. We had a good meeting where we came to an agreement. It’s a difficult, sensitive issue. There’s a letter being drafted that I’m going to sign off that’s going to be given to the chief and the Metis president so that they can, when they return home tonight to their communities, they can let the people know in fact what has transpired. At this point, Mr. Speaker, without making this more complicated than necessary, the chief and Metis president or the Member hasn’t seen the letter yet, which will reflect the meetings, and the people in the community of Resolution have not, as well, had a chance to hear anything from their leaders. So while I would like to be as open on this issue as possible, I’m sensitive to the fact that I wouldn’t want the people in the community to find information out in the House maybe before the leadership has had a chance to carry that message home. If the Member is of the opinion that we should pursue that question, then I would be happy to share some of that detail. Thank you.

Thank you, Minister Miltenberger. Supplementary, Mr. Villeneuve.

Supplementary To Question 506-15(4): Hook Lake Bison Management Program

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I realize the sensitivity of the whole issue is reliant on what the reaction of the community is going to be once they receive that letter and the notice of what the government intends on doing, but I think it’s in the public interest. You know, I don’t think it’s any big secret that we should contain or retain any information that I think that the public is entitled to, including residents of Deninu Kue, whether it’s heard here in this House or later tonight at a meeting with their chiefs and the president of the Metis. I think if they did hear it through this House, that they can go to the meeting tonight with some idea of basically what the letter is going to contain and, hopefully, maybe present some ideas and suggestions as to how the community should react. Would the Minister be able to provide that information? Thank you.

Mahsi, Mr. Villeneuve. Minister Miltenberger.

Further Return To Question 506-15(4): Hook Lake Bison Management Program

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Then with that understanding and feedback from the Member, I would be happy to inform the House that at the meeting at lunch we agreed that firstly that the project to depopulate the herd would continue and it’s still under quarantine and considered infected, and in fact they found another infected animal yesterday, I believe. We’ve committed to meet again on the 23rd in Yellowknife with the Metis president and the chief and the Member to talk about the issue of what may be appropriate for compensation. We’ve agreed with the community that we would negotiate with the band and the Metis, for the band and the Metis and the community to do the rehabilitation of the site that’s required, and that we are going to proceed with the process of moving a number of the animals down to a facility and a home where they will be slaughtered and tested, and the meat that is deemed to be healthy and clean will be put for sale and we will look at returning those proceeds to the community. I believe that, in a nutshell, Mr. Speaker, is highlights of the key points that we agreed to. Thank you.

Thank you, Minister. Miltenberger. Supplementary, Mr. Villeneuve.

Hook Lake Bison Management Program

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I thank the Minister for that information. Just with regards to the proceeds of the sales of the good meat that’s going to be going down to Lacombe, could the Minister provide some information on any assurances that the proceeds will actually go back to the community and not get gobbled up by the department, or the administration, or the bureaucracy? What kind of reassurances or guarantees can he provide the community in saying that they will get all the proceeds from the sale of the meat? Thank you.

Mahsi, Mr. Villeneuve. Minister Miltenberger.

Further Return To Question 506-15(4): Hook Lake Bison Management Program

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. That commitment was made to the leadership at lunch today. I’ve indicated here in this House on the record that that is the case and that particular commitment will as well be included in the letter that I will be signing off and giving to the chief and the Metis president for them to take back to the community tonight. Thank you.

Thank you, Minister Miltenberger. Final supplementary, Mr. Villeneuve.

Supplementary To Question 506-15(4): Hook Lake Bison Management Program

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Just with regards to the depopulation of the herd in general. I know some of the leadership have expressed some dismay in the way the practices are being carried out, the depopulation practices, and they’re saying it’s disrespectful and should not be done in the way that it has been done in the past. Can the Minister maybe inform this House the current practices that the department is exercising in the depopulation are going to be more respectful and just basically more respectful for the animal itself and for the community members? Thank you.

Mahsi, Mr. Villeneuve. Minister Miltenberger.

Further Return To Question 506-15(4): Hook Lake Bison Management Program

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, it was agreed that we would continue with the process and it was agreed, as well, that, as the Member indicated, there was one area that was of concern and that is if an animal has been found to be diseased it was agreed that there would be a specific site now used where the bodies of the animals would be taken to and burnt as per the requirements under the legislation and policy. So that was agreed to and it was recognized that we wanted to provide that certainty so that the community was aware and we all had the same basic understanding of how that particular part of the process would work. In regards to the rest of the project, we will continue to be very careful and respectful in our dealings with the community as we have been to date. That one area was identified and we agreed how to rectify that at lunch today. Thank you.