Thank you, Mr. Speaker. As we all know, ENR has now formally presented and proceeded with the new Wildlife Act. As we have all heard, there are many concerns from mining, outfitting and tourism industries. For the sake of observation, Section 87 of the new Wildlife Act states, “no person shall, without a licence or permit authorizing it, establish, offer or provide an organized activity for profit in which big game or other prescribed wildlife is the object of interaction, manipulation or close observation...” Therefore, Mr. Speaker, by way of example, if an Aurora Village tour bus happened to pull over loaded full of those much needed Japanese tourists just to take a few pictures of ptarmigan, they would be in violation of the act because they would be breaking the letter of the law. Close observation is not permitted without a permit, Mr. Speaker.
Now, under Section 88, the superintendent may, by written notice, exempt a person from the requirement of a licence or permit under those sections I just highlighted. Mr. Speaker, the point being here is the superintendent now is going to have to be writing exemptions daily. In fairness, ENR has agreed that they will work with ITI as a matter of accommodation to where ITI regulations, conditions and guidelines will help mitigate this issue that ENR has identified. However, accommodation is only a policy outside the act. Mr. Speaker, this needs to be in the act and regulations need to be drawn up to draw and create certainty. While accommodation will be appreciated, again, it does create interpretations and, to be honest, Mr. Speaker, industry sees it as a leap of faith.
So in short, more red tape and needless administrative policing. To keep in mind, Mr. Speaker, even if you were an entomologist and you wanted to harvest dragon flies, you would be in violation of the act and charged as well.
Mr. Speaker, the mining industry will tell you the Wildlife Act is putting undue pressure and probably turning the NWT into a park or game reserve. Mr. Speaker, more pressure on these types of industries will help identify the Northwest Territories as a place not open for business. Mr. Speaker, we need those much needed tax dollars and by scaring away or discouraging investment in the North does nothing for our Territory, and at the end perhaps Environment and Natural Resources will get what their asking for, which is nothing from everybody. Thank you.
Thank you, Mr. Hawkins. The honourable Member for Mackenzie Delta, Mr. Krutko.
