Mr. Speaker, just following up on my Member’s statement with regard to the bison issue in Fort Liard, I’d like to ask the Minister of Natural Resources: what steps have been taken in Fort Liard since May of this year when I raised the bison management issue?
Thank you, Mr. Menicoche. The honourable Minister of Environment and Natural Resources, Mr. Miltenberger.
Mr. Speaker, since January 2008 there have been ten animals destroyed, and two in the last week. That is the most immediate, concrete and final type of solution to those particular animals. There is other work underway. I know the Member and I have discussed over the many months the issue of the strategy that has been worked on. My latest information from ENR is that they anticipate having a draft that they can finally share with the Member and with the people by November, which I will commit to do. They’re also looking at fencing and hazing, those type of things as well, to try to deal with this ongoing issue.
Mr. Speaker, the herd in Fort Liard is classified as free roaming. That only means that there isn’t a bison management plan, which is what I expect the Minister is referencing. Once again, how much consultation has he been doing with the community and with the community leadership with regard to coming up with an agreeable bison management plan?
Mr. Speaker, there has been ongoing discussion with the community as well. We are working on a change of legislation to look at increasing the quota of tags from the current one to six to allow the community to make their own decisions. So there has been ongoing consultation and we will have further consultation as we come forward with the draft plan in November.
Mr. Speaker, I would just like to know the government’s position on property damage. There’s a lady that had her vehicle damaged, and one fellow lost all his propane, because the propane line was broken as a result of the bison. I’d just like to know the government’s stand on reimbursement for damages by the bison.
I’m not aware of a specific policy that we have that speaks to damage caused by wildlife in the community. I’ll check with the department, and I’ll commit to get back to the Member on that.
Thank you, Mr. Miltenberger. Final supplementary, Mr. Menicoche.
Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. Once again I would like to invite the Minister to continue the tour of the Nahendeh riding to address this issue and many others with regard to his department. Mahsi.
Thank you, Mr. Menicoche. No question there. However, I will allow the Minister to respond to that if he wants. Mr. Miltenberger.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I’ll be happy to work with the Member to complete the tour that was interrupted earlier last spring.
Thank you, Mr. Miltenberger. The honourable Member for Sahtu, Mr. Yakeleya.
