Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, we all know we’re in the hunting season. Right now, the residents of Nahendeh have seen a large influx of out-of-town hunters around on the roads and in the river. Unfortunately, we’re not seeing the wildlife officers out there or if they’re out there, we’re not seeing them right now. People are concerned about that because we’re not sure if these hunters have valid hunter’s licenses and are following the rules. Mr. Speaker, can the Minister of Environment and Natural Resources explain how wildlife officers are scheduled during the hunting season. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Oral questions. Minister of Environment and Natural Resources.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Wildlife officers are on regular duty from Monday to Friday 8:30 to 5 o’clock. During busy hunting season, schedule can be adjusted to provide additional coverage when and where needed. Also, we can bring in additional resource officers from other communities or regions if there is a need in a particular area. There are renewable resource officers on call 24 hours a day in each region, with the contact information posted on the GNWT website hunting guide. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
I thank the Minister for that answer. I guess the big concern is that when we see the hunters, it is usually on Friday to Sunday and Monday. We are hoping, with the Minister's permission, that they can start working with the department and the communities about this. The other issue is with these nonresidents that come in is that they are leaving garbage, and they are using people's cabins. Is this something that the department does monitor, or is it just that people are able to leave garbage and use whatever facilities are available to them?
As I said before to the Member's first point, the schedules can be adjusted during busy hunting season. It is something that we can have a look at. To his second point, no, we do not have a mandate or the authority to deal with issues around trespass or the use of other people's property.
I thank the Minister for both answers. It is unfortunate. I have had concerns from our residents saying that we have hunters using their cabins, and that is unfortunate. I respect that they do not have jurisdiction on it. I could probably answer this question as well, but I am going to ask the Minister anyway. What are the department officers able to do when they are out there and they see people under the influence, whether it is on the road or in boats? What is their role? What can they do to address this issue?
Again, to the Member's first point about the use of personal cabins, a lot of it is common sense. Some people will leave their cabins open, allowing other people to use them in case of emergency, and they have to respect that person's cabin. It is a practice that has been going on for a long time, but again, it is common sense that people need to respect the personal property of others.
To the Member's second point, the renewable resource officers have no authority to enforce alcoholrelated infractions, but because they are peace officers, they can report the infraction to the RCMP. However, there are provisions in the Wildlife Act regarding harvesting in an unsafe manner, and that can be enforceable by the renewable resource officers.
I thank the Minister for that information. I will be sharing this information with my residents that have concerns, and I thank him for that. I guess my last question here is: can the Minister explain what the process is for outoftown hunters or outofterritory hunters to come in and check in so that we are aware that they are out there?
Every person that is a nonresident or a nonresident alien must have a licence, a tag, and engage the services of an outfitter. There is a mandatory reporting of their harvest, and outfitters and their clients say they provide meat to local community organizations, who distribute that meat amongst their members. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Masi. Oral questions. Member for Deh Cho.
