Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I have a return to oral question asked by Mr. Antoine on September 30, 1992 regarding discontinuing use of leg hold traps.
Present statistics show that between 74-80 percent of the wild fur taken in Canada is sold in Europe. Without this market, there will be no fur industry.
The European economic community recently passed legislation that will come into effect on January 1, 1995. At that time, it will be illegal to import fur from any jurisdiction that still allows the use of the leg hold trap for any of the thirteen species. They are: beaver, coyote, lynx, raccoon, fisher, marten, otter, wolf, bobcat, muskrat, badger, mink, and Russian sable.
Originally, this legislation was to come into effect in 1992. However, because of successful lobbying by the Fur Institute of Canada, Indigenous Survival International, Members of our government, and many others, the European economic community agreed to delay this legislation for three years.
By changing the way our trappers trap we will be ready to keep our share in the European market after 1995. The change over to quick kill traps is a small price to pay to keep trapping alive in the Northwest Territories.
In 1988, knowing of the European Economic Community legislation, all Canadian wildlife Ministers agreed to implement 12 changes recommended by the Fur Institute of Canada to keep trapping a viable lifestyle for all Canadians. Our government decided to phase in those 12 recommendations over four years. Other governments have also been introducing these changes.
We chose to delay the requirement for quick kill traps for small fur bearing animals until the third year of our four year plan to change trapping regulations. This allowed us time to inform our trappers and show them how to use new traps. Throughout this time, trap exchange workshops have been offered throughout the western territories. To date over 30,000 quick kill traps have been exchanged and 1,600 trappers have attended workshops.
As well, we have publicly advertised our intention to require to use quick kill traps for small fur bearers for the past three years.
The new legislation came into effect on October 1, 1992 on the use of leg hold traps for small fur bearing animals. The regulation states, "while hunting fur bearing animals, no person shall use a trap on land, other than a quick kill trap, box or cage, for beaver, fisher, marten, mink, muskrat, skunk, squirrel, weasel, or wolverine."
The use of the leg hold trap will still be legal in drowning sets for aquatic species, and for large fur bearers like fox, wolf and lynx.
Next year, we will introduce the last change which is that all first time trappers will need to take a trapper training course.
During a live phone-in program held by C.B.C. radio on September 30, 80 percent of the trappers that called in were in favour of the new legislation and supported the use of quick kill trapping systems.
The department's regional staff will continue to assist trappers with the change over. Thank you.
