Thank you, Mr. Chairman. As well, the current Minister of Renewable Resources has indicated that since the onset of regional land claims negotiations, his department has received requests from communities and native organizations to disband the Denendeh Conservation Board. Reportedly, these groups have indicated a strong preference to be consulted directly on issues relating to renewable resources management. This is apparently a practice that the department had continued even while the Denendeh Conservation Board was operating.
Following its initial review of this matter in April of 1992, the Standing Committee on Agencies, Boards and Commissions noted that while the composition of the board and perhaps even the substance of much of its advice had been open to question, its fundamental role should still be seen as vital. The committee recognized that during the early negotiation of the Dene-Metis Agreement in Principle, considerable thought had gone into developing a board that would provide community-based input to senior management within the Department of Renewable Resources. The need for that consultative process has not lessened over the past four years. Members of the Standing Committee on Agencies, Boards and Commissions gave careful consideration to the question of whether it should support any decision to dissolve the board until it had a formal assurance that alternative mechanisms do exist for receiving input from aboriginal harvesters and other stakeholders.
The standing committee received some comfort in this respect from the current Minister's statement on October 23, 1992, that, and I quote, "The department is committed to furthering the co-management of renewable resources with the people of the Northwest Territories. Public consultation is vital to this concept. The department will continue to look for the most effective means to obtain advice from the public and develop new strategies as required."
The Standing Committee on Agencies, Boards and Commissions confirmed that even during the operation of the Denendeh Conservation Board, the department continued to work with local wildlife committees but looked to the board to provide advice on regional issues. With the elimination of the board, the local committees would continue to be a primary contact. A regional level of consultation will now be established through the land claim process and the eventual creation of renewable resource management boards. The structure and operation of these boards will vary among regions. The department has expressed a continuing commitment to working with these boards when they are formed. The Standing Committee on Agencies, Boards and Commissions was generally satisfied that existing communication patterns with communities will be sufficient in the proposed absence of the Denendeh Conservation Board.
It recognized that the Minister will have to devote additional attention to maintaining contact with existing regional organizations until wildlife management boards or committees can be established under regional land claim agreements. Contact with other public organizations such as guide/outfitter associations, the Dene Nation, the Metis Nation and other stakeholder groups should also be ensured. As well, the Minister is urged to address the inconsistency in levels of organization demonstrated by local hunters' and trappers' groups across the territories so that each community can have a dependable, well-functioning avenue for providing input on wildlife policy and management. The Minister should remain assured that his progress in maintaining effective communication channels with local and regional organizations and with harvesters will be an area to which attention is paid by the Legislative Assembly. At this time, however, the Standing Committee on Agencies, Boards and Commissions was of the opinion that the Denendeh Conservation Board is not providing a significant policy input function. There are better ways to ensure that community and regional input is received on wildlife policy matters. That completes my portion, Mr. Chairman. The recommendations will be handled by Mr. Koe.