Thank you, Mr. Chairman. The Standing Committee on Legislation met to review Bill 15, an Act to Amend The Wildlife Act, on December 8, 1992. The committee thanks the Minister of Renewable Resources and his officials from the Department of Renewable Resources and from the Department of Justice for presenting this bill and responding to the questions of the Members.
Bill 15, will amend the Wildlife Act to change the current restrictions on hunting caribou within the federal reindeer reserve. The reindeer reserve includes an area of land that is within the Inuvialuit settlement region under the Inuvialuit Final Agreement and an area of land that is within the Gwich'in settlement area under the Gwich'in Land Claim Agreement. Currently, caribou hunting in the entire reserve is restricted. This bill would prevent caribou hunting within the Gwich'in settlement area except under certain conditions:
-Persons would be entitled to hunt caribou in the region within the Gwich'in settlement area if they hold a Reindeer Reserve caribou licence or if they are enrolled as a participant under the Gwich'in Agreement or are eligible to be enrolled;
-Caribou hunting in the remainder of the reindeer reserve, including the area within the Inuvialuit settlement region, would not restricted by legislation.
Members were generally supportive of this bill but expressed concerns about the constitutionality of sections of the existing Wildlife Act. Members of the committee encouraged the department to review the Wildlife Act in light of recent court decisions which have commented on the ability of Legislatures, in general, to restrict aboriginal hunting rights. Those are my comments on this bill. I invite committee Members to make additional comments. Thank you, Mr. Chairman.