Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I wish to announce that prices for all hunting licences and tags will increase in July 1993. This price increase will be the first overall adjustment since 1978. During the past two years department officials have conducted an extensive review and compared our prices with other jurisdictions. The findings indicate that in general our fees are lower and certainly do not reflect the uniqueness of some of the species of big game that are hunted in the Northwest Territories.

The new prices will bring our fee schedule in line with other jurisdictions. Furthermore, the new fees will better reflect the value we place on our wildlife resource. By announcing our intention now, the outfitting industry will have 18 months to review their operations plans and modify their marketing brochures. Mr. Speaker, I will be tabling a list of the increases today. Thank you.