I first raised this way back on April 6, 1988, Mr. Chairman, when I expressed my concerns about the lack of consultations that had gone into the Department's decision to raise caribou quotas from three tags to five. Although a lot has been done to support the development of Hunters' and Trappers' Associations, I am sometimes uncertain about how much actual effort goes into implementing the input the department receives from them.
I would like to see the Minister establish effective directives on how policy development should proceed. These should include mandatory stages of consultation with elders from communities affected. Like my honourable colleague to my left, from Inuvik, I am very interested in the progress that the department is making toward revising and re-enacting the Wildlife Act.
Again, however, this process must include the active participation of our elders. Mr. Chairman, I want to stop here and let the Minister respond on this issue of community consultation.