Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I have some general comments in regard to the Department of Renewable Resources. I agree with a lot of the speakers, all the Members here who have spoken in regard to people who use the land for wildlife harvesting, hunting, and trapping. I know that the trapping industry has not been doing well the last few years, because of different attempts to try and protect the fur bearing animals. In the meantime, it is a way of life for a lot of the people in my constituency, as well as the rest of the north.

I am really concerned that not enough is being done to help the trappers. I know that in the middle of the debate that was going on in the north, and probably around the world, with regard to the fur industry, there was a lot of interest paid to the people who still trap in the north. There seems to be a steady decline in helping them out, and supporting that industry. Instead, I would like to see a more of an increase in helping the people who trap. Because of the economy now adays, employment is rising in the smaller communities and trapping is looking better and better all the time, especially for the younger people. That seems to be the only way to make any income these days. Rather than decreasing assistance to them, it should be increasing. I say that with all sincerity, that this is the only alternative for them, and that is what a lot of the trappers have been doing. They go out and trap. This is the time of year that they get prepared, in my part of the country, so that they will have a good year. I would really like to support them. In a lot of cases, they are not funded very well by other departments. This is the only way that they have income, and as far as I am concerned, they are organized. People say that they are unorganized, the Dene way is an organized way, and they should be assisted more than they have in the past.

In regard to the forest industry, I am surprised that one department does not want to help them, because they are a Dene community, and they live off the land, yet, another department wants to come in and take their resources, without a fair exchange. I say that because of the forest industry that is in my area, and the controversy in the traditional area of Jean Marie River. In your book, directive objectives, it says that there is going to be a "reforestation in the Jean Marie area", it specifically identifies that area, as well as, Cameron Hills. Also, there is another mention in your objective that the Jean Marie area, "in cooperation with forest management division, will have a prescribed burn". There is another area that prepares draft into greater resource management options, for review by the Liard Valley Renewable Resource Management Committee. I have some questions on those two areas. First of all, is that I know on reforestation, Patterson Mills went into Jean Marie, and did some clear cutting in that area, then the band in Fort Simpson and Jean Marie came in and they did work reforesting it. Can the Minister tell me who paid for this reforestation, and is that the general practice in forest management in the north, that a company comes in a clears out the forest, then the government comes in and replants that area? I understand that in other jurisdictions it is up to the people who cut down the forest to replant it themselves. Is this going to be an ongoing policy in the north? Can he answer the first question? Thank you.

Thank you. Mr. Minister.

Mr. Chairman, normally, in the forestry industry, the company who cuts trees are charged with a fee that would allow the government to reforest the area with those fees that are charged to the company. Thank you.

General comments. Mr. Antoine.

My other question is in regard to a prescribed burn in the Jean Marie River area, in cooperation with the Forest Management Division, it sounds funny that you want to reforest the area, and then you want to turn around and burn it. That is one question.

I was wondering if the people, the Jean Marie River Band, and the Fort Simpson Band would be involved in this burn? Have they been contacted, and are they in agreement to do this prescribed burn in this area?

Thank you. Mr. Minister.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. It could be a disease or old forest areas, but I would like to say again, the department will not do prescribed burns without consulting the community. If we do not have community support, then we are not going to go into areas where the community does not want us and burn. Thank you.

Thank you. Mr. Antoine.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I am glad to hear the Minister say that. I do not know of any consultation that has taken place with the people from Jean Marie River about a burn. There should be consultation as early as possible, and even perhaps consultation of our people from Fort Simpson as well, because we use that area as well as Jean Marie River people, and the area is very thickly forested, and there is the possibility of that burn getting away, so I think there should be consultation with these people in these communities before, or, at least, as soon as possible. That should be done right away.

Thank you. Mr. Minister.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Yes, we will do that as soon as we can.

Thank you. General comments, Mr. Antoine.

Thank you again, Mr. Chairman. There is another specific objective that is outlined in the Main Estimates, and that is that the department is going to draw up a draft of integrated resource management plan options for review by the Liard Valley Renewable Resources Management Committee.

I have been keeping pretty close tabs with the people in Liard and Nahanni on this particular initiative. It is the first time that the communities are attempting to take a close look at the resources in their particular area with an idea that eventually they are going to develop it.

I want to ask the Minister if his department has been in close contact with the committee, and does the committee know that this is one of the objectives of his department, to prepare these plans for options for their review?

Thank you. Mr. Minister.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Yes, we have been working very closely with them, and have attended virtually all their meetings. Thank you.

Thank you. General comments, Mr. Ningark.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Mr. Chairman, forest industry has been a main source activity for most of the native people in the territories in the past. Many people in the west, and in the east are still pursuing the activity today and that is, hunting, and trapping.

However, this important livelihood and activity has been devastated by the anti-trapping movement in our country, in other countries, and internationally. This, Mr. Chairman, is the agonizing reality. A reality that I think this government can turn around to the benefit of all the people, mostly the hunters' and trappers' associations.

My question to the Minister through you, Mr. Chairman, is what is the Department of Renewable Resources doing to promote the fur industry in the N.W.T., to retain the important livelihood of the native people of the N.W.T.? Thank you.

Thank you. Mr. Minister.

Mr. Chairman, we are working on the first strategy for the Northwest Territories that would guide us to address some of these concerns, that will promote the fur industry, working with the Fur Institute of Canada. We contribute a portion to the Fur Institute of Canada, and we have people in our department that are working on national, and international, fronts to deal with animal rights people, and also to find ways to save the industry. Thank you.

Thank you. General comments, Mr. Ningark.

I would like to suggest that we go activity by activity, Mr. Chairman.

General comments, Mr. Arngna'naaq.

Thank you. Are we going to continue with general comments, because I have general comments to make?

Yes, Mr. Arngna'naaq, general comments.