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.