Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Is the wildlife management board to be dissolved in the future?

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. No, once the land claims are finalized and the money is given out to the organizations from the federal government, the wildlife management boards will become more effective and more autonomous. Thank you.

(Translation) Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Is the Baffin wildlife management board included in this page we are reviewing right now? Will they be receiving some contributions also? Are they included on page 10-20? Thank you, Mr. Chairman.

(Translation) Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Part of the money which we contribute to the Baffin wildlife board is out of the $217,000. Thank you.

(Translation) Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I have a short question. Are communities which have a shortage of caribou in their area included in the 1993-94 budget? The communities have made arrangements to hunt for the other

communities who have a shortage of caribou, particularly in the High Arctic. They are trying to conserve the Parry caribou in the High Arctic. How many communities will use the 1993-94 budget, and which communities are in most need of these funds? Can the Minister indicate this to me? Thank you.

(Translation) Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Last year the funding was $70,000. There were more communities which needed assistance in 1992-93 than in the previous year, the 1990-91 fiscal year. I am talking about the base funding. During this year if there are more communities who are in need of arranged hunting for caribou then we will increase the funding. We had to increase the funding this year. Every year it differs from community to community. Some communities have asked for funding and others have not. During the 1991-92 season I can provide you with detailed information as to who requested funding and which communities received funding. Thank you.

(Translation) This is not in the form of a question. I would like to make a comment to inform the Minister that in my constituency there are two communities who always need the funding. We are trying very hard to conserve the caribou in the High Arctic. As you know we have short days in the winter, there is darkness during the fall and winter. I wanted to inform the Minister regarding our situation and particularly two communities in my constituency who will probably always need this funding. This was a comment to inform the Minister. Thank you.

(Translation) Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I am aware of the situation in the High Arctic with respect to the two communities in his constituency. We also wish to express our appreciation to Grise Fiord and Resolute Bay for conserving the Parry caribou. This will let the world know people are able to manage their wildlife very well. I wish to express our appreciation to those two communities. The world will be aware of how well the Inuit people can manage their wildlife with regard to caribou management. We will assist these communities in any way we can and with the amount of funding which we have for them. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I have a general question. Just about every community in the eastern Arctic has a wildlife guardian position. This is a creation of the Department of Renewable Resources. Who recommends which individual should be hired? Does that person hold the job at his or her pleasure? Is the position reviewed by the department, the HTA or some other group within the community? It seems to me the person works at his or her pleasure. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. The wildlife guardians are chosen from the local hunters' and trappers' association with input from the local or nearby officer. I am trying to change the position. I am working with the Minister of Education to see if he can identify some training monies to train local people, who are chosen by the local HTA and also with input from the officer. This year we are able to agree that four training positions will be allocated to train wildlife officers. If we continue to do this then we can train enough local people to be officers for all the communities eventually. We would then do away with the wildlife guardians, which are part-time. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. From time to time we get carried away. I wonder if there is a way the wildlife guardian position could be reviewed by the local HTA to make sure this person is on top of everything and does a good job. Is there a way to get the hunters' and trappers' association to review the position if the person is not seen as doing a good job? Then, perhaps, another person could be found from within the community. Thank you.

Mr. Chairman, yes. I thought the local HTA with the local officer or a neighbouring officer reviews the position of wildlife guardians and I thought that was being done. If it is not being done, it shall be done.