Thank you, Madam Speaker. Madam Speaker, in May, before I became the Minister of Renewable Resources, I had the privilege of leading one of two delegations to meet with European governments. We discussed the harvesting of furs and animals, which is an important part of our northern economy and the foundation for our northern cultures.
The European community still intends to establish a regulation which could result in the end of the wild fur trade. Our primary mission in Europe was to gain support for Canada's request to delay the implementation of this regulation for one year.
I am pleased to report that our mission was successful. However, the one-year delay does not provide enough time for us to meet the conditions of the regulation as they now exist. We must now focus on two tasks.
First, we must change the European regulation so that it meets its original objective of promoting humane harvesting without killing the wild fur industry. To accomplish this, we must work with the Canadian government and our Canadian embassies in Europe. As well, the Department of Renewable Resources will monitor activities in the European Parliament. I also believe we must take every opportunity to meet directly with European governments and provide as much information as possible. In this way, European governments can make decisions that will help our economy, not hinder it.
Our other task is to continue the progress we have made in leading the world in developing and adopting humane harvesting methods. To accomplish this, the Department of Renewable Resources is continuing to work with trappers on using humane trapping methods. Both the trap exchange program and trapper training workshops will continue. As well, the department is participating in the process to develop international standards for humane trapping methods. Such standards are needed to implement the European regulation.
In our draft NWT Fur Strategy, we refer to the need to investigate alternative markets for our high quality wild fur pelts and products. We will proceed on this initiative in consultation with the Department of Economic Development and Tourism.
Lastly, I would like to thank the delegation Members: the Honourable Stephen Kakfwi; the MLA for Nahendeh, Mr. Jim Antoine; the MLA for Yellowknife South, Mr. Tony Whitford; Chief James Ross and sub-Chief Joe Charlie from Fort McPherson; Mr. Sandy Tongola from Rankin Inlet; and, the deputy minister and assistant deputy minister of Renewable Resources, Mr. Joe Handley and Mr. Bob McLeod. I also appreciate the support from the Legislative Assembly, the Department of Economic Development and Tourism and the Gwich'in Tribal Council in sharing the delegations' costs. Qujannamiik.