Thank you, Madam Speaker. Madam Speaker, I rise today to speak about something that happens far too often in the north and must be condemned yet again. I am talking about the needless slaughter of wildlife which is sometimes left to spoil and rot. There is a common trend that runs through our many aboriginal cultures here in the north: our relationship with the land and all of its creatures. The land and the wildlife have sustained us for hundreds of years. Because of the respect that aboriginal cultures have with the wildlife, we look upon the animals as our brothers and sisters who have given their lives so that we may live. Out of respect, our people make the most possible use of the entire animal.
Members may have guessed that I am referring to the incident this past August where a scientist shot and killed a grizzly then left the carcass to rot. I won't go into the details of the incident, Madam Speaker, for they have been documented already. Whether or not everything was done that could have been done to get this bear to leave before having to shoot it is debatable, and I won't go into that. But I am sure that things were all considered in the courts. What upsets me and I'm sure most northern residents, is the apparent failure to address the seriousness of the issue. This person was charged with abandoning a dead animal and allowing the hide to spoil. He was convicted of that charge. What I find appalling, Madam Speaker, is that the penalty enforced by the court was a fine of $115. Not only was no part of the animal able to be used, but the belly of the hide alone would have been far greater than $115.
I have to ask where is the justice in this. Where is the deterrence factor to keep others from doing the same? I am not saying it is never necessary to kill an animal to protect yourself or your property, but to kill and throw away is not our way. And it's shameful the penalty being proposed should reflect this.
Madam Speaker, I seek unanimous consent to conclude by statement.