Thank you. It has been several years now since humane traps have been introduced. In most regions and communities, there are trainers to train trappers to use these. Can you give us some evaluation on the use of these traps? What do the trappers who are using them think? Are they more successful or less successful? I would just like a status report on the use of these traps by trappers.
Debates of March 28th, 1994
Topics
Tabled Document 34-12(5): Tradition And Change, A Strategy For Renewable Resource Development In The Nwt, February 1994
Item 18: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 898
Fred Koe Inuvik
Tabled Document 34-12(5): Tradition And Change, A Strategy For Renewable Resource Development In The Nwt, February 1994
Item 18: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 898
The Chair John Ningark
Thank you. The honourable Minister.
Tabled Document 34-12(5): Tradition And Change, A Strategy For Renewable Resource Development In The Nwt, February 1994
Item 18: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 898
Stephen Kakfwi Sahtu
Mr. Chairman, I think there is a realization that we have no alternative, politically. Canada has been doing research on quick kill, humane traps for many decades now. It's not just European pressure that has caused us to move in this area. All it has done is sped us up to moving over to more humane, quick kill traps. The leg hold trap still has a lot of sentimental value. Many trappers, I'm sure, would have preferred if they had been able to stay with it, since change is always difficult. But, as we say, we know we have to protect our market and this is one way we're doing it.
There was a survey done last year that we can make available to the Members. We will have it circulated. By and large, those people who were trained and have mastered the new traps are generally satisfied with them. They have their limitations and they are aware of them. That is the general assessment. It is the best we have on the market, in order to maintain the present market we have at this time. Thank you.
Tabled Document 34-12(5): Tradition And Change, A Strategy For Renewable Resource Development In The Nwt, February 1994
Item 18: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 898
The Chair John Ningark
Qujannamiik. Mahsi. Wildlife management on page 12-11. Total O and M, $3.578 million.
Tabled Document 34-12(5): Tradition And Change, A Strategy For Renewable Resource Development In The Nwt, February 1994
Item 18: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 898
Some Hon. Members
Agreed.
---Agreed
Conservation Education And Resource Development
Tabled Document 34-12(5): Tradition And Change, A Strategy For Renewable Resource Development In The Nwt, February 1994
Item 18: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 898
The Chair John Ningark
Thank you. Conservation education and resource management, total O and M, 8.105 million.
Tabled Document 34-12(5): Tradition And Change, A Strategy For Renewable Resource Development In The Nwt, February 1994
Item 18: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 898
Some Hon. Members
Agreed.
---Agreed
Policy And Planning
Tabled Document 34-12(5): Tradition And Change, A Strategy For Renewable Resource Development In The Nwt, February 1994
Item 18: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 898
The Chair John Ningark
Thank you. Policy and planning, total O and M, $848,000.
Tabled Document 34-12(5): Tradition And Change, A Strategy For Renewable Resource Development In The Nwt, February 1994
Item 18: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 898
Some Hon. Members
Agreed.
---Agreed
Environmental Protection
Tabled Document 34-12(5): Tradition And Change, A Strategy For Renewable Resource Development In The Nwt, February 1994
Item 18: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 898
The Chair John Ningark
Qujannamiik. Environmental protection, total O and M, $716,000. Agreed?
Tabled Document 34-12(5): Tradition And Change, A Strategy For Renewable Resource Development In The Nwt, February 1994
Item 18: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 898
Some Hon. Members
Agreed.
---Agreed
Field Operations
Tabled Document 34-12(5): Tradition And Change, A Strategy For Renewable Resource Development In The Nwt, February 1994
Item 18: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 898
The Chair John Ningark
Thank you. Field operations, total O & M, $8.793 million. Agreed?
Tabled Document 34-12(5): Tradition And Change, A Strategy For Renewable Resource Development In The Nwt, February 1994
Item 18: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 898
Some Hon. Members
Agreed.
---Agreed
Tabled Document 34-12(5): Tradition And Change, A Strategy For Renewable Resource Development In The Nwt, February 1994
Item 18: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 898
The Chair John Ningark
Mr. Dent.
Tabled Document 34-12(5): Tradition And Change, A Strategy For Renewable Resource Development In The Nwt, February 1994
Item 18: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 898
Charles Dent Yellowknife Frame Lake
Mr. Chairman, before we get on to the next page, forest fire management, because between my wife and myself, we own 51 per cent of the shares issued in CJCD Radio Limited, which has, in the past, sold forest fire prevention commercials to Renewable Resources, I would like to declare an interest in this page and leave the room while it is under consideration.
Tabled Document 34-12(5): Tradition And Change, A Strategy For Renewable Resource Development In The Nwt, February 1994
Item 18: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 898
The Chair John Ningark
Do we agree that Mr. Dent is declaring conflict of interest in this area and has left?
Tabled Document 34-12(5): Tradition And Change, A Strategy For Renewable Resource Development In The Nwt, February 1994
Item 18: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 898
Some Hon. Members
Agreed.
---Agreed
Tabled Document 34-12(5): Tradition And Change, A Strategy For Renewable Resource Development In The Nwt, February 1994
Item 18: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 898
The Chair John Ningark
Environmental protection, total O & M, $716,000. Agreed?
Tabled Document 34-12(5): Tradition And Change, A Strategy For Renewable Resource Development In The Nwt, February 1994
Item 18: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 898
Some Hon. Members
Agreed.
---Agreed
Tabled Document 34-12(5): Tradition And Change, A Strategy For Renewable Resource Development In The Nwt, February 1994
Item 18: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
March 27th, 1994
Page 898
The Chair John Ningark
Field operations, total O & M, $8.793 million. Mr. Arvaluk.
Tabled Document 34-12(5): Tradition And Change, A Strategy For Renewable Resource Development In The Nwt, February 1994
Item 18: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 898
James Arvaluk Aivilik
Mr. Chairman, I have a quick question on field operations. These renewable resource officers are trained either in some colleges or perhaps Arctic College in Fort Smith to uphold the legislation or regulation of the government. When I was coming back to Coral Harbour because I was told by my friends, you better come back quickly because we are pulling names from the hats of the eligible polar bear tag and your name is in it. I said, sure, I will try to come back there as soon as the committee meetings are over. However, when the tag was pulled, my name was pulled. Somebody complained that if I spend so much time in Yellowknife because of the meetings, how can I be eligible. The HTA agreed that they will not have my name on the hunters list until this is cleared. I packed up and went home hoping that I would get my tag. I didn't because there was a question on it. I went to attack the renewable resource officer verbally, Mr. Chairman, and asked him about the legal procedures or regulations for the GHL holders, if they are a resident of the community, which I am, and so on. Why didn't you, as a government employee, with a full salary and housing subsidy and VTA, with your responsibility to legally advise the HTA what is proper according to regulation and what is improper, tell the HTA that, legally, they have to grant it to me because I am no different from anyone else in the community?
I am using me as an example, but I am worried that, sometimes, there is a political game played in the community that a hunter or trapper wants to be liked so much by the HTA in the community, he starts listening, not advising what the regulations are. What is the measure of those individual employees of the government who have no direct supervisor including the supervision from the GLO? What is the mechanism to ensure that the government's regulations are fairly practised and the HTAs are advised that this is improper according to law?
Tabled Document 34-12(5): Tradition And Change, A Strategy For Renewable Resource Development In The Nwt, February 1994
Item 18: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 899
The Chair John Ningark
Thank you. Mr. Minister.
Tabled Document 34-12(5): Tradition And Change, A Strategy For Renewable Resource Development In The Nwt, February 1994
Item 18: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 899
Stephen Kakfwi Sahtu
Thank you, Mr. Chairman. We will ask for a briefing from the department on this specific instance. Members should know that, in cases like this, we respect the local hunters and trappers or the community itself to manage and make decisions on the allocation of tags. We have given in to allowing the HTAs to make those decisions. In this case, they had probably gone along since it is just a selection from a hat. It is kind of difficult to argue with the selection. If Members felt that other members of the community should have a chance, in the case of Mr. Arvaluk, I have no idea why or on what basis the decision was made. We, as a department, are going with the way that the HTA makes a decision.
Tabled Document 34-12(5): Tradition And Change, A Strategy For Renewable Resource Development In The Nwt, February 1994
Item 18: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 899
The Chair John Ningark
Thank you. Mr. Arvaluk. Do you have the legislative power?
Tabled Document 34-12(5): Tradition And Change, A Strategy For Renewable Resource Development In The Nwt, February 1994
Item 18: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 899
James Arvaluk Aivilik
Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I am not disputing what is the opinion of the HTA. I am disputing that the HTA, in their own meeting, went through the list of eligible GHL holders and chose which names should be put in the hat. After pulling it out, they had been advised by some jealous hunter that should not be because I was in a meeting in Yellowknife. That was what the dispute was. Why did they change after they informed me my tag had been pulled to come home quickly. Before I could arrive, I was no longer eligible. That is a great expense on my part because I was not eligible for some kind of travel home trip or anything like that. I found it ironic that inconsistency was practised and the wildlife officer did not advise that while they have authority and advisory capacity as an HTA, they also have to be consistent. He did not inform them of the consistency required by the government policies. Thank you.