Mr. Speaker, I am deeply disappointed that the gun control legislation will be enforced. We, the Dogrib people, always supported the Liberal Party, ever since the Chief Jimmy Bruneau days. Other Treaty 11 Council members and the chiefs lobbied against this legislation. I am concerned how this will affect our traditional hunts. These community hunts provided food for the families of the Dogrib communities. How will the act be implemented and enforced? I know there are many non-aboriginal people who also hunt caribou and moose to feed their families. They are also affected by the gun control legislation, just as we are.
It is our honour that while this has occurred, Canada won its fight to stop the European union from banning Canadian fur imports. I am disappointed that gun control legislation was not given the same fight for the trappers and hunters in the North and other parts of Canada.
The decision made by the powers that be in Ottawa threatens to make a contribution towards us losing our traditional way of life, as aboriginals in the North, and hunting for non-aboriginals from all walks of life, who have hunted for their families as well. They are taking our guns, our traps and our furs. Thank you.
---Applause