I would just like to make a few comments on the Department of Renewable Resources. As we know, the department is a very, very important one to the lifestyles of most northerners in one aspect or another. The aspect of wildlife management, together with the land ownership, was one of the key components in negotiating and settling land claims. So they are very, very important to the people who have settled land claims and the ones who are currently negotiating.
Renewable Resources also can provide a major component of economic development and what we call sustainable development for our northern lifestyles. The department has many good programs, but I believe there is still a lot more that can be done, especially in cooperation with other departments, especially with Economic Development and Tourism.
The department is responsible for the management of wildlife and forests. We know there are many people out there who are looking at developing these resources, developing industries with our renewable resources. So the requirement is to manage, develop and conserve our resources on one hand. And on the other hand, through the Department of Economic Development and Tourism, to develop the industry, market it, do the salesmanship and the business aspects of the industry. Sometimes these work hand in hand, but in some areas they conflict because of the will and aspirations of the people.
One aspect of that is the commercialization of caribou. We know that in certain areas people are for it and in other areas people are against it. We have to take the wishes of the people, we have to be paramount on whatever we do in this regard.
The issues of providing assistance to hunters, trappers, fishermen and whoever else makes a living -- the forestry industry now -- off the land and using the resources. I have raised some issues regarding gas pricing and whether it was feasible to look at providing incentives in terms of providing cheaper gas for these people. I didn't get very positive responses to my concerns from the Minister of Finance because he claims that it's going to cost too much. But I put the challenge out and I am putting out the challenge to the department because they provide a lot of the contributions to the hunters' and trappers' groups. Maybe something will come of it, that we can provide some cheaper gas or incentives to encourage our people to get out on the land and live the kind of lifestyles that we consider fairly healthy.
The trappers' incentive programs that are in existence seem to be working. I will ask a question later, or maybe get a comment from the Minister later, as to how is it working. We put in a new program this year. There seems to be more trappers out. I don't have any statistics, so maybe the Minister can respond later to that issue.
The issue of protection of our caribou herds is one of great concern, especially to the people in the Delta and people around the northern Yukon and Alaska. There is a major concern about the protection of the caribou herds in that area. I want to state that the people I represent and the people who live in that area are very concerned, and we need to have this government support the wishes of the people who live in that area.
Another major industry that seems to have come to a standstill is the development of the muskox herds. In the Beaufort area, there has been a lot of work going on over the years. There were some proposals put forward by the Inuvialuit with regard to working on the commercial harvest of muskox and, again, I'm not sure where that is. So maybe a comment later on that.
I do note significant cuts in the budget of some $19 million and I believe it relates to the forest fire management, specifically fire suppression. The Standing Committee on Finance made some reference to that, that every year we seem to go for major supps in this area that continually throws this government's budget out of whack. So I support what the Standing Committee on Finance said in that regard, that we have some experience now so we should be able to budget in a more meaningful way the amount of dollars that are going to be required for fire suppression.
The last comment I want to make now is that I know the department is one of the ones that works very closely with the land claim groups and I want to recognize and appreciate that. I hope you continue to work with the claimant groups and respect the land claim agreements. I know there are very good working relationships with the groups now and I just hope that continues.
I just want to stop there and let the Minister respond to some of the issues I've raised, Mr. Chairman.