Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Mr. Chairman, I just have a couple more comments to make before we get into the budget. I tabled a letter this afternoon from some concerned citizens in Fort Smith who indicated they have repeatedly made suggestions to the Government of the Northwest Territories through Mr. Bourque -- who used to be the deputy minister of Renewable Resources -- and also through Mr. Handley, about relocation of the ranch. The Minister said it would be too costly. I don't think it would be costly if it is done in the wintertime. It would be, no doubt, phenomenal, if it were done any time after the spring once the winter road is out.
The present location is costing the government a lot of money. At one point in time, way before the Minister's time and before Mr. Handley's time, there was feed brought out by a chopper. It's not something I am saying for the sake of saying. It's the way money was spent to operate that ranch.
I have a great concern about the Minister's comments about the Dene band and the Metis not willing to work together. I want to explain to the Minister why I have this concern. It is my understanding that the band and the Metis have always wanted to work together. But, what has happened -- and this is why I made the comment that your department officials play politics all the time in Fort Smith -- is part of the Metis board is made up of old HTA members to whom your department officials are closely affiliated. What happens is they want to do one thing, the band wants to do another thing and, unfortunately, the most critical thing in trying to manage renewable resources is forgotten about. Your department officials lose sight of their mandate.
They are so busy trying to please the old HTA board which was disbanded, and part of the Metis, that they overlook the band. The band, I can sense, is very frustrated about how some of the concerns just can't be addressed; basic fundamental renewable resource concerns like funding and the wildlife committee. It keeps dragging on. I really believe that unless you consider changing your superintendent in Fort Smith and some of your renewable resource wildlife officers, you will continue to have the problem of the band and the Metis not working together. They are creating that problem. That's basically my reason for saying your officials play politics. They play one side against the other and it's unfortunate.
It is not unless Mr. Handley is called or Mr. McLeod is called that some of these concerns are straightened out. And I know they are called numerous times by different people in Fort Smith. It is really unfortunate but that's what creates a lot of the disrespect towards your officials in Fort Smith. I wouldn't go as far as to say, Mr. Minister, that these two organizations don't work together so that they can't even face one another. I don't believe that one bit. I think you're getting some wrong advice by making those comments.
I certainly would like to see a wildlife committee set up by the community. That is what your department's mandate was about two or three years ago and it is still not done. I'm sure that if they can make a concerted effort they will get it done.
And, I would like you to address the issue of the bison ranch. The way it's operating now is costing the government a lot of money and it doesn't necessarily have to be spent in that manner. I know you've thought about possibly closing it down and saving the money, but you have invested a lot of money and it would be a shame to close it down. I can assure you that if you turned it over to the Salt River First Nations as they had requested or to the Metis, they would operate it in an efficient manner because the first thing they would do is relocate it where they can easily drive to the bison, as opposed to having to worry about a winter road or flying in with a chopper. It's something you may want to consider.
Until you make some fundamental changes in your department, let me assure you that you will continually have these problems. And these problems haven't been created over the past year, they have been there for many years and I've talked about them with your department time and time again. Thank you, Mr. Chairman.