Thank you, Mr. Speaker. To my understanding, the chairman of the Sustainable Development Committee was contacted. The chief of the Dene Nation was contacted. The leader of the Metis Nation was contacted. The understanding that I have is that the various organizations would not be able to work together, but would be willing to meet with department officials.
I spoke to Dennis Bevington, the mayor in the town of Fort Smith, before he left and he felt there was some urgency to transport the bison. He felt that there is enough of a market in Alberta that we would not be creating what has happened to the Arctic char. There is a market for live bison in southern Canada.
With that understanding, my deputy minister contacted all the leaders in Fort Smith. The leaders who I know he contacted were those I stated earlier. The intention was to hold a meeting early this week in the town of Fort Smith. I believe it could be as early as tomorrow. To date, those are the only ones who will be meeting with the department officials. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.