Thank you, Mr. Speaker. This is a return to a question asked by Mr. Rabesca and Mr. Enuaraq on February 28, 1997. It is in regard to questions about the General Hunting Licence applications.
General Hunting Licence Applications
In the Northwest Territories (NWT) for the purposes of hunting, there is a General Hunting Licence called a GHL and a resident hunting licence.
To qualify for a resident hunting licence an applicant must have lived in the NWT for two years prior to the date of application. This licence is subject to seasons, limits or quotas and is issued along with the associated tags for a nominal fee.
To be a successful applicant for a GHL the applicant must meet the eligibility and residency requirements of subsection 15(1) of the Wildlife Act. Subsection 15(1) reads as follows:
"A general hunting licence be issued only to a person who:
(a) immediately before July 1, 1979, held, was eligible to hold or was eligible except only for being underage to hold a general hunting licence under Item 1 of Column II of Schedule A to the Game Ordinance, R.S.N.W.T. 1974, c. G-1.
(b) is a resident, has at no time lived outside the Territories for a continuous period of five years or more, and at least one of whose parents:
(i) is a resident and eligible under this paragraph or paragraph (a) to hold a general hunting licence, or
(ii) immediately before death was a resident and then held or was then eligible to hold a general hunting licence other than one issued under paragraph (c), or Item 1 or 3 of Column II of Schedule A to the Game Ordinance, R.S.N.W.T. 1974, c. G-1, or
(c) has lived in the Territories continuously for the five years immediately preceding his or her application for the licence, and is a Canadian citizen or landed immigrant, and whose application is recommended by a Hunters' and Trappers' Association and is accepted by the Superintendent.
With regards to residency requirements there are exceptions for people who have lived outside the NWT for any period as students or to serve in the Canadian Armed Forces or the RCMP if he or she lived in the NWT immediately before the commencement of that period.
For GHLs issued under paragraph (c) annual renewal is subject to continued support by the local Hunters' and Trappers' Association.