Thank you, Mr. Kakfwi. I am on resource management and economic development, operations and maintenance, total operations and maintenance, $54.669 million. I will ask Mr. Miltenberger to take the Chair while I have some questions. Thank you.

Thank you for this singular opportunity. I would like to make a comment for the record, I am very disappointed in the apparent lack of interest by my colleagues in passing this budget, since it is myself, Mr. Rabesca, Mr. Steen and Mr. O'Brien who are currently here. Mr. Steen.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Welcome to the committee. Mr. Chairman, my question is in relation to wildlife. My first question is in regard to the Peary caribou populations on Banks Island and Holman Island. I would like to ask the Minister if there are any new developments as to those populations at this time, whether they are increasing or decreasing and what exactly is the department doing to monitor the population?

Thank you, Mr. Steen. Mr. Minister.

Mr. Chairman, thank you. There has been no change in the picture as we presented it last fall. There is still concern about the population. We have not gone in to check on the caribou again. We have deferred to the request by the Inuit and the communities to let them take a more prominent role in deciding what should be done about the situation facing the Peary caribou at this time? Today, there is a workshop that has started here in town with all the different wildlife management groups, the government departments involved and other stakeholders to decide what course of action should be taken. That workshop has just started here in Yellowknife today. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Minister. Mr. Steen.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Mr. Chairman, could the Minister indicate what representation my communities would have at that workshop?

Thank you, Mr. Steen. Mr. Minister.

Thank you. I think there are representatives from the Inuvialuit communities, but I know specifically the Inuvialuit game council is in attendance.

Thank you, Mr. Minister. Mr. Steen.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Mr. Chairman, over the winter I have had some discussion with hunters on both Banks Island and Holman, as well as on the mainland. All the hunters and trappers have identified what could be considered as a major increase in the wolf populations in all these particular areas. I have been advised by the hunters around Tuktoyaktuk for instance, that the wolf population has increased so much they are eating each other and they are starving. I have also been advised that the wolf population may be having a big impact on the return of the caribou up in Banks Island because the wolf population seems to be increasing there as well. Would the department among all other options, would they consider wolf control?

Thank you, Mr. Steen. Mr. Minister.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. All the methods we use for managing wildlife populations are done in cooperation and partnership with the aboriginal groups, with wildlife management boards, hunters and trappers. I am sure that options like the one the Member is suggesting would be considered. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Minister. Mr. Steen.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Mr. Chairman, for a number of years now, I believe it is three years, the community of Sachs Harbour has been operating on a self-imposed quota of one caribou per family, per year. Now, I think everybody would realize that caribou are not very big to start with. They are imposing on themselves already in order to help to increase the herd. Over the last five to ten years, there has been nothing but a decline, rather than an increase. After this particular meeting the department is talking about, is there going to be some serious actions taken as to exactly what we could do to preserve this herd from extinction?

Thank you, Mr. Steen. Mr. Minister.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Mr. Chairman, as we speak, I know that the animal rights activists are incredibly worked up about the story that appeared in the Globe and Mail yesterday. The woman who wrote the article

seems totally tuned in with it. She is so tuned in, she knows they have worked overnight getting themselves all worked in Hamburg, Berlin and every other European country about what they should do about saving the wolves. It is a good question to put to these people. If the wolf population is a direct threat to the survival of other species, like the Peary caribou, what would they do about it? I have been telling them that they are hypocrites of the first order. Most of these people, especially the Europeans, have totally decimated their own wildlife populations. They do not even consider them wild animals they are considered pests. Pests that have to be destroyed at all cost and they have done it. What I have said is, we manage our wildlife and we manage it well. We have done it for thousands of years, and we will continue to do that. I am sure the aboriginal groups involved in discussions today, faced with what methods and approach should be taken to save the Peary caribou, will make proper decisions, good well-balanced decisions in the interests of everyone and everything that is involved. That, I trust, absolutely. I think the Member does as well. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman and welcome back. Mr. Chairman, I take it from the Minister's comment, if this particular body that is reviewing the Peary caribou population problems were to recommend wolf control, he would have no objection to it and I thank him for that. I am sure the members of my community would thank him as well. My other question, Mr. Chairman, is related to what seems to be a major increase in grizzly bear population in my regions as well. Mr. Chairman, these large increases in grizzly bear population are already having its effect on outpost camps and communities. I know this was brought up with the Minister before. I would like to know, since I brought it up last year, whether there has been any effort by his department to do further surveys of those grizzly bear numbers?

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I am not aware at this time of any additional work we might have done in regard to grizzly bear studies. I would have to get back to the Member on it. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Mr. Chairman, I am sure the Minister must be aware of reports of increases in grizzly bear population, not only in my region, but also I understand in the central Kitikmeot, Coppermine areas there have also been large increases reported. Is the department aware of this?