Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, as the Minister of Resources, Wildlife and Economic Development knows, the Northwest Territories is one of the few jurisdictions in Canada that does not provide an exemption for RCMP officers and Armed Forces officers from the usual residency requirements for hunting licences. The Minister has informed me that there is little he can do to help these officers. He has said that because the term resident is defined in the Wildlife Act, nothing can be done unless there is an amendment to the Wildlife Act, and that it is not a priority of this government right now.
Mr. Speaker, I have to request that the Minister take another look at this issue. I do not dispute that the term resident is defined in the act, but I wonder if he knows that nowhere does it say that a person must be a resident in order to obtain a hunting licence. As the Minister knows, the act sets up a hunting licencing scheme and the details of the scheme are set out in the regulations. The act itself sets out the eligibility requirements for only two types of licences. The act says that the qualifications for all other hunting licences are set out in the regulations. Certain hunting licences do require that the licence holder be a resident of the territories, but in almost all cases, the residency requirements are established in the regulations.
For example, the trapping/hunting regulations provide that only a resident may obtain a special trapping licence.
Mr. Speaker, if the residency and other eligibility requirements are set out in the regulations for one type of licence, surely they can be set out in the regulations for another type of licence. Unless, perhaps, the Minister is suggesting that the trapping regulations are invalid. It should be clear to everyone exactly what the requirements are for every hunting licence and I have no problem with a general residency requirement, as long as there are appropriate exemptions. Right now, it appears that department officials are refusing hunting licences simply because of their assumptions and impressions, not because of any section that says that they should. Mr. Speaker, I am suggesting that first, the Big Game Hunting Regulations and the Small Game Hunting Regulations should be amended to provide that a person must be a resident in order to obtain a Resident Hunting Licence. This amendment should then provide an exemption for RCMP and Armed Forces officers. The amendment should also exempt RCMP officers and DND officials from the requirement in section 44 of the act that non-residents must use outfitters and guides to hunt big game. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I seek unanimous consent to conclude my statement.