Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I have a return to an oral question asked by Mr. McLeod on November 1, 2000 regarding the liability of the Department of Resources, Wildlife and Economic Development should the bison in Fort Providence injure or kill someone.
Liability depends upon the facts and circumstances of the incident from which a claim for damages arises. Generally, the Government of the Northwest Territories is not liable for damages caused by the actions of wild animals and would not be held liable for the actions of wild bison in Fort Providence.
The bison in question were introduced into the Fort Providence area by the federal government in 1963. RWED sets the quota for the number of bison that may be harvested, in consultation with the community of Fort Providence and undertakes some research to understand the impact of those harvests on the herd. However, the department does not manage individual bison within the herd nor does it control their activities or movements.
The department has expressed its willingness to work with the Hamlet of Fort Providence and the Fort Providence Resource Management Board (FPRMB) to develop a plan to deter bison from occupying Fort Providence. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.