Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My statement today concerns commercial hunting of wood bison in the Fort Providence area. Mr. Speaker, there are many commercial opportunities associated with big game hunting, in regard to the Mackenzie wood bison that are being missed at the present time due to problems with the regulations.

Mr. Speaker, my understanding is that the wood bison were originally listed as an endangered species. This endangered species classification resulted with the wood bison originally being placed on the international CITES, appendix 1 list. However, it is further to my understanding that the wood bison have now been down-listed to the CITES appendix 2 listing. Species on appendix 2 are species not threatened with extinction but may become threatened if the trade goes unregulated.

Regrettably, Mr. Speaker, the United States legislation still prohibits the importation of wood bison and does not recognize the animal has been down-listed. This is unlike every other country in the world that now allows for importation of wood bison. This is a similar situation that we faced with the polar bear and big game outfitters a number of years ago. On that occasion, the Government of the Northwest Territories supported a lobby to have the United States laws changed for the importation of polar bears. I understand that the lobbying efforts were successful and that polar bears from certain areas of Canada can now be imported to the United States.

Mr. Speaker, similar efforts are now required of the Government of the Northwest Territories to assist for the changes of laws for the wood bison as well. This would greatly enhance our abilities to market the wood bison to the significant big game markets in the United States and thereby increase the value of the hunting tags.

The Government of the Northwest Territories should apply pressure to the United States Fish and Wildlife Service for importation privileges in regard to Wood Bison. We should let them know that we have a sport hunting program based upon sound scientific principles that allow for the maintenance of the wood bison population. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

---Applause