Mr. Speaker, as Members are aware, the Department of Resources, Wildlife and Economic Development is preparing a new Wildlife Act and species at risk legislation.
A Wildlife Aboriginal Advisory Group was recently established to encourage aboriginal participation in the development of this wildlife legislation and to ensure aboriginal viewpoints and priorities are reflected in it.
The advisory group includes representation from the:
- • Akaitcho Treaty 8 Council;
- • South Slave Métis Tribal Council;
- • Inuvialuit Game Council;
- • North Slave Métis Alliance;
- • Sahtu Renewable Resource Board;
- • Gwich'in Tribal Council; and,
- • Salt River First Nations.
The Dogrib Treaty 11 Council and the Deh Cho First Nations declined to attend the meetings given the status of their land claims negotiations.
The advisory group has held two meetings to review issues already identified through public consultation and to note any additional ones. Advisory group members will be consulting with the people in their communities this winter to determine options and recommendations to be included in discussion papers on the new Wildlife Act and species at risk legislation.
The discussion papers are expected to be completed this spring with another round of public consultations scheduled for the summer and fall of 2001. Aboriginal governments will also be conducting their own consultation on the discussion papers.
Mr. Speaker, I would like to take this opportunity to thank the aboriginal government representatives for working with us on this very important legislative endeavour. Wildlife is extremely important to all people of the Northwest Territories and it is essential that we all work together to develop the proper tools to manage that resource. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.