Is there anyone in the department who does a thorough review of the different land claim agreements and the treaty aspects of forestry? Is there anyone there who has done that yet?

Thank you, Mr. Krutko. Mr. Handley.

Mr. Chairman, I do not think anyone has done a comprehensive review of all the provisions but we do work closely with aboriginal affairs. We also have our own person on staff in the policy section who is responsible for taking into consideration and reviewing any concerns regarding implementation of the land claim agreements and our department's programs. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Handley. Mr. Krutko.

Could the Minister tell me what the process is for a review of the forest management area in the department? Is it done through a committee or does it have to come through the House for a thorough review of the forest management area?

Thank you, Mr. Krutko. Mr. Handley.

Mr. Chairman, it could be done the way that we did a review of the forest fire responsibilities, that is, through a consultant. That was done at the direction of the Minister. It could be done and I am sure aspects of it are done on a regular basis throughout the department. At this point, Mr. Chairman, my view would be that it would be best done within the department, given our limited resources. However, we would be happy, on a continuing basis, to review our forest management practices and policies.

Thank you, Mr. Handley. We are on page 11-25, forest management, operating expense, total operations expense, $29,000,164. Mr. Krutko

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Mr. Chairman, I would like to move a motion.

Go ahead, Mr. Krutko.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Mr. Chairman,

I move that the committee recommends that the Department of Resources, Wildlife and Economic Development not issue new licenses for the commercial harvesting of trees, and increases shall not be granted without the consent of the affected communities and Hunters and Trappers Association for such a commercial harvest would significantly affect the harvesting of wildlife by the First Nations People.

And therefore, that the department review policies and agreements that affect land claims and treaty rights in consultation with the appropriate standing committee and members of the Legislative Assembly.

Thank you, Mr. Krutko. We have a motion on the floor. We do not have any copies of it. We will have to take a short break to see if it is in order.

-- Break

Mr. Krutko, I would like you to read your motion.

We have a motion on the floor. To the motion. Question has been called. All those in favour? All those opposed? The motion is carried.

We are on page 11-25, forest management, operating expense, total operating expense, $29,164,000. Mr. Krutko.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Mr. Chairman, a concern I raised in committee and that the department is going to look into is there is presently a 24 hour timeframe that allows the community fire response groups to fight a fire. Anything over 24 hours is the responsibility of the forest fire centre in Fort Smith. Has the department looked at expanding the timeframe from 24 hours to 48 hours, so the community can make an effective front to try to fight these fires when they are in the mature stage, where they just started?

I believe a lot of these fires that eventually get out of control are because of the short timeframe the communities or the regional fire response teams have to respond to these fires If we give them a little more time, the communities and the regions will feel they have made an effort and the communities, when these fires become out of control, do not feel the people in our community and regions have not made an effort to try to fight these fires when we are leaving the decision to the fire centre in Fort Smith.

Has the Minister thought about that? Is there any possibility of extending that timeframe of 24 hours?

Thank you, Mr. Krutko. Mr. Handley.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Mr. Chairman, there is no taking away the authority from the community after 24 hours. What we do is if the fire can be handled in the first 24 hours, then the community has the authority to manage it. After 24 hours, if it is still not under control, it is reassessed. Based on the assessment and whether or not it can be managed, what new resources have to be put in it, then a fire response plan is prepared. At that point, it takes consultation with the region and possibly with headquarters.

We do regular consultation with the communities. If people feel reassessment after 24 hours is not appropriate, and the process we use is not appropriate, we would certainly listen to what they have to say and take their advice. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Handley. Mr. Krutko.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I feel 24 hours is not sufficient. We should at least give them 48 hours. Twenty-four hours is a short timeframe. To allow communities to take more control and feel the value, an acknowledgement that they have some say and an ability to react to fires without having to sit in the communities, waiting for someone in the fire centre in Fort Smith telling them when he should respond, or which fire is a priority over another...we should allow the communities more flexibility. I would like to ask the Minister if he would consider expanding the timeframe from 24 hours to 48 hours? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Krutko. Mr. Handley.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Mr. Chairman, yes, we would consider that in consultation with the communities and the local leaders. Again, in many cases, depending on the fire fighting situation, fires may be well out of control in 48 hours. It will vary from fire to fire and condition to condition, but we will consider it, yes.

Thank you, Mr. Handley. Mr. Krutko.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Mr. Chairman, I feel with the situation that happened last year with the fire in Tsiigehtchic, I felt the communities, and the communities felt this as well, that they were not listened to. They wanted to go back and fight the fire, but were told by Fort Smith to lay off and that it would burn itself out. Look at the size of that fire, where a lot of private lands were burnt because of this fire. This fire burnt all summer. At the end of the day, it cost us more money to respond to it after it had become such a huge fire. The only reason we responded was because it was affecting the highway system and a tower owned by NorthwesTel.

Yet when the communities were saying let us get on with it and fight it, there was no one at the fire centre in Fort Smith who thought it was a priority. They would just as soon see the land burn all summer. I would like to make it clear here that I feel we have to allow the communities more say and more ability to respond to fires and give them the time to do it justice.

We have a lot of good firefighters in our communities. These people have trained for years to do that. As a government, we have to give them the benefit of the doubt and give them the time they need to do an adequate job and save this government money.

I would like to ask the Minister when will the changes be made to allow for this time to be extended from 24 hours to 48 hours?