Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, in 1993, the Minister of Renewable Resources stood in the Assembly and said that a comprehensive review of the Wildlife Act had been underway for a year. Here we are, 11 years since the review started and a new Wildlife Act has not been introduced. In fact, Mr. Speaker, a couple of weeks ago, the Minister of Resources, Wildlife and Economic Development told the House, in answer to a question by Mr. Krutko, that a new wildlife bill would not be introduced during the life of this Assembly. Surprise, surprise, surprise.
Mr. Speaker, since the last election, no fewer than three Ministers of Resources, Wildlife and Economic Development have promised we would see new wildlife legislation done in a timely way by this Assembly. After the last election, the consultation process was started again by Mr. Kakfwi, who was the first Minister responsible for RWED. It was carried on by Minister Handley after he took over and lastly by Minister Antoine during his tenure. Mr. Speaker, all three Ministers have noted that one of the main driving forces behind the need for revision was to deal with provisions of settled claims. Well, as Mr. Krutko noted, it's nearly 10 years since the Gwich'in claim was signed, nine years or so since the Sahtu Dene-Metis claim and here we are, nearly at the end of another four-year Assembly mandate with no legislation coming forward.
Mr. Speaker, last year, I brought forward a private Member's bill that would have reduced the waiting period for NWT residents to apply for hunting licences. That bill was killed by Cabinet when they refused to let it come out of Committee of the Whole. The reasons? The Minister said it was because a comprehensive wildlife bill was coming forward within the life of this Assembly and items like my amendment should be dealt with as part of the overall review. So, since the review was underway and it would result in new legislation in the fall of 2002, the private Member's bill should not receive consideration. Mr. Speaker, as Mr. Krutko noted, the government has promised for a long time that we would see a new Wildlife Act. Now, they say we have to wait for a new Assembly. I have tried to deal with the issue of a two-year for resident hunting licences in the 12th, 13th and now the 14th Assemblies, to no avail. I am always told that, since a new Wildlife Act is coming forward, I should be patient and wait for changes as part of that new act. Mr. Speaker, Mr. Krutko expressed the frustration that he and his constituents feel over the time it has taken to see this new legislation. My constituents are frustrated as well. It's now been more than 10 years since I raised the issue. Mr. Speaker, I seek unanimous consent to conclude my statement.