Yes, I do. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Bill 2, An Act to Amend the Territorial Parks Act, brings the legislation in line with the spirit, intent, goals and objectives of the protected areas strategy. I want to take this opportunity to thank the Standing Committee on Governance and Economic Development for its valuable comments and insights on these proposed amendments.

This bill changes the classification and purposes of the territorial parks and the consultation required before a territorial park can be established.

The new classifications are:

- cultural conservation area, this is a new class of park developed to meet the first goal of the protected areas strategy, which is to protect the special natural and cultural areas within each eco-region of the Northwest Territories;

- wilderness preserves, this is also a new class of park developed to meet the second goal of the protected areas strategy, which is to protect representative core areas such as mountain ranges or watersheds within each eco-region of the Northwest Territories;

- heritage parks, previously known as historic parks;

- natural environment parks - previously known as natural environment recreation parks;

- recreation parks - previously called outdoor recreation parks; and,

- wayside parks.

The amendments make minor changes to the definition and development statements which describe the park classifications. With respect to wilderness conservation areas, the Department of Resources, Wildlife and Economic Development has carefully considered the concerns raised during the public review of Bill 2 regarding prohibiting industrial activities. We all agree that we want and need to protect our wilderness areas, particularly the core representative areas as described in the NWT protected areas strategy. We want to ensure we provide an appropriate degree of certainty in prohibiting industrial activity in wilderness conservation areas as requested by the Standing committee on Governance and Economic Development, members of the public and our protected area strategy partners. At the appropriate time, Mr. Chairman, I will move a motion to amend clause 3 of the bill to address the concerns raised and to better reflect the primary purpose of this bill.

At I stated earlier, this bill strengthens the consultation requirements for the establishment of a territorial park. People or groups living in or near the proposed park or anyone who may be affected by it must be consulted before a park is established or repealed or park boundaries are changed.

I look forward to hearing Members' comments on this bill. Mahsi, Mr. Chairman.