Return to Written Question 4-14(6) asked by the Member for Range Lake to the Minister of Resources, Wildlife and Economic Development concerning the cost of the Wildlife Act and Species at Risk Act consultations.
1. How much money has been spent on the drafting of and consultation on the new Wildlife Act and Species at Risk Act legislation over the last 10 fiscal years, beginning with the fiscal year 1992-93?
Formal development on these initiatives did not begin until 1999. Prior to that, during the late 1980s and 1990s, the Department of Resources, Wildlife and Economic Development (RWED) spent about $150,000 on salaries to consolidate issues identified by staff about the current Wildlife Act. Information consultations, with respect to community concerns, were carried out on an ongoing basis by RWED staff during the course of their regular duties.
Beginning in 1999, a much more extensive consultation process was undertaken. That consultation used a three-pronged approach to ensure full and effective consultation with all residents of the Northwest Territories (NWT). This approach includes:
- Public consultation by RWED staff.
- The appointment of representatives of aboriginal governments to a Wildlife Aboriginal Advisory Group (WAAG) and consultation by aboriginal governments with their constituents.
- Consultation with land claims organizations with respect to integrating wildlife harvesting and management provisions of the land claims agreements.
Two full rounds of public consultation were undertaken, as well as two rounds of consultation by WAAG. This resulted in expenditures of approximately $285,000 in 1999/2000, $340,000 in 2000/2001, and $420,000 in 2001/2002. These numbers include the cost of one dedicated staff person.
2. Please provide the breakdown of the above for each department and agency involved in the process.
The costs of the consultation to date have been borne solely by RWED. For drafting the legislation, the Department of Justice is providing the drafter. Drafting of the legislation has now begun.
In total, $456,600 was provided as follows. Funding was provided to the following organizations as part of the consultation process with the Wildlife Aboriginal Advisory Group: North Slave Metis Alliance, $35,400; South Slave Metis Tribal Council, NWT Metis Nation, $60,400; Gwich'in Tribal Council,$37,600; Inuvialuit Game Council, $15,300; Sahtu Secretariat Inc., $36,300; Salt River First Nation, $14,600; Deh Cho First Nation, $32,000.
A total of $15,000 was provided to the NWT Wildlife Federation for the resident hunter consultations.
Funding was provided to the following organizations to support their requests to hire legal counsel: Sahtu Secretariat Inc., $70,000; Inuvialuit Game Council, $70,000; Gwich'in Tribal Council, $70,000.