Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, the issue of commercial fishing on Great Slave Lake has become a concern of many constituents in my riding. Firstly, Mr. Speaker, there appears to be no process for consultation, other than through the Great Slave Lake Advisory Council. As a result, communities in my riding do not appear to be consulted, nor is information getting back from the representatives sitting on the advisory council. People are questioning who is responsible for ensuring proper consultation with communities having claim to the lake's resources. Who is responsible for enforcement with respect to harvesting, and are current enforcement capabilities sufficient? Who is responsible for the overall management of the lake's resources, and does management include aboriginal participation? Is there a long-term management plan in place? Are there closed seasons for protection of fish during spawning? These are some of the questions being asked in the communities for which answers are required.

Mr. Speaker, I recognize that the Great Slave Commercial Fishery has been operating for many years, however the reality is that the aboriginal people have rights to resources and management of those resources in traditional territories. Although the Deh Cho process and other claims are not settled, this does not eliminate the territorial or federal governments' responsibility to consult with and include those communities in the management of the lake and the resources being harvested.

Mr. Speaker, when we hear about the closure of the cod fishery on the East Coast and Nunavut's concern with the allocation of the shrimp quotas, this government should also be concerned with our commercial fishery and the impact of the mismanagement of its resources.

Mr. Speaker, I will have questions for the Minister of RWED during question period. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

---Applause