Thank you, Mr. Speaker. This agreement is very important for us and it was signed a number of years ago by the Prime Minister. The European Union was concerned, or said they had concerns with our humane trapping standards. We agreed that we would fund research as a country to ensure that we were doing the most we possibly could to find the most humane methods of trapping, and this Vegreville facility was where that work and research was done. Without the continued funding of this facility and in effect without us complying with the agreement, we were in real danger of having the EU step in and suggest to us that we weren't living up to our obligations and there was a very real risk that they would shut down their borders to Canadian furs. By and large, the majority of our furs end up going to the EU area. This would have been devastating to trappers across the country and, obviously, to trappers in the Northwest Territories. So I'm certainly glad that this has been resolved for this year. There's still a challenge for us to get funding for this going forward, but this is certainly, in the short term, a welcome step, and I know trappers across the territory will be happy with this. Thank you.
Brendan Bell on Question 242-15(3): Closure Of Trapping Facility In Vegreville
In the Legislative Assembly on October 18th, 2004. See this statement in context.
Further Return To Question 242-15(3): Closure Of Trapping Facility In Vegreville
Question 242-15(3): Closure Of Trapping Facility In Vegreville
Item 6: Oral Questions
October 17th, 2004
Page 810
See context to find out what was said next.