Thank you, Mr. Chairman. We're continually looking for ways to improve park safety and enjoyment for park guests. This has been something that's been discussed in the department for some time. The Member is correct; we decided, with some of the recent concerns we've had in parks closest to our municipalities, some of this has been escalating over the years, that we needed to give this legislation more teeth, we needed to give our parks officers more of an ability to clamp down on unruly behaviour and that's what we've done.

In 2004 we initiated a review of enforcement practices in our parks. Residents, property owners at Prelude Lake Territorial Park were contacted to discuss and document their concerns and suggestions, because that had been a focal point. In addition, consultations with the RCMP were initiated. We've done a number of things to improve safety in addition to this, Mr. Chairman. I don't want to give the impression that this is the only thing we've been doing.

RWED at the time entered into a service contract with the RCMP to allow off-duty RCMP officers to patrol the parks on the Ingraham Trail on long weekends. We're still continuing with that initiative and that activity. In addition, new radios compatible with those of the RCMP were purchased and an agreement reached to provide direct access to their dispatch centre. This was to alleviate the concern that it was difficult to get a hold of somebody, one of our officers or somebody who could help if you had concerns in the park in the middle of the night.

Also, the departments of ITI and ENR have established a protocol in compliance that outlines how the two

departments will cooperate and how they will share expertise and resources in delivering programs that involve compliance activities.

So there are a number of things, Mr. Chairman, that are underway. We've been working, as I say, to improve safety over the last number of years and this is just an additional tool that we think will help us do that. Thank you, Mr. Chairman.