Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Envision the caribou roaming on this vast countryside of tundra and forests. The caribou, once in large numbers, continue to migrate in search of food and eventually locate to their calving grounds to start the cycle all over again. The caribou do not understand the meaning of boundaries, because they need to continue to move from feeding place to feeding place to survive.
Mr. Speaker, the caribou have provided meat and clothing to the people of the Northwest Territories for generations and generations and they are known to survive predation and hunting. Over the past 20 years or so, with the invention of snowmobiles and aircraft, people in the Northwest Territories find it a lot easier to hunt this free-roaming species.
Mr. Speaker, recently, over the last few months, the Department of Environment and Natural Resources conducted photo census aerial surveys of the Cape Bathurst, Bluenose West, Bluenose East, Tuk Peninsula, Porcupine and Bathurst herds, and much to ENR's co-management board's surprise, to find the numbers in these herds declining. Why? There are many reasons that can relate to the decline of the herds. A few examples are predation by wolves, bears and over hunting by the people of the Northwest Territories.
Mr. Speaker, in response to the surveys, the Department of ENR held community hearings with the local hunters and trappers committees along the Beaufort and Mackenzie Valley to discuss the numbers. The department of ENR and some of the co-management boards agreed that something had to be done to address the decline of the herds. Mr. Speaker, we, as legislators, but more specifically the Minister of ENR, must continue to work with the co-management boards to make sure the caribou will be around for generations to come. We owe it to our children and their children.
Mr. Speaker, I will not put the blame on anyone, but I will continue to support the decision of the Minister in ensuring the caribou numbers increase to a level where they are sustainable. My continued support for the Minister's decision is dependent on whether the department does a thorough consultation process with the Behchoko Management Board established under the respective land claim agreement. Those groups without a land claim will need to take care of their interests. In closing, Mr. Speaker, the Minister has taken a precautionary step to address the concerns of the caribou herds that we must continue to do more for the benefit of all Northwest Territories residents. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
---Applause