Floyd Roland Inuvik Boot Lake

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Today I'd like to welcome Mr. Jonathan Zaozirny, who's going to be taking part in one of our programs that we've offered to residents of the Northwest Territories. Jon was born and raised here in Yellowknife, took his education here at Mildred Hall and Sir John Franklin schools and he's recently received a medical bursary through the Department of Health and Social Services Northern Medical School Entry Program. Next week he will be taking a trip down to Alberta to take part in his first year of medical school at the University of Alberta. We will be watching and ensuring, hopefully, that he returns when he's successfully completed to practice medicine along with the other students that return here. Thank you.

---Applause

The Speaker Paul Delorey

Thank you, Mr. Roland. Recognition of visitors in the gallery. If we've missed anyone in the gallery today, welcome to the House. I hope you're enjoying the proceedings. It's always nice to have an audience. Acknowledgements. The honourable Member for Nahendeh, Mr. Menicoche.

The Speaker Paul Delorey

Thank you, Mr. Menicoche. Acknowledgements. The honourable Member for Great Slave, Mr. Braden.

Bill Braden Great Slave

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. In two world wars, more than 7,000 Canadian aboriginal people enlisted to fight for Canada and an estimated 500 gave their lives in the service of their country. However, upon returning to Canada, the surviving aboriginal veterans did not get the equal treatment from the Canadian government in terms of grants and other assistance.

Mr. Speaker, a tireless champion to right this injustice has been Mr. Tom Eagle, a 25-year veteran of the Canadian Armed Forces, a constituent of Great Slave, and a respected elder and leader in the NWT for many years. I would like to acknowledge the presentation this July by the National Minister of Veterans Affairs of a commendation to Mr. Eagle in recognition of his advocacy. He continues to work for aboriginal and, indeed, all veterans. He's also chairman of the NWT/Nunavut Aboriginal Veterans Association and president of the Army Cadet League of Canada for our two territories. Mr. Speaker, congratulations to Mr. Eagle and, on behalf of all Canadians, our appreciation for his leadership. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

The Speaker Paul Delorey

Thank you, Mr. Braden. Oral questions. The honourable Member for Thebacha, Mr. Miltenberger.

Michael Miltenberger Thebacha

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I have some questions for the Minister of ITI in follow-up to his Member's statement about traditionally-tanned moosehides and pilot projects, which I think is a good idea. Mr. Speaker, I estimate that annually around the community where I live, there are about 100 moosehides left in the bush over the course of moose hunting season. It's always struck me as a terrible waste because there is no place to have these hides taken to; there was no incentive to take them out of the bush; they're heavy, they take up space in your boat. I notice Enterprise is one of the communities that will be involved in this. I would just like to ask the Minister, if he can just indicate maybe a bit more detail in terms of what incentive is there going to be,

is there going to be a connection into the communities where moose hunting is such a viable pastime? Can the Minister indicate will there be any connection with, say, the Metis nations and the bands to make sure that there is some agreement or some process where these hides can, in fact, be brought out and put to use? Thank you.

The Speaker Paul Delorey

Thank you, Mr. Miltenberger. The honourable Minister for Industry, Tourism and Investment, Mr. Bell.

Brendan Bell Yellowknife South

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. We've had a lot of discussion around this program and I think there's a lot of interest in seeing this get off the ground. I understand, from some of the people who have some history in this government, that there have been attempts in the past to create and promote such a program. As the Member has indicated, we know that there are hides that are left to rot, and it seems a shame when we have so many people asking and inquiring about our crafts. I was just at the tourism operation at the border, spoke to the people there who are running the bureau there, and they were making the same case, that we just have this what seems an insatiable demand for traditional crafts and nowhere, really, to send people to find that. So we anecdotally know there's a demand. We want to work with the hunters and trappers, with the Metis, with the bands to ensure that we are marrying up those who can tan these hides with those who would produce crafts and ensure that there is a supply of crafts in communities. So, yes, we will work with all stakeholders. It's a pilot program but we're going to work across the regions of the NWT that have an interest in this and try to see if we can't revitalize crafts in the Northwest Territories. Thank you.

The Speaker Paul Delorey

Thank you, Mr. Bell. Supplementary, Mr. Miltenberger.

Michael Miltenberger Thebacha

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, we're fast approaching the time when the boats are going to be hitting the water and they're going to be going up and down, in fact, hunting for moose. I know, in the past, one of the suggestions was that if, like with fur, that if ENR told the hunters going out that if you bring back the moosehides we'll give you $100 or whatever it is to cover the costs of the extra effort and time, and then ENR could, in turn, make sure that the hides are sent to the most appropriate location for the best use. Will something of that nature be in place in the next number of weeks or months to take advantage of the hunting season that's fast upon us?

The Speaker Paul Delorey

Thank you, Mr. Miltenberger. Mr. Bell.

Brendan Bell Yellowknife South

Mr. Speaker, we will ensure it is. There's a lot of interest, as the Member can imagine, I think, inside the department, which is where this program was generated; a lot of interest from those who work both in ENR and ITI in making this successful. They are eager to get this rolled out for this hunting season which is why we are unveiling this program at this point. So we will be working with our regional staff to roll out the details, make sure hunters know that the program is up and running and available, and hopefully we can generate a lot of interest. Thank you.