Thank you, Mr. Speaker. In regard to the Arctic Red River Outfitters and, more importantly, the Mackenzie River Outfitters who through the land claims process there were lands negotiated in those areas, there were agreements signed in regard to access agreements with the outfitters who were present at the time of the claims being settled. There were agreements made and also in the land claim agreements, in the Gwich’in agreement in regard to 12.7.4 which talks about commercial natural activities and commercial guiding outfitting activities respecting hunting and sport fishing which gives the Gwich’in exclusive rights to get into that business, but also to be able to obtain those licences once they, basically, come up for sale. Yet, Mr. Speaker, this process has happened three times in the Gwich’in settlement region and every time the economics were just not there in regard to the price that was being requested. But yet, Mr. Speaker, in the land claim agreements it also talks about the right for employment and opportunities with those outfitter businesses, and yet very few aboriginal people and Gwich’in individuals have been hired by the Arctic Red Outfitters to work in this field and also take advantage of those opportunities.
So, Mr. Speaker, in regard to the land claim obligations, the access and benefit agreements that give them access to the Gwich’in lands in their area of operations, with these licences changing it does not transfer those access agreements to those licensed holders. In regard to the existing Wildlife Act and the land claim agreements, there’s conflict in responsibilities in which you have an outdated Wildlife Act, you have a modern treaty. So I’d like to ask the Minister, what is this government doing to ensure that those legislated, protected rights and the land claim agreements are upheld regardless if we have a new Wildlife Act or not, and what is this
government doing to ensure that those rights are being implemented? Thank you.