Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I know Members have been interested in supporting the department’s negotiations with the federal government to increase rates for fishing licences. I believe the department was planning to act on that. I’m wondering where things are at on that one.

Minister of Environment.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. We have initiated correspondence and put in the request to the Department of Fisheries and Oceans to look at their fishing permits. At the same time we’re also looking at our own hunting permits and looking at bringing those up as well.

I’m just wondering when we might expect an update on that and when we expect to have things concluded.

Deputy minister.

Is something happening on the fishing licences end? I think we were actually not that interested in upping the rates on the hunting licences. Just for clarification, are rates going up on our hunting licences and where are we at on fishing licences?

Mr. Bromley. Mr. Jacobson.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. How big of an increase on the hunting licence?

Deputy Minister Bohnet.

Just for clarification, I believe the question was how much. Do you have the actual amounts?

I would appreciate that if he could get that back to all Members what it would cost our constituents for the new hunting licences.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. We’ll get that information and share it with committee members.

Mr. Bromley.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I’m wondering what additional services we’re providing to our hunters with the doubled fees. Obviously this is kind of a tough time to be doubling fees when our main wildlife are down in numbers.

I know there has been a recognized need for a long time now to start implementing a hunters training course and perhaps it is something that should be developed and introduced as mandatory for a certain age group to start ensuring that we have... It’s a more complex world out there these days. There’s not the same connection with our fathers and traditional harvesters of the past. ...(inaudible)...the way they were. I think there is a bigger role now for the department. I am wondering what the thinking is on that, what additional services we’re contemplating with the doubled licence fee. When was the last time we adjusted licence fees? Perhaps it is time. Thank you.

Mr. Chairman, last year we were asked to come back with a plan to bring up our fees. So we are working on that. We will be glad to share that plan with the committee, with the Members. Part of the focus that we have talked about in that the farmers invested a significant amount of time and effort as a whole area of conservation education and hunting education so that we can work with parents,

traditional knowledge, elders, to make sure that people have the proper respect both for the land and the animals that they are harvesting. I will let the deputy minister speak a bit more to that and possibly give an idea when the last time hunting licences were increased.

Thank you, Mr. Minister. Deputy minister.

Thank you, Mr. Bohnet. Mr. Bromley.

Mr. Chairman, I appreciate those comments. Of course, the reason we have those fees is because there is a high cost of living in the North and I am sure it is not a surprise when people hear that it is not just aboriginal people that can rely on wild game for their main protein source. I think the intent was to keep that accessible. That is just a comment, Mr. Chairman. I will throw that out for consideration when we think about raising licence fees. Thank you.