Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I too would like to speak briefly today to the principles upon which this bill is founded. First I want to recognize the long and complex process that has resulted in this bill’s presentation to the Assembly. The bill makes an effort to address and incorporate the new realities, not so new really, of constitutional and treaty rights of Aboriginal citizens with a new law reflecting the direction of constructive court decision. There has been earnest effort here and the Minister needs to be congratulated for pursuing the need to modernize our legislation. However, the basic principles this bill attempts to address involves the realization of a comprehensive regime of co-management based upon consultative decision-making.

As we learned in the recent caribou harvesting moratorium, co-management, consultation and common will are the indispensible elements of an effective management regime. In the development of this bill, and as my colleague has noted, it has been over a couple of decades. There have been serious challenges in living up to these principles through the legislative development process. The Minister has heard these concerns here in the Assembly through media reports and the correspondence received from a variety of

stakeholders. These concerns originate from throughout the spectrum of public interest, Aboriginal groups, resident hunters, outfitters and industry. It is unusual to see a piece of legislation move forward to the public hearing stage with so much discord expressed on the basic approach and principles addressed in legislative development even before it is tabled. This reality places an unusual and large consultative responsibility on committee.

Mr. Speaker, I will be working hard with committee to identify and address any concerns and to bring them back to the Minister through committee, but I am concerned that the consultation that has brought us to this bill has not been adequate or sensitive and that the resulting bill is lacking in its fundamental address of principles and concerns. Things that will help us to move forward are, for example, a table of concordance indicating where the changes have been made to this bill in relation to the previous draft and that this be made available immediately after second reading. I similarly request that notes of stakeholder meetings and earlier submissions be made available to help the public in its review of this important legislation. Finally, people have submitted comments with promises from government for feedback, but they have not yet heard from the department. That, obviously, needs some resolution.

To wrap up, Mr. Speaker, I do have some concerns, but I think the process is in place. I am looking forward to moving forward on this. Mahsi.