Thank you Mr. Speaker. Your loyal and hardworking Standing Committee on Economic Development and Infrastructure is pleased to report on the review of Bill 3, Wildlife Act, and commends it to the House.
Introduction
Bill 3, the Wildlife Act, is a product of over 15 years of work to replace existing wildlife legislation which dates back to 1978. The Standing Committee on Economic Development and Infrastructure conducted extensive public consultation on the bill and has reached consensus among its members that the legislation is ready for consideration by the Committee of the Whole.
Bill 3 was referred to the Standing Committee on March 5, 2013. Between April and June 2013, the committee held public hearings in Yellowknife, Tulita, Norman Wells, Tsiigehtchic, Detah, Hay River, Fort Smith, Inuvik, Fort Simpson, Nahanni Butte, Fort Providence and Behchoko. The committee heard from a wide range of individuals, organizations and Aboriginal governments during this public review process, both at hearings and via written submissions. The committee members would like to thank all participants.
After carefully considering and discussing all feedback received on the bill, the committee proposed the amendments discussed in this report. The committee would also like to take this opportunity to raise a number of issues brought forward during public hearings that it agrees are significant to the implementation of the new act.
The committee heard considerable appreciation for the Department of Environment and Natural Resources’ – the department’s – collaborative approach to the development of Bill 3, and the extensive consultation process it undertook prior to the introduction of the bill in the Legislative Assembly. Presenters also commended the standing committee on its effort to consult with the public on the bill.
A number of presentations expressed general support for the bill, highlighting its incorporation of Aboriginal and treaty rights and management and conservation principles as strengths of the proposed legislation. Other individuals and organizations expressed conditional support, or, in some cases, could not support the bill at all for reasons which the committee attempted to address through amendments or recommendations.
That concludes my portion of the introduction process and at this time I would like to turn the floor over to my colleague from the Deh Cho, Mr. Nadli.