In our discussions, again, with our Aboriginal partners and hearing from people across the Northwest Territories, they are very concerned with the declining caribou numbers. I think that we shared the numbers with you, especially on the barren-ground caribou, where the numbers dropped dramatically. Building on those discussions, I have actually directed the department to develop a plan to improve our monitoring, develop and implement mitigation plans, involve our Aboriginal partners, and improve the science related to the barren-ground caribou herds that are currently facing population challenges in the NWT. As we get close to finalizing the plan, I will be sharing it with committee, get some input from committee and, if needed, come forward with a supplementary appropriation.
I have directed the department to do a lot of work on this, because it is something that we have heard from the folks during our tour of the Tlicho, for example, and their concerns. We thought that we needed to start making some significant investment into the protection of the caribou herd.