Does committee agree?

Thank you, committee. We will proceed with the first item.

Committee, we have agreed to consider Committee Report 24-19(2): Standing Committee on Economic Development and Environment Report on the Statutory Reviews of the Species at Risk (NWT) Act and Wildlife Act. I will go to the chair of the Standing Committee on Government Operations for any opening remarks. Mr. Bonnetrouge.

Sorry, yes. To the chair of the Standing Committee on Economic Development, sorry, for any opening remarks and comments. Mr. Bonnetrouge.

Mahsi, Madam Chair. Madam Chair, the committee's report was read into the record on Tuesday, March 8th, 2022. I do not have any additional substantive comments to add at this time. Individual Members may have comments on the report. I would like to thank the committee for all their hard work on this report, especially the support staff that we had that put a lot of time and effort into preparing documents for us and setting up the meetings for us. Their actions are very much appreciated by the committee.

I will allow a moment to see if there's any committee members that would like to have a say on the report. Mahsi.

Thank you. I will now open the floor to general comments on Committee Report 24-19(2): Standing Committee on Economic Development and Environment - Report on the Statutory Reviews Species at Risk (NWT) Act and Wildlife Act.

Seeing no comments, Mr. Bonnetrouge.

Mahsi, Madam Chair.

Madam Chair, I MOVE that this committee recommends that the Government of the Northwest Territories advance discussions under section 12 of the Wildlife Act with Indigenous governments where not represented by existing renewable resource boards or without a final lands, resources and self-government agreement. Mahsi, Madam Chair.

Thank you. The motion is in order. To the motion? Member for Frame Lake.

Yeah, thanks, Madam Chair. Just so the public members and so on know, section 12 of the Wildlife Act authorizes the Minister to enter into agreements regarding wildlife management. So committee heard a number of points of view about how, particularly governments that don't have agreements don't believe that they're -- they have a strong enough say in wildlife management, and this section over the Wildlife Act would give the Minister the ability to enter into agreements or arrangements of some sort with those governments that are still negotiating so that they can have a say over wildlife management, particularly in their areas of interest. Thanks, Madam Chair.

Thank you. To the motion?

Question has been called. All those in favour? All those opposed? All those abstaining? The motion is carried. Thank you.

---Carried

Mr. Bonnetrouge.

Mahsi, Madam Chair.

Madam Chair, I MOVE that this committee recommends that the Department of Environment and Natural Resources strengthen the application and use of sections 14 and 21 under the Species at Risk (NWT) Act to ensure that Indigenous governments without a final agreement have a say in management of species at risk. Mahsi, Madam Chair.

Thank you. The motion is in order. To the motion?

Question has been called. All those in favour? All those opposed? All those abstaining? The motion is carried.

---Carried

Mr. Bonnetrouge.

Thank you. The motion is in order. To the motion? Member for Great Slave.

Thank you, Madam Chair. I just wanted to briefly speak to this point, or this motion.

In dealing with Indigenous hunters that have come to me about issues around meat seizure etcetera, this was something that was raised and strongly championed by my colleague for Monfwi about them not losing their entire hunting season based on one, maybe perhaps not even true, infraction. So I thought this was a really important motion so as such that people are not penalized while they go through the process. Thank you, Madam Chair.

Thank you. The motion is in order. To the motion? Member for Frame Lake.

Yeah, thanks, Madam Chair. I guess, I think this is about trying to find a balance here. I don't think anybody feels that the ENR staff, in particular, that they need to have broad enforcement authority and I think there's some other commentary in here about how some better cultural sensitivity training and so on might be made available to officers. But, and I think we all recognize they have a very difficult job to do when they're out in the field, very difficult. But the way I guess the court process works, sometimes stuff that is seized during an investigation sits for months and I guess -- so trying to find a -- if there's some way in which the seizure itself can be dealt with more quickly so that equipment, in particular, or meat can be shared before it spoils and so on, I think that's what this is aimed at. I don't think this is criticism in any way of the enforcement officers and the difficult job that they have. Thanks, Madam Chair.

Thank you. To the motion?

Question has been called. All those in favour? All those opposed? All those abstaining? The motion is carried. Thank you.

---Carried

Mr. Bonnetrouge.

Mahsi, Madam Chair.

I MOVE that this committee recommends that the Government of the Northwest Territories increase funding support for the Community Harvester Assistance Program and related programs that develop hunting, trapping and harvesting skills. Mahsi, Madam Chair.