Roles

In the Legislative Assembly

Elsewhere

Historical Information Silas Arngna'naaq is no longer a member of the Legislative Assembly.

Last in the Legislative Assembly September 1995, as MLA for Kivallivik

Lost his last election, in 1995, with 11% of the vote.

Statements in the House

Bill 1: Appropriation Act, No. 2, 1995-96Committee Report 4-12(7): Report On The Review Of The 1995-96 Main Estimates March 5th, 1995

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. To my left is my deputy minister, Mr. Joe Handley; to my immediate right is Mr. Rick Feil who is the director of finance; and, on my far right is Mr. Marius Tungilik who is special advisor for Nunavut.

Question 252-12(7): Consultation Re Export Of Live Wood Bison March 5th, 1995

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I will commit to calling a public meeting in the next little while. I'm not able to confirm a date, but I will ensure that there is a public meeting called in the town of Fort Smith. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Question 252-12(7): Consultation Re Export Of Live Wood Bison March 5th, 1995

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. To my understanding, the chairman of the Sustainable Development Committee was contacted. The chief of the Dene Nation was contacted. The leader of the Metis Nation was contacted. The understanding that I have is that the various organizations would not be able to work together, but would be willing to meet with department officials.

I spoke to Dennis Bevington, the mayor in the town of Fort Smith, before he left and he felt there was some urgency to transport the bison. He felt that there is enough of a market in Alberta that we would not be creating what has happened to the Arctic char. There is a market for live bison in southern Canada.

With that understanding, my deputy minister contacted all the leaders in Fort Smith. The leaders who I know he contacted were those I stated earlier. The intention was to hold a meeting early this week in the town of Fort Smith. I believe it could be as early as tomorrow. To date, those are the only ones who will be meeting with the department officials. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Question 252-12(7): Consultation Re Export Of Live Wood Bison March 5th, 1995

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My deputy minister contacted the various leaders and felt that the leadership of Fort Smith would be able to respond to the concerns of the people they represent in the town. The response he received from the leaders was that they would not be able to come to a satisfactory conclusion. With that, I believe that a meeting of the leaders of the various organizations of the town of Fort Smith will be held with the deputy minister. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Question 252-12(7): Consultation Re Export Of Live Wood Bison March 5th, 1995

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Good afternoon. I apologize for being late this afternoon. Regarding the bison in Fort Smith, my deputy minister has been in contact with all the leaders there: the Dene band, the Metis, the mayor and, I believe, the chairman of the Sustainable Development Committee. It was felt by all groups that a public meeting was not necessarily warranted but, rather, a meeting of the various leaders of the community. I believe that is what will be taking place. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Committee Motion 31-12(7): To Adopt Recommendation 8, Carried March 2nd, 1995

Mr. Chairman, the position in Aklavik will be a half-time position; in Tsiigehtchic, it will be a half-time position; in Holman Island, it will be a half-time position to make it a full- time position; in Fort Providence, it will be a half-time position; in Arctic Bay, it will be a full-time position; and, in Baker Lake, it will be one full-time position.

Committee Motion 31-12(7): To Adopt Recommendation 8, Carried March 2nd, 1995

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I thank the Member for raising the issue of HTA members and people who go out hunting who monitor many of the activities that take place out on the land. In some of the discussions I've held with HTAs in the communities, this has been raised, as they are the individuals who are out there and, quite often, monitor the various activities. They not only monitor their own people from the communities, but also exploration companies and the tourism activities that carry on. I think there is major involvement by HTAs, not only as members of their organizations but as actual hunters and trappers.

With regard to the discussion of the $250,000 that I remarked on in my statement, this $250,000 is in addition to what already exists for resource development. I believe that it's an additional $250,000, on top of the base we already have for resource development, that we will be making use of. It will be specifically for forest management in the South Slave and Deh Cho areas. I indicated earlier that there is work being done on the caribou herd around Pangnirtung and Broughton Island. I will commit myself to finding out exactly what is happening there and ensure that HTAs in both communities are consulted, as I know they will be, and report back to the Member. Thank you, Mr. Chairman.

Committee Motion 31-12(7): To Adopt Recommendation 8, Carried March 2nd, 1995

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I believe I have given a written response to the Member with the particular question on the discussion of caribou around Broughton Island and Pangnirtung. I do not recall what my response was, but I believe there is a study that is going on regarding the caribou. And there will be resource personnel who will be in the area and will be able to discuss with both communities the concerns that are being raised by the HTA in Broughton Island and also by people in Pangnirtung. I'm not able to say whether they will be able to come up with funds to assist with travel, but it is something that I'd be willing to take a closer look at. At the present time, I'm not able to respond but I believe there are funds being used to work with the HTA in Broughton Island and Pangnirtung in the 1995-96 budget. Thank you, Mr. Chairman.

Committee Motion 31-12(7): To Adopt Recommendation 8, Carried March 2nd, 1995

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I will attempt to respond to some of the concerns that Mr. Ningark has raised. First of all, regarding the confiscation of polar bear meat, I looked into that and have found that the current investigation practice of our officers is to seize the whole polar bear, all parts of the polar bear including the meat, for evidence. At this time, this is the current practice. I've asked the department to review this practice and see if there are other ways that evidence could be collected for use in court proceedings.

I understand that once the proceedings of the court are concluded, the meat is returned to the community through the HTA which is then able to distribute it to people of the community. I believe that is the current practice when a polar bear is killed illegally. I have asked if we can look at this practice to see if all the meat is required for evidence. So, it is being reviewed and I should be able to get back to the Member at some point to indicate whether the confiscation of meat is required.

The Member also spoke of the meeting that I attended in Gjoa Haven and I was very pleased to have met the HTA president, members of the hamlet council and the chairman of the search and rescue committee. The area of search and rescue is not within the department's mandate. Rather, it is a mandate of the Department of Municipal and Community Affairs. But, as an interested Member, I have always been very concerned about the work that is being done in the area of search and rescue and have passed these concerns on to the responsible Minister. I look forward to receiving any information that the Member's constituents may have and would be willing to do whatever I can to assist.

Regarding the quick kill traps, the regulation which we have been encouraging and have followed is a European regulation. At the present time, the regulation does not discuss foxes. So, as a department, we have been training residents in the east on how to use the quick kill traps because it is a belief of the aboriginal people, the Inuit, that an animal that is going to be used for consumption or that is killed should be killed in a humane manner. At least, this is the way I was raised and I continue to believe that. If trappers in the east wish to use the quick kill traps, it is entirely up to them at this point but it is not necessary for them to use them. I have also asked the department to continue to find ways that we could find effective traps to be used by trappers. It is something that the department is still looking at, and continues to work with research stations.