Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I don't know what type of direction would be required. I would be willing to write to the hunters' and trappers' association in

Coral Harbour to suggest that a portion of the tags that are available for commercial processing could be used by outfitters, if they so wished. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I know that caribou sport hunters, at least in the west, have been very successful. I also realize that the polar bear outfitters have also been very successful in bringing people up. I believe there are commercial tags that are available, at least in the Keewatin for the Beverly Qamanirjuaq herd. However, I also understand that it is up to the local hunters to decide how those tags will be used. At the present time, I believe those tags are being used to catch caribou to be brought to the processing plant in Rankin Inlet.

For the caribou on Southampton Island, I'm sure everybody knows of the work that has been done in conjunction with the Department of Economic Development and Tourism. From what the department tells me, there are sufficient caribou there to produce caribou meat for processing for a long period of time. I would think that it would be timely if there were some local people who would want to start outfitting on Southampton Island, but I believe that that decision should lie with the people on Southampton Island. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I have a return to an oral question asked by Brian Lewis with regard to the reason for an increase in stumpage fees.

Under the Forest Management Act and regulations, there are two charges for timber harvesting: reforestation charges and timber cutting charges. Changes were made to these charges as part of the 1995-96 operational planning process. These changes affect spruce and pine saw logs, but not fuel wood. The reforestation charges have increased. Despite the increase, this fee is still substantially lower than other jurisdictions. Under legislation, the money collected for reforestation must be put back into reforestation activities.

A new schedule for the timber cutting charges is being developed. This new schedule will tie the timber charges to the price of lumber. With the present lumber prices, most operators will pay less under this new schedule than they did last year. This new schedule will be in place for the next harvest season. I am providing a letter with additional information to the honourable Member. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

---Applause

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I, too, would like to table a petition which I believe also came from the Nunatsiaq coalition. However, the wording is somewhat different and it comes from the residents of Baker Lake, with 21 names. Petition No. 12-12(7) reads as follows:

"Be it known that we agree, in principle, with firearm legislation designed to protect the citizens of Canada from harm from the criminal element and that there is need for legislation affecting the use and kinds of weapons which can be obtained and used legally. The time has come, however, to make our views known to the government body of Canada, that it is time for legislation which punishes the criminal element with harsher and more severe penalties for committing an offence with a firearm. For who among us thinks that by making a firearm illegal or restricted will stop a criminal from obtaining it, if he truly wants it? Further restricting hunters and honest gun owners with useless legislation does nothing but hurt our abilities to make a living from hunting and using firearms. Therefore, the people of Baker Lake in the Northwest Territories hereby agree and affix their signatures to this petition. This petition

represents the views of those who sign their names below."

Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

(Translation) Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I am happy to say that this will be done because this was dealt with at our meeting this morning. It was approved that polar bear management is going to be moved to the Nunavut area. This move will commence in the fall. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I believe that the infestation is a natural occurrence. The last outbreak, I believe, was in the mid-1960s. To date, I don't believe there is any way of countering the infestation in the forests.

Mr. Speaker, it is a natural occurrence. If you allow it to carry through with what it does, I understand it is a defoliation of trees. It is generally light to moderate, with patches of heavy defoliation. The department, along with Canadian Forest

Service, will be assessing the area and will be able to give a full report.

To the particular question, at the present time, there is no way of trying to fight what is, I believe, a natural occurrence. I believe the best way is to leave it the way it is and to let nature take its course. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

...which is found in the northern part of the western Northwest Territories. It is believed that the tent caterpillars in the Fort Liard area are from an outbreak which spread from British Columbia. From what we understand, the infestation generally lasts throughout a decade. The department expects that the infestation will spread throughout the Liard Valley and could last the rest of this decade. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Yes, it is something that the Department of Renewable Resources is aware of and are working with Canadian Forest Service in accessing the outbreak. In particular, in the area of Fort Liard, a particular type of tent caterpillar is a forest tent caterpillar, Malacosoma diistria. It's a type of tent caterpillar.

Mr. Speaker, there is also another type of tent caterpillar which is a northern tent caterpillar, Malacosoma califonicum...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I have a return to an oral question asked by Mr. Whitford on June 8, 1995 regarding regulations re cleaning of caribou carcasses.

Mr. Speaker, the Wildlife Act and regulations are silent with respect to how and where wild animals are cleaned. Attempting to impose regulations on this activity would be extremely difficult to enforce, simply because of the length of the Ingraham Trail and other highways in the Northwest Territories.

The Motor Vehicles Act, subsection 232.(1), makes it an offence to "litter" highways. The intent of this section is to ensure safety for motorists. A frozen gut pile, hide or head is obviously a hazard to them. Hunters are expected to use common sense and to clean their animals where the animal is killed or in the nearest appropriate place. The department encourages people to do this and will continue to do so. If this was done, few gut piles would end up on the roads and in ditches. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.