MR. SPEAKER: The hon. the Member for the District of The Straits & White Bay North.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

MR. DEAN: Mr. Speaker, I would like to present this petition on behalf of the people of our Province regarding the concerns about the moose population in Newfoundland and Labrador. I would like to note what the minister said earlier about the steps that have been taken, and we certainly want to show appreciation from the people of our Province on behalf of them for what has been done. I would also like to note that certainly more would appear to be necessary.

Some of the comments that have been noted by the people that have signed this petition have been such that it is about time and it is much needed; saving lives is important and so on.

I would also like to make a note - not to make a joke of a serious situation, but an American comedian by the name of Jeff Foxworthy said this about Newfoundlanders. He said: If you know several people who have been hit by a moose twice a day then you are probably a Newfoundlander.

So it really just kind of reiterates some of the awareness of the moose problem in Newfoundland.

For myself, I had the unfortunate experience about four years ago of being involved in a moose-vehicle accident and it is certainly not something that I would want to take any family through. Myself and my wife and my daughter, we were fortunate to survive that situation.

It is my pleasure again today to be able to present this petition and to call upon government to just do more to ensure that the lives of our people are protected.