MR. SPEAKER:
Further petitions?
The hon. the Member for the
District of The Straits & White Bay North.
MR. DEAN:
Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
I am pleased this afternoon to be
able to stand and present another petition, particularly
for the members of my own district.
To the hon. House of Assembly of
the Province of Newfoundland and Labrador in Parliament
assembled, the petition of the undersigned humbly
sheweth:
WHEREAS
the people of the Northeast Coast feel that due to high
winds and stormy seas during the months of December
through February; and
WHEREAS
during the last number of years we are able to do little
or no hunting during these months; and
WHEREAS
there is an abundance of eider ducks in the last few
years; and
WHEREAS
eider ducks will not nest until mid-May;
WHEREUPON
your petitioners call upon all Members of the House of
Assembly to urge government to extend the hunting of
eider ducks until March 10 during these designated
hunting seasons.
As in duty bound, your petitioners
ever humbly pray.
Mr. Speaker, this may not seem
earth-shattering to some members of the House of
Assembly this afternoon, but it is an important petition
that I bring forward in several ways. I realize the
actual hunting season is something that is set by
Environment Canada, I believe it is. Mr. Speaker, I
would call upon the Department of Justice, with
Intergovernmental Affairs, to make representation on
behalf of the members who have signed.
I have the signatures of about 800
or so people. Many of the people are involved in the
eider duck hunt. The fact that the season is closing so
prematurely, in terms of weather, it really jeopardizes
the opportunity for them to participate, first of all,
in something that has been a tradition for them for many
years. It is a means of food for them.
Mr. Speaker, my concern would be
one of safety. I live in the area and we know along the
Northeast Coast that December, January, and February are
certainly not good months to be on the water in smaller
speedboats in particular.
Mr. Speaker, I am pleased today to
be able to stand and present this. I would ask
government to look at it seriously and to do anything
they can do to see that the request of the petitioners
is granted.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
