Adam Johnson
Northern News Services
Published Monday, January 14, 2008

YELLOWKNIFE - Big game outfitters and the territorial government are hoping outside experts may settle the debate over the apparent decline in caribou numbers once and for all.

Debate has raged for nearly two years between outfitters, First Nations groups and government about the fate of the NWT's caribou.

"We want an independent review of the government's work," said John Andre, owner of Qaivvik Ltd. and Caribou Pass Outfitter Ltd.

Outfitters are calling for an independent review of the GNWT's survey results, which show caribou declining by more than 70 per cent since 1986.

Outfitters have long said the decline is due to changing methods in counting caribou rather than any real "crash."

"Either we're right or we're wrong," Andre said.

"If we're right, we want the government to reimburse us for our losses and we'll shake hands and move on.

"If we're wrong, then we're wrong."

The potential review is one of the conditions under which the outfitters dropped their lawsuit last November. Several outfitting groups were seeking damages from the government for losses when caribou tags for visiting sport hunters were cut dramatically last year to 750 tags from 1,559.

By and large, the GNWT is on board.

"This is another way to come up with a common baseline of information," said Michael Miltenberger, minister of Environment and Natural Resources (ENR).

He said the department is still "sorting out" who will be looking over the numbers, but insisted the process would be a "peer review" - run by experts in the field.

However, he's not 100 per cent sure when a final decision will be made or when the review will happen.

"I'd like to have it done in the next couple of months, I hope," he said.

Miltenberger said the GNWT stands behind its numbers and its experts, as it always has.

"We're confident we're doing the right things."

At the recent Dene Leadership Meeting, representatives of ENR pulled no punches when it came to the current state of the caribou.

"The caribou are in trouble right now," Miltenberger said during his presentation to the leadership.

Susan Fleck, ENR director of wildlife, said there were clear problems with population numbers, though calf survival and overall caribou health were improving.

"These things need to happen for several years in order to see caribou increase."

Andre said conflicts between outfitters and ENR will continue if the department decides against an independent review.

"I will fight," he said.

"This is about wildlife and good government."