Thanks.
One thing I will never do is apologize for protecting and defending rural communities, rural culture, the outdoor way of life, sustainable use, and the sustainable use communities that I am so proud to represent. In fact, that's one of the reasons I became an MP.
Contrary to Mr. McKay almost implying that we don't want debate, I welcome this debate. We are actually winning in terms of our government's support for the sustainable use way of life. I have the honour of being chair of the Conservative hunting and angling caucus, and there are dozens of Conservative members of Parliament who are as dedicated as I am and as Mr. Calkins and others are to protecting and defending hunting, trapping, and the sustainable use way of life. My only comment would be, bring it on.
Mr. Howie brought up the issue of the muskrat hat. I was very proud to be one of the leaders in our caucus to preserve that tradition by the RCMP. It may have seemed like a small issue, but it really wasn't. The symbolism was extremely important. I'd like to quote here an MLA from Mr. Bevington's riding, Norman Yakeleya, who is a Sahtu MLA. He applauded our government for standing up in protecting the RCMP. I'd like to read what he said: “Like Mr. Sopuck, I represent a remote rural part of Canada, and many of my constituents trap. We cannot let animal rights activists sweep this sustainable renewable industry under the rug. The Muskrat hat” is very symbolic to the RCMP.
I'd like Mr. Cahill, perhaps, or Mr. Thompson, to comment on why that issue resonated so strongly throughout the country and, indeed, internationally.