Agreed.

Thank you. Economic development agreement, total O and M of $9.367 million. Agreed?

Agreed.

Thank you. Finance and administration, total O and M of $1,469 million. Agreed?

Agreed.

Thank you. Details of grants and contributions, grants $410,000. Agreed?

Agreed.

Thank you. Details of grants and contributions on page 17-17, contributions of $14.872 million. Mr. Gargan.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Has the government come up with any programs to replace the Special A.R.D.A., or is there a new program within the department that is specifically designed for hunters and trappers.

Mahsi Cho. Madam Premier.

Mr. Chairman, the Special A.R.D.A. Program was a federal program that was not able to be renegotiated in the previous E.D.A. agreement. The federal government did not see fit to offer the option of renegotiating it. With the Economic Development Agreement there is a provision or a section in there that talks about traditional economy. So that can be accessed some of the particular programs that were done in the time that Special A.R.D.A. was there could be worked into this section under E.D.A. on traditional economy.

Thank you. Contributions. Mr. Gargan.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. This has been raised with the federal government, this program itself, like Special A.R.D.A. Did the department make no argument on why it should stay here or has there been any efforts made to try to keep the same kind of program as Special A.R.D.A.

Thank you, Mr. Gargan. Madam Premier.

Mr. Chairman, even though the program, Special A.R.D.A under that category, was not in the present E.D.A., the section under traditional economy does allow for a program similar to that, so we can give you the guidelines on that. It can allow for purchase of equipment and material for hunters and trappers.

Thank you. Mr. Gargan.

Yesterday, Mr. Chairman, the whole question of traps was aired on C.B.C. with regard to the leg hold traps and carnivore traps. One of the things about those traps is that they big and they are bulky, and they are quite dangerous if you do not know how to handle it.

I am just wondering whether or not the government knows if they anticipated it being put into law, I believe, but have they ever addressed the issue of. You have a legal trap, it is just numbered different, like one, two, three traps, but they are not that bulky, and you could haul hundreds of them at one time. These convoy traps are pretty bulky things and they are heavy, and I am just wondering whether or not they did any review of the anticipation of that change that will take place. Will the department be able to assist those hunters and trappers that are going to be put in, this situation because of that change from leg hold trap to carnivore trap.

Thank you. Madam Premier, are you responding to this?

Yes. The question was brought and raised the other day. I have referred the question to the Minister of Renewable Resources who is preparing a response. There is a trapper exchange program, and an educational program as well, but some of that information will be given tomorrow. Apparently, there are some exemptions that will be helpful for the Northwest Territories, so there will be a

statement tomorrow. In terms of trapper education there is a program available, and the exchange of traps also is a program that is made available. I know in discussing it with the Minister of Renewable Resources, he did say there were some exemptions, and I do not know if he is prepared to answer that now, or whether he will make a statement tomorrow if he gets the information together.

Thank you. Contributions, Mr. Gargan.

Traditionally, hunters and trappers use toboggans, but with those new types of bulky traps, I would think they would have to use a citation, or a steel sled, or something, to carry all that bulky stuff. That was what I was trying to get at, but I do not know what she is referring to with "exemptions". I would think that because of the bulkiness, the wood tracking may be some way to assist the hunters and trappers get stronger equipment, so that they could maintain tradition.

The other thing is that with those new carnivore traps, you do kill the animal faster, but it also freezes faster too, so you are going to have bulky frozen animals that you try to fit into a sled, so that is different. The whole thing of trapping changes now because of the new method.

Thank you. Contributions of $14.872 million.

Agreed.

Thank you. Over the page. Mr. Gargan.