Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I wish to raise a very important concern regarding the Trap Replacement Program. Mr. Speaker, I have been informed that there is a serious miscalculation in the matter of the number of trappers. As a result of this miscalculation, the Trap Replacement Program cannot continue. In other words we have run out of traps for the trappers of the Northwest Territories.
Mr. Speaker, I wish to say to this House that this is causing many trappers not to participate in their economic livelihood, especially during the most crucial time of the year which will bring the best results to trappers. Mr. Speaker, the economic circumstances have caused problems for many more trappers, in fact there are no jobs for which many qualify. Mr. Speaker, in the Mackenzie Delta the oil and gas industry has literally left. The economic recession is affecting every region, where there are very few jobs available in any industry.
Mr. Speaker, the trappers who have requested traps for replacement must now wait. This waiting period is during the most important crucial period for trappers across the Northwest Territories. I cannot understand, Mr. Speaker, how this miscalculation took place. Worse yet, I cannot understand how trappers cannot, at this particular juncture, access other trapping mechanisms. Mr. Speaker, I want to recommend to the Minister and to this House that we consider using the conibear 1-10 traps as a replacement trap.
On another matter, we should seriously consider a compensation program for trappers who are not trapping as a result of a serious miscalculation on the part of this government and the Department of Renewable Resources. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
---Applause