Thank you. I believe the projection is because of the recent increase in fur prices. The amount we have to compensate for trappers in the harvest of fur is going to diminish as a result of increasing fur prices. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Kakfwi. Mr. Roland.

Thank you, Madam Chair. If the prices go up, the trapper will not receive any less because it is balanced off because of the prices of the sale of the item versus the

amount of grant they receive from this government? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Roland. Mr. Kakfwi.

That is correct.

Thank you. Mr. Roland. Total grants, detail of grants and contributions, total grants, $4,172,000.

Okay, thank you.

For the record, we are on resources, wildlife and economic development, grants and contributions, page 11-22, contributions. Total for contributions is on page 11-25. I have Mr. Roland and Mr. Ootes.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. In the area of a number of contributions, the wildlife management boards, both the wildlife committees, regional wildlife organizations, the committee to harvester assistance program, community organized hunts, if they are all related, the way I look at it in that area alone, they are receiving a $747,000 reduction. Is this going to be felt? It is to do with the hunters and trappers committees. Am I correct in that area?

Thank you, Mr. Roland. Mr. Kakfwi.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. It is true, we are cutting our support to these various organizations and institutions, but we have been shaving support through other programs such as the Harvester Assistance Programs. So the amount of money available for core funding, you might call it, has diminished as it has for organizations across all departments right across the territories, including government departments. We feel we have compensated for that by providing additional money, for example, the minimum price fur program and the Harvester Assistance Program, both in east and west. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Kakfwi. Mr. Roland.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Correct me if I am wrong. With all of these reductions you say that is being balanced out in the area of the western harvesters, for example, in the west, the Western Harvester Support Program, in one hand they are reducing the hunters and trappers committees and associations from this area and the other side you are bumping it up. Am I understanding you correctly?

Thank you, Mr. Roland. Mr. Kakfwi.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. It is true we have cut the amount of money for core funding for administration of these organizations that operate on behalf of harvesters, hunters and trappers, but we have increased support and increased the amount of money flowing to the harvesters and hunters and trappers, for instance, through the Nunavut Harvester Program and the Western Harvester Support Program. So we are providing more program money directly to hunters and trappers. We have decreased the amount of dollars we are making available to the organizations for the operation of their offices. It reflects the cut backs being faced with all organizations, including the government. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Kakfwi. Mr. Roland.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. As the past chairman of the Hunters and Trappers Committee, although you are saying you are making money available to the actual hunters and trappers themselves, and I understand this will have to be matched equally by dollars, a lot of hunters and trappers still practice this style of life and need the support of the central location of an office to help them access different program areas and understand a lot of the changes that have come down. For example, gun control has raised a lot of concern in the Territories. Without a place like an office to go to, they would not receive the help and, in some cases, the translation to make it more understandable in layman terms. I am very concerned that we are cutting so much out of all these areas, from the committees that help the people remain in this lifestyle. In some areas it is fairly active and productive, actually a bit profitable, especially if the prices of fur are going up. I am very concerned we have hit so many different areas all at one time. Can the Minister inform me of what affect that will have on the different committees and boards? Is there an average number that will be affected or will it be higher in one area versus another? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Roland. Mr. Kakfwi.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. There is no way to avoid the reductions that we have. It has been literally right across the board as the Members are aware. What we have been doing in recent years is trying to find ways to increase the support we give to hunters and trappers. The Nunavut Harvester Assistance Program, for every time this government has put $3 million dollars into it, the Nunavut land claims organizations have put a matching $3 million into it. When we are done, there is going to be in excess of $30 million dollars in a trust account that will be there for them forever. It is the interest from that which will be made available to the harvesters in the Nunavut territory.

The groups that are applying for this money in the west are operating on the same basis. It is not to be used for administration, but simply to flow directly to benefit the hunters and trappers within the community or region where the application is made from. This money is matched by these groups, put into an account and it is the interest from it that they are going to start using. That is generally what we have been doing. I agree the reductions should not be made, but as I said, every organization in the territory has been faced with reductions and the hunters and trappers are not exempt from that. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Kakfwi. Mr. Roland.

Again, from my experience from being on a hunters and trappers committee, I know that there was an agreement signed. I do not know if it was a contribution agreement. Obviously it was a contribution agreement that at

one time was set up for a five year period. Has that agreement expired or is that just being withdrawn and this new one being put in place with the reductions?

Thank you, Mr. Roland. Mr. Kakfwi.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I am not aware of that detail, so I will have to enquire about that. Thank you.