Thank you, Madam Minister. Item 6, oral questions. The honourable Member for Mackenzie Delta, Mr. Krutko.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, my question is for the Minister responsible for Resources, Wildlife and Economic Development. It is with regard to the statement I read out today, but also I am more interested in the different programs this department delivers with regard to the trap replacement program and the fur pricing program.

We have a training initiative with the Aklavik Fur Shop, which is in my riding and has now been shut down. There was a trapper diploma training program that, along with the Department of Education and Aurora College, trained people to work within the different fur shops and what not that we have in the North. Mr. Speaker, with that, I would like to ask the Minister on the different programs, especially in the area of the trap replacement program. A number of years ago there was a program in place to assist trappers. With the humane trapping argument from Europe, we had to find a humane means of trapping. I would like to ask the Minister: how many traps have been replaced to date, the leghold trap with the new, more humane traps?

Thank you, Mr. Krutko. The honourable Minister responsible for Resources, Wildlife and Economic Development, Mr. Handley.

Mr. Speaker, I do not have a specific number on the traps that have been replaced over the years, but it would be literally thousands of traps that have been replaced. In fact, all the traps in use for those species that are specified where there is a humane trap have now been replaced and we continue to provide assistance where it is necessary for any that may have been missed. It is in the thousands. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Minister Handley. Supplementary, Mr. Krutko.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. With regard to the same point, the trap replacement program, a lot of the newer trappers coming on require these traps. It seems like there is a shortage of these traps in the Northwest Territories. My understanding is there is only one producer of these specific traps and we are only allowed so many traps per year. Could the Minister tell me what is he doing to assist the younger trappers, the people who are new to the industry? Are they able to acquire these traps?

Thank you, Mr. Krutko. The honourable Minister responsible for Resources, Wildlife and Economic Development, Mr. Handley.

Mr. Speaker, the Member is correct. There has been, at times, a shortage in the traps. Fortunately, the Northwest Territories was ahead of most jurisdictions in making the conversion over to the humane traps. However, now we find that the other provinces and regions are getting up to speed. They are using up more and more of what can be manufactured. We are concerned that the average age of our trappers is increasing and the average age is well over 50. We need to get more young people into it.

As I mentioned yesterday, we are running two pilot programs this year, one in the Delta area and the other one will be south of the lake. We are using older, experienced trappers as mentors who will take young people out with them and begin the process of learning how to trap. So we are doing those two programs on a pilot basis this year, which will assist young people. As the young people or any new entrepreneurs want to get into trapping, then we do have small business programs available to assist them from that side as well once they are on their own. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Minister Handley. Supplementary, Mr. Krutko.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, in the area of the trapping industry, there is the Fur Pricing Program the Minister mentioned. I would like to know exactly how that program is being administered? Have we followed to ensure that we are being fair to the trappers who have submitted fur and try to get the reimbursements back as soon as possible?

Thank you, Mr. Krutko. The honourable Minister responsible for Resources, Wildlife and Economic Development, Mr. Handley.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, that program is administered generally by the department, but it is implemented in each region by the resource officers. Most often, the prices and so on are set at the community level. Anything that is considered to be prime fur in reasonably good condition is guaranteed a price. There is a price for it. The officers who are doing this are, in many cases, people who are experienced trappers themselves. They are aboriginal people from the communities and they have been trained on grading fur to make sure that it all works well. In some cases, if there are issues and concerns and because grading fur is a judgment issue, then we will follow up and attempt to straighten out the disagreement if it exists. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Minister. Final supplementary, Mr. Krutko.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. In regard to the same matter, the Fur Pricing Program, I have heard many complaints from a lot of trappers who have submitted furs and they have not received their reimbursements or it has taken quite a while before they get their cheques back waiting for the furs to be sold and what not. In some cases, I have heard of people sending furs out and they have not received their cheques for it. I would like to ask the Minister, if that program undergoes some sort of an audit or is it being reviewed to ensure that people are able to receive their cheques within a reasonable time and if there is a complaint filed, how do they ensure they are following up on those?

Thank you, Mr. Krutko. The honourable Minister responsible for Resources, Wildlife and Economic Development, Mr. Handley.

Mr. Speaker, I am aware of the situation and it is Fort McPherson in which some of the trappers apparently believe they have not received their subsidy cheques and have not received them on time. As soon as we hear of cases like this, I get the department following up with it immediately. I am not sure of the specifics of this one yet, but we will have them report back to me within a matter of days.

In terms of audits, we do -- as a regular part of delivering the programs -- review what is happening and try to make sure it is being administered as it is intended. This specific one I am aware of and I assure the Member we have our people looking into it right now. Thank you.

Merci, Monsieur Ministre. Les questions orales sont finis. Oral question period is over. Item 7, written questions. Item 8, returns to written questions. Item 9, replies to the opening address. Item 10, petitions. Item 11, reports of standing and special committees. Item 12, reports of committees on the review of bills. Mr. Miltenberger.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I wish to report to the Legislative Assembly that the Standing Committee on Social Programs has reviewed Bill 8, Justice Statutes Amendment Act, and wishes to report that Bill 8 is ready for consideration in committee of the whole. Thank you. Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Miltenberger. Item 12, reports of committees on the review of bills. Item 13, tabling of documents. The honourable Minister responsible for Finance, Mr. Handley.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I have four documents I would like to table today.

Mr. Speaker, I wish to table the following document entitled "Government of the NWT Interim Financial Report for the Year Ending March 31, 2000".

Mr. Speaker, as well, I wish to table the following document entitled "Business Development Fund Annual Report and Recipients Report, 1999-2000".

As well, Mr. Speaker, I wish to table the following document entitled "Workers' Compensation Board of the Northwest Territories and Nunavut, 1999 Annual Report".