Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The fall grubstake program is designed to assist harvesters with the high costs of starting trapping each year. Trappers will qualify for the program if they have harvested and sold at least 20 pelts in the previous season. Payments from this program will start in the fall of 2004.

Mr. Speaker, these two initiatives along with our continued focus on trapper training will continue to bolster our fur industry in the Northwest Territories and assist harvesters, particularly in the smaller communities, to continue their traditional lifestyles. Mahsi, Mr. Speaker.

---Applause