Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Today my Member's statement will be addressing a concern brought to me by one of my constituents earlier this year. This concern has brought me great concern. This issue is about the hunting and trapping industry. It has been designated as a sustainable industry, and it gives a stable livelihood to people in the North. This reflects northern traditions, which is a very important issue in the Northwest Territories.
One of the many keys to the success of this industry is security due to the government funding and the ongoing support when the fur markets go up and down. These safeguards protect the vitality of this industry. This encourages people to pursue centuries-old traditions, knowing that it's economically stable. This is the choice they make with their heart.
However, I am very sad to say there is no ongoing support of this kind for the sewing and craft industry. This traditional industry is on the brink of being put on the endangered list. This industry needs government intervention.
Mr. Speaker, once a northern culture, a northern industry, is lost, it's almost impossible to bring it back. You cannot infuse modern-day thinking into centuries-old traditional values. This government needs to act to create a sustainable, stable industry in order to ensure that this is viable for tomorrow. It needs to show and demonstrate that this industry has worth. We need programs that establish ongoing support for this industry, just like the programs that RWED operates for the hunters and trappers.
Mr. Speaker, if you bead gloves, if you make birch baskets, if you do moose hair tuftings, some of those people out there are working for pennies, and that's not fair. We need something that stabilizes the market forces to encourage these people and to protect these people. Even sadder, there are no existing programs at this moment to ensure raw materials are out there so that this tradition can continue.
Right now, there is no program to ensure that people get dollar for value of work. This inequity needs to stop and it's time for change. This government must focus on northern traditions before it's too late.