(Translation) Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. I am concerned about the welfare of hunters and trappers in my region. Because of the rise in fuel costs in my region, hunters and trappers are finding it very difficult to continue their long-standing way of life.
Mr. Speaker, hunting and trapping is not a hobby; it is a way of life for aboriginal people. It is a way of life that has been seriously threatened by resource development, climate change, the missing caribou herds and, most recently, the price of fuel. Gas prices have gone up so high, it is putting the cost of hunting and trapping in jeopardy. The cost of living is constantly rising and is very difficult.
Mr. Speaker, as a provider of food, the farmers are very important to the development of civilization. In other provinces, like Alberta, farmers get tax breaks on fuel they use for farm equipment. Mr. Speaker, the hunters and trappers in my region are the farmers. Their harvest provides us with food and some of our clothing. It allows our culture to be preserved and our traditions to continue. In fact, from all the aboriginal cultures in the NWT, the Tlicho traps the most. There are 300 trappers in my region. Forty percent of us hunt and fish. We can see where we benefit from using our land for food, but it takes fuel to get us out on the land in my region. Now we have to pay $1.31 to $1.56 per litre for gas. That is not reasonable. Again, Mr. Speaker, the government should recognize the importance of hunters and trappers to the aboriginal culture by providing them with a tax break in terms of road gas rates in order that they may continue to live their traditional way of life. At this time I would like to say thank you very much, Mr. Speaker.
---Applause