This is page numbers 1219 - 1276 of the Hansard for the 15th Assembly, 4th Session. The original version can be accessed on the Legislative Assembly's website or by contacting the Legislative Assembly Library. The word of the day was chairman.

Topics

Committee Motion 24-15(4): Recommendation To Establish An Interpretive Centre At Chan Lake, Carried
Item 16: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

Page 1258

The Chair

The Chair David Ramsay

Mahsi, Mr. Yakeleya. Minister Bell.

Committee Motion 24-15(4): Recommendation To Establish An Interpretive Centre At Chan Lake, Carried
Item 16: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

Page 1258

Brendan Bell

Brendan Bell Yellowknife South

Thank you. I look forward to that discussion with committee. I think it will be fruitful.

Committee Motion 24-15(4): Recommendation To Establish An Interpretive Centre At Chan Lake, Carried
Item 16: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

Page 1258

The Chair

The Chair David Ramsay

Thank you, Minister Bell. Next I have Mr. Villeneuve.

Committee Motion 24-15(4): Recommendation To Establish An Interpretive Centre At Chan Lake, Carried
Item 16: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

Page 1258

Robert Villeneuve

Robert Villeneuve Tu Nedhe

Thank you, Mr. Chair. I have just a couple of quick questions with the fur price program. Just as the Minister stated, the prices on the international market have gone up quite significantly, as much as 100 percent in some areas. Just with the trappers receiving the minimum price for the selected species of furs rate to as they bring them into the renewable resource officer, are

there any plans to raise these minimum fur prices to levels that are reflective of the current world prices now? I think that, right now, the trappers receive the bare minimum that they would get from the renewable resource office right on that day that they bring in their furs, but I feel that putting more money directly into their pockets while they are still trapping instead of sending them a big cheque in the springtime when all the trapping season is over, putting money in their pockets right away so they can continue trapping, buy gas, deal with the cost of living and all the other expenses that they incur during the trapping season, that would help them to get out there a little more often and a little more consistently. I see in 2004-05, there was $596,000 and then it dropped down to $345,000 for the last two years and carrying on with this budget also. Is there any appetite to make those minimum prices more reflective of the international fur market prices? Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Committee Motion 24-15(4): Recommendation To Establish An Interpretive Centre At Chan Lake, Carried
Item 16: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

Page 1259

The Chair

The Chair David Ramsay

Mahsi, Mr. Villeneuve. Minister Bell.

Committee Motion 24-15(4): Recommendation To Establish An Interpretive Centre At Chan Lake, Carried
Item 16: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

Page 1259

Brendan Bell

Brendan Bell Yellowknife South

Mr. Chair, we can have that discussion. I want to make sure that the Members understand that whatever the market price of fur is, the trapper is going to at least get that, but I think the question is more around the advance early in the season. So we have to talk about that now that it looks like prices are coming up. Whether or not that is adequate, we think actuals are going to be higher than the amount we are showing in the main estimates, which is great news, but I am certainly prepared to sit down and talk about that fur advance and how we administer the program.

Committee Motion 24-15(4): Recommendation To Establish An Interpretive Centre At Chan Lake, Carried
Item 16: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

Page 1259

The Chair

The Chair David Ramsay

Thank you, Minister Bell. Mr. Villeneuve.

Committee Motion 24-15(4): Recommendation To Establish An Interpretive Centre At Chan Lake, Carried
Item 16: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

Page 1259

Robert Villeneuve

Robert Villeneuve Tu Nedhe

Thank you. I thank the Minister for that. That is good. I am sure the trappers will be happy. Just with the disaster compensation, the $15,000 grant, natural disasters, I wonder if a trapper's cabin gets doused by a water bomber that is fighting a forest fire and the roof caves in and everything else in his cabin gets soaked, but his cabin basically stays there, are they eligible for that loss under this compensation program?

Committee Motion 24-15(4): Recommendation To Establish An Interpretive Centre At Chan Lake, Carried
Item 16: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

Page 1259

The Chair

The Chair David Ramsay

Mahsi, Mr. Villeneuve. Minister Bell.

Committee Motion 24-15(4): Recommendation To Establish An Interpretive Centre At Chan Lake, Carried
Item 16: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

Page 1259

Brendan Bell

Brendan Bell Yellowknife South

Mr. Chair, I think if you look at the hunters' and trappers' disaster compensation policy, we talk about amounts in there and we talk about eligibility, but it is for damages or losses from forest fires. I guess if the government conducting an exercise in trying to put out that forest fire, then that would qualify.

Committee Motion 24-15(4): Recommendation To Establish An Interpretive Centre At Chan Lake, Carried
Item 16: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

Page 1259

The Chair

The Chair David Ramsay

Thank you, Minister Bell. Next on the list, I have Mr. Lafferty.

Committee Motion 24-15(4): Recommendation To Establish An Interpretive Centre At Chan Lake, Carried
Item 16: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

February 22nd, 2006

Page 1259

Jackson Lafferty

Jackson Lafferty North Slave

Mahsi, Mr. Chair. Just expanding from disaster compensation that Mr. Villeneuve was asking, the $15,000 has been allocated to cover that, let's say if there is a loss due to fire. Last year, it was $15,000. Was that expended to the Northwest Territories? Is $15,000 enough for the whole Northwest Territories? That is one cabin. Mr. Chair, I just came back from February 7th tour of Gameti. An individual approached me and said my cabin burned down this summer with all my tools in it. He said he wasn't sure how to go about it. I said I would certainly find out. I am just looking at that. Just one cabin with traps, rifles and whatnot, $15,000 may exceed that one cabin per region. I am just wondering if this is a reasonable amount of figure that has been thrown at us here, because what Mr. Villeneuve is talking about is another story where water bombers destroy the cabins and now there have been some fires in Whati and Gameti this past summer. I am sure there were cabins...I have already heard one. I am sure there is probably another one in Whati that I have been getting calls on. So this is just a question to the Minister about that particular area of $15,000. Is that a reasonable amount compared to last year and other jurisdictions? Mahsi.

Committee Motion 24-15(4): Recommendation To Establish An Interpretive Centre At Chan Lake, Carried
Item 16: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

Page 1259

The Chair

The Chair David Ramsay

Mahsi, Mr. Lafferty. Minister Bell.

Committee Motion 24-15(4): Recommendation To Establish An Interpretive Centre At Chan Lake, Carried
Item 16: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

Page 1259

Brendan Bell

Brendan Bell Yellowknife South

Mr. Chair, the cap is $15,000 per application. I would say, despite what you see in the budget, the main estimates last year, for instance, 2005-06, we had 12 claims that were approved and $33,000 was the amount of compensation paid out. So you can see that it is rarely the $15,000 maximum that is recognized as the true cost. Our renewable resource officers, ENR's renewable resource officers, help the person to fill out the application, but I would say where people qualify and meet the eligibility and have legitimate needs after we go out and test that are not being turned away despite what you see here in the budget item. If somebody has a legitimate need and they meet the eligibility, then we are compensating them.

Committee Motion 24-15(4): Recommendation To Establish An Interpretive Centre At Chan Lake, Carried
Item 16: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

Page 1259

The Chair

The Chair David Ramsay

Thank you, Minister Bell. Mr. Lafferty.

Committee Motion 24-15(4): Recommendation To Establish An Interpretive Centre At Chan Lake, Carried
Item 16: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

Page 1259

Jackson Lafferty

Jackson Lafferty North Slave

Mr. Minister, I am glad you defined that because the $15,000, I thought it was just overall. So it is per application. That is good to know. Who knows? This year, it could be more than 12 claims. That is just my question on that.

The next question I have, Mr. Chair, is the Community Harvesters Assistance Program where it goes to the communities to assist the harvesters. Maybe not now, but if I can get some breakdown for my region, it would be nice to know. Just a breakdown of that, please. Thank you.

Committee Motion 24-15(4): Recommendation To Establish An Interpretive Centre At Chan Lake, Carried
Item 16: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

Page 1259

The Chair

The Chair David Ramsay

Mahsi, Mr. Lafferty. Minister Bell.

Committee Motion 24-15(4): Recommendation To Establish An Interpretive Centre At Chan Lake, Carried
Item 16: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

Page 1259

Brendan Bell

Brendan Bell Yellowknife South

Mr. Chair, in the Member's region, North Slave, there is $14,000 that goes to local wildlife committees and the Community Harvesters Assistance Program, the budget is $23,000 for North Slave. Tlicho, $32,000, local wildlife committees, $101,000 for Community Harvesters Assistance Programs. Thank you.

Committee Motion 24-15(4): Recommendation To Establish An Interpretive Centre At Chan Lake, Carried
Item 16: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

Page 1259

The Chair

The Chair David Ramsay

Thank you, Minister Bell. Back to economic development, page 11-29. Mr. McLeod.

Committee Motion 24-15(4): Recommendation To Establish An Interpretive Centre At Chan Lake, Carried
Item 16: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

Page 1259

Robert C. McLeod

Robert C. McLeod Inuvik Twin Lakes

Thank you, Mr. Chair. As I was saying before, I am in full support of any programs that go to help people still trying to live traditional lifestyles. I have a couple of questions, though; $345,000, I am glad to hear the Minister say that the actual might be higher. The program is administered by the renewable resource officers, I believe. Who is the program administered by

and who decides who gets what amount? Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Committee Motion 24-15(4): Recommendation To Establish An Interpretive Centre At Chan Lake, Carried
Item 16: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

Page 1260

The Chair

The Chair David Ramsay

Thank you, Mr. McLeod. Minister Bell.

Committee Motion 24-15(4): Recommendation To Establish An Interpretive Centre At Chan Lake, Carried
Item 16: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

Page 1260

Brendan Bell

Brendan Bell Yellowknife South

Mr. Chair, the program is administered by ITI, but the contact on the ground in communities are the renewable resource officers, ENR's renewable resource officers. Thank you.

Committee Motion 24-15(4): Recommendation To Establish An Interpretive Centre At Chan Lake, Carried
Item 16: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

Page 1260

The Chair

The Chair David Ramsay

Thank you, Minister Bell. Mr. McLeod.

Committee Motion 24-15(4): Recommendation To Establish An Interpretive Centre At Chan Lake, Carried
Item 16: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

Page 1260

Robert C. McLeod

Robert C. McLeod Inuvik Twin Lakes

Thank you, Mr. Chair. Thanks to the Minister. The $473,000 in the Community Harvesters Assistance Program, that looks like it is administered by the local wildlife committee so people would apply to these wildlife committees. How many committees would make up the $473,000? Also, I would like to know if this contribution is matched by any of the claimant groups, or if they are matched at all? Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Committee Motion 24-15(4): Recommendation To Establish An Interpretive Centre At Chan Lake, Carried
Item 16: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

Page 1260

The Chair

The Chair David Ramsay

Mahsi, Mr. McLeod. Minister Bell.