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

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

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.

Mahsi, Mr. Villeneuve. Minister Bell.

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.

Thank you, Minister Bell. Mr. Villeneuve.

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?

Mahsi, Mr. Villeneuve. Minister Bell.

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.

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

Mahsi, Mr. Lafferty. Minister Bell.

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.

Thank you, Minister Bell. Mr. Lafferty.

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.

Mahsi, Mr. Lafferty. Minister Bell.

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.

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

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.

Thank you, Mr. McLeod. Minister Bell.

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.

Thank you, Minister Bell. Mr. McLeod.

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.

Mahsi, Mr. McLeod. Minister Bell.