Thank you, Mr.
Chairman.
Currently we have the SINED program, with special initiatives for northern economic development. That’s a program with the federal government that involves the three northern territories and provides $6 million a year for each territory for five years. That program is slated to go until it ends, after 2009. We have approached the federal government to indicate the need for a replacement program.
The SINED program is different from previous economic development agreements. The Member is correct: we went through a period of nine years where the Northwest Territories, or the northern territories, were the only regions in Canada that didn’t have a regional economic development program. We agree it’s very important to have a regional economic development program. We’ve looked at joining the Western Diversification Fund. We will expect to be having discussions with the federal government.
With regard to the fur industry, I think the Northwest Territories probably has the best program in all of
Canada. We’re the only territory of any province or territory that provides funding to assist harvesters and also to introduce youth to trapping. We also have introduced a market gardening process whereby we help the smaller communities develop vegetable gardens. We make farm machinery available for interested locals to develop gardens, and we will be working with the agriculture community.