Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to advise my colleagues today that

despite

the

global

economic downturn we are

experiencing, sales

figures from

the January

Fur

Harvesters Auction sale indicate that demand is still strong for Northwest Territories fur sold under the Genuine Mackenzie Valley Fur label.

The total value of fur sold in January was $90,000 CDN with marten, fisher and beaver pelts fetching the highest prices.

The top price paid

for marten was $161 per pelt with an average price overall

of $103.

The

best price paid for NWT

beaver was $63 with an average overall price of just under $24.

These prices give us reason for cautious optimism as we look forward to the upcoming March sale.

Mr. Speaker, these strong results are a reflection of many years of promotion, support and training facilitated by our government to Northwest Territories trappers through the Genuine Mackenzie Valley Fur Program.

The Government of the Northwest Territories is, in fact, one of very few governments in the world that actively supports the harvesting and marketing of wild fur as a fundamental component of a modern and thriving economy.

By linking time-honoured traditions and practices with an increased understanding of today’s markets and its demands, we have been able to ensure and maintain a high level of product excellence. We have seen the quality and demand of Northwest Territories furs at auction increase. Fur from the Northwest Territories is now recognized as some of the finest wild fur in North America.

The Department of Industry, Tourism and

Investment, in partnership with the Government of the Northwest Territories Department of Environment and Natural Resources and the Fur Harvesters Auction completed a number of trapper training workshops in Fort Providence, Hay River, Fort Smith, Fort Resolution and Fort Liard. The turnout for these annual sessions was excellent and the information and training provided was well received.

Similar sessions have been held in other areas of the Northwest Territories in previous years. Next year, the communities in the Inuvik region will be provided similar trapper training workshops.

In recent weeks we have also taken steps to broaden consumer demand and markets for Genuine Mackenzie Valley Furs. With support from the federal government’s Strategic Investments in Northern Economic Development program, SINED, we have been successful in looking beyond our traditional market base in Canada, Europe and the United States, we are now promoting Northwest Territories wild fur at fur and fashion tradeshows in Beijing, Hong Kong and Milan.

Mr. Speaker, the ongoing support and success that the Northwest Territories fur industry has experienced in the international marketplace has and will continue to be reflected in the benefits that are being returned to our trappers and their communities.

It bodes well for our government's strategic priority to pursue growth and diversification in the Northwest Territories economy, but most importantly for the trapping industry in the North, which was almost completely devastated just a few short years ago. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.