Thank you, Madam Chair. Of course, above all, we are most pleased with the success of the Genuine Mackenzie Valley Fur Program, an international brand that’s had extensive success and really provides the trappers of the Northwest Territories with direct income through the process we use in the Northwest Territories. In addition to that, as the Minister has indicated, our Western Harvesters Assistance Program, our support for local wildlife committees, our Community Harvesters Assistance Program, and probably, as well, most interesting is our Take a Kid Trapping Program which continues to be a huge success in bringing youth to participate on the land. We can’t measure the success of that for the small amount of money that is invested in that area, a little over
$125,000 by the department, but in partnership with other groups up to around $400,000.
One of the more recent programs I’d like to highlight for you is the High Procurement Program. This committee has identified this in the past. This is where we assist traditional craft producers in the Northwest Territories with a source of moose and caribou, but obviously the seal industry has been hard hit in the world and today we now repurchase seal product at wholesale price and provide that at discount price to our crafters around the Northwest Territories. Now, that’s extended, as well, to some of our beaver product. You’re seeing more and more of our crafters use that product across the territory providing that to artisans and making it a great step forward. Overall, this program has been a great success and, I believe, through the Minister, we’ve had some good response to that across the Northwest Territories.