Nothing further, Mr. Chair.

Okay. Thank you. Next we have Mr. Nakimayak.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. Mr. Chair, I'm just on that line there, looking at the fur program. The actuals for 2014-15 is $225,000, and 2016-17 the Main Estimates is $155,000. Can the Minister elaborate on that? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Nakimayak. Minister McLeod.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. There was I believe a $50,000 reduction. We've changed some responsibilities around so that most of the responsibilities for the fur production side now are all back with ENR and ITI is mainly involved in the marketing and branding of the fur. We heavily promote the Genuine Mackenzie Fur brand, which promotes the Northwest Territories wild fur as the best fur in the world. And we are not travelling out to as many fur shows as we have in the past, so we feel since now most of our market is in China and the China market for fur is very, very well established and they have indicated to us many, many times that if we increase our production two or threefold they'll buy whatever we produce. So that's part of the rationale there, Mr. Chair.

Thank you, Minister McLeod. Any further questions, Mr. Nakimayak?

Yeah, thank you, Mr. Chair. On the Northern Food Development Program, there is an increase from $418,000 to $550,000. The Northern Food Development Program in my region Nunakput I know in one community, Sachs Harbour they were harvesting muskox in the past and those programs have seemed to fail. I know have been due to logistics. I'm just wondering if the Minister is looking at diversifying that part of the economy in my region to help promote Northern Food Development in the region and for the Northwest Territories. Thanks, Mr. Chair.

Thank you, Mr. Nakimayak. Minister McLeod.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. We have a very, very long history with harvesting and marketing of muskox. We still really believe that it's a very good product, especially the meat and the qiviut. It's just we haven't been able to find a magic formula. Between the Inuvialuit Development Corporation and a number of government departments we probably spent millions of dollars not only on the harvesting side but also in promoting and the marketing side, and it's certainly an area that we want to continue to find a way. I think this year I'd like to see if we can work with the community to revive it.

We've also negotiated with the federal government in the Growing Forward Program some funding for muskox. So I think that, you know, there's still a very significant demand for qiviut products but the supply of qiviut is very, very low. We’re down to buying qiviut from individual hunters which is not the best way to harvest qiviut. So this is something we'd like to look at and see if we can find a better way of developing this area. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Thank you, Minister McLeod. Any further questions, Mr. Nakimayak?

Yeah. Thank you, Mr. Chair, I just have one more and then I'll carry on with that.

Mr. Chair, in the Inuvialuit Settlement region we have a herd of reindeer that is owned partially by the Inuvialuit and subsidized by the GNWT. I'm just wondering if the GNWT would invest more money in working on this project which seems to be successful at the level that it is now. There may be a possibility of growing the herd as well. The grazing range is probably some of the largest in the world compared to other reindeer herders in Europe and Russia and China as well. So we have a good opportunity for a good positive investment. I'm just wondering if the Minister is looking or has any plans to grow this project from where it is now looking forward. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Thank you, Mr. Nakimayak. Minister McLeod.

Yeah. Thank you, Mr. Chair. We've always stayed away from reindeer because it was always under federal jurisdiction. One of the little known effects of devolution is that reindeer is now under our jurisdiction, so it's in our interest to, I guess, promote and develop the reindeer market. And at one time, you know, they're probably one of the healthier herds of wildlife that we have in the Northwest Territories right now, so that would be something that I think we'd be looking at. I certainly very much enjoy the reindeer products that come out of Inuvik. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Thank you, Minister McLeod, and I'll agree with that. Any further questions? Mr. Nakimayak.

Yeah. Thank you, Mr. Chair, just more of a comment. I know we're looking forward now where you know, everyone on this side of the floor is talking about conservation and saving money and becoming more sustainable, I think this is one of the opportunities to have sustainable development in our region and our territory and set a good example. That's all I have, Mr. Chair. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Nakimayak. Would the Minister like to respond?

Thank you. No, the herd has done quite well. I think a large part would be in the herdsmen and so on, where you get that kind of knowledge and expertise. So I agree that it's certainly another way of diversifying. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Thank you, Minister McLeod. Next we have Ms. Green.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. I have a variety of questions starting with commercial fishing industry support. I'm wondering why the contribution for the new fish plant was not in the capital budget rather than this O and M budget? Thank you.

Thank you, Ms. Green. Minister McLeod.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. It's because it's not a capital item. This would be a contribution to the NWT Fishermen's Federation who would be the ones that would be responsible for building a facility when they acquire the sufficient resources. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Thank you, Minister McLeod. Ms. Green.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. My question for the Minister is whether he knows the total cost of the new fish plant. Thank you.

Thank you, Ms. Green. Minister McLeod.