Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Today I would like to talk about the hunters and trappers in the Northwest Territories, along with some highlights of two specific programs that are offered within the Genuine Mackenzie Valley Fur Program under the Department of Industry, Tourism and Investment. The program names are the Prime Fur Bonus and the Trappers' Grubstake.

Mr. Speaker, hunting and trapping has been a cornerstone of the NWT's traditional economy for centuries. Even today, it continues to be a vital source of commercial enterprise and income for many individuals and businesses across the Northwest Territories. In addition to the various economic benefits that come alongside this industry, hunting and trapping has also become a method for helping today's generation remain connected to their ancestral ways of life. Furthermore, Mr. Speaker, it is important that our local hunters and trappers are informed about GNWT's various programs that are available to them, among which include the Trappers' Grubstake and Prime Fur Bonus programs.

This brings me to the crux of the statement, because, in recent weeks and months, I have had numerous constituents enquire with me about the status and functionality of these two programs. For those who are unaware of these two programs, I would like to provide a brief summary of how they operate.

Firstly, Mr. Speaker, the Trapper's Grubstake Program is an initiative designed to help offset some of the start-up costs that hunters and trappers will often incur at the beginning of each season. The sums of money given out to people are determined by the number of pelts harvested by each hunter from the previous year, and can vary from $100 to $2,000 depending on the hunter's haul, quality of fur, and fur type. Moreover, the Prime Fur Bonus Program is a monetary top-up incentive that's designed to spur the highest quality of pelts.

Mr. Speaker, it is programs like these that help keep the sector of our economy alive and well. As many hunters and trappers across the Northwest Territories consider these programs essential for their livelihoods, so because of that, I find it concerning that I hear stories from constituents about outstanding money being owed to hunters and trappers for furs they sold in the spring. As far as I am aware, there aren't any other programs like this in other jurisdictions in Canada. To maintain a sustainable system for our departments, our departments must work seamlessly with hunters and trappers who rely on these programs to hunt and trap across the Northwest Territories. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.