Thank you, Mr. Speaker. This year particularly has been hard for many Northwest Territories communities and residents who were already struggling to make ends meet. The COVID-19 pandemic has brought new economic challenges for some families in the Northwest Territories.
In response to these concerns, the Department of Environment and Natural Resources is increasing funding this year to support harvesters and families going out on the land. Three new programs will promote the sharing of land-based knowledge and provide training for the next generation of hunters and trappers. The Take a Family on the Land Program will provide subsidies to Indigenous governments and organizations, community governments, and non-profits to help offset costs for families in need to go out on the land. The Regional Training, Mentorship and Support Program will provide funding to regional Indigenous governments to increase mentorship opportunities and support land-based training needs. The pilot trappers mentoring program will support trappers who want to learn trapping skills this season. Applications for the Take a Family on the Land and the Regional Training, Mentorship and Support Programs launched on October 21, 2020, and applications are now being accepted. The pilot trapper mentoring program will be launched in November.
The Department has also increased the amounts for this year's grubstake payments. These payments are made to trappers at the beginning of the season, based on the number of furs brought in the year before. Trappers use these grubstake payments to help offset some of the annual start-up costs of trapping, which supports participation in the fur industry. This year's trappers will be provided with more start-up funds, and more trappers will be able to access the program.
As a government, we are committed to supporting our residents to go out on the land. During the engagement on the Environment and Natural Resources Sustainable Livelihoods Action Plan, we heard from communities about the importance of mentorship programs for beginning harvesters and trappers. We also heard about the need to provide support for families to pursue on-the-land activities.
Each of these new programs draws on the strengths of the northern tradition of land-based learning, mentorship, and sharing of knowledge. They support a number of actions identified in the Sustainable Livelihoods Action Plan, including providing starter kits for new trappers, support for harvesting mentorship, and funding for families with limited resources to go out on the land. The new funding for this season builds on the successful community partnerships that have been developed through our regular programs, such as Take a Kid Trapping, the Genuine Mackenzie Valley Fur program, Community Harvesters Assistance Program, hunter education, and trappers' training.
Mr. Speaker, we have heard from Indigenous governments and organizations about the importance of land-based skills and knowledge. This government believes that sustainable livelihoods are vital to a prosperous, diverse, and sustainable territory. Land-based skills and knowledge help ensure harvesters can access nutritious country foods and that our communities maintain strong and resilient. Environment and Natural Resources remains committed to supporting the next generation of harvesters and stewards of the land and promoting sustainable access to country foods. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.