Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Today, I am going to talk about the Hunters and Trappers' Disaster Compensation Program. Even though all my colleagues are talking about International Women's Day, hunters and trappers is maybe a toast to my granny, who was a very long-time hunter and trapper.

Mr. Speaker, I am concerned about the support for hunters and trappers affected by disaster in my riding last fall. Hunting and trapping is a subsistence lifestyle and income; however, many harvesters today choose to practice this traditional way of life and preserve these harvesting skills while working another job that provides the cash to support these traditions. Many people don't live entirely in their trapping cabin year-round, generating only the cash they make off their trap line. I recognize the Department of ENR administers the Hunters and Trappers' Disaster Compensation Program, and I am concerned that the qualifications for this program may leave many harvesters in my region without support.

Last spring, in my riding, we experienced high water levels that did not go down to previous levels this year, while I watched other water levels on the Great Slave Lake basin reach unprecedented levels this fall. We have seen the severe impacts from flooding in the southern portions of the territory and, as well, in the northern portions. I am concerned for hunters and trappers in my riding. It is unknown what the spring melt will bring. If the water continues to go up, many cabins will be flooded in my region.

Mr. Speaker, hunting and trapping and harvesting is a way of life. These are skills that take many years to refine, and it costs money to practice. Many harvesters in my region may not generate 20 percent of their annual income through harvesting and trapping, but that does not make their pursuit of traditional skills any less important. I am concerned that, if the flooding occurs in the Mackenzie Delta this spring, many cabins will be flooded and many harvesters will be negatively impacted and may even give up their traditional way of life. I will have questions for the Minister of Environment and Natural Resources on this later. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.