Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker,

with the state of the economy in the NWT, will the Minister of Industry, Tourism and Investment promote and make plans to boost the economy in small communities by assisting hunters and trappers in acquiring traps and hunting gear for the upcoming 2016/2017 hunting season?

Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

That last comment is leading to my next question. In my region harvesting seals is important both feed and a source of cash income. What is Industry, Tourism and Investment doing to maximize returns to harvesters?

My other question is: The trapping industry is important in my riding of Nunakput. What are some of the trends and issues impacting the industry in the Beaufort Delta region?

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, earlier on in my statement the questions for Minister of Industry, Tourism and Investment. My first question is to the Minister of Industry, Tourism, and Investment. Can you please outline the types of support that area available to trappers under the Genuine Mackenzie Valley Fur Program? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Mr. Speaker, I seek unanimous consent to conclude my statement.

---Unanimous consent granted

Thank

you, Mr. Speaker. Going back to the Prime Fur Bonus Program, it provides funds based on successful market performance and provides an incentive to deliver high quality, well-handled fur pelts for sale. A Prime Fur Bonus is paid when the value of a fur sold at auction meets or exceeds the value of the advance. Lastly, the Hide and Fur Procurement Program supports traditional crafts, provides local artisans prime NWT harvested hides to produce high-quality traditional furs. The Genuine Mackenzie Valley Fur Program continues to provide an income for the world-renowned hunters and trappers across the Northwest Territories. At this time, I commend every hunter for their efforts displayed in our culture, which today is the best in the world. Today I'll have questions for the Minister of ITI. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I'd like to commend Mr. Moses on the function today, on anti-bullying. Today I'll talk about the Northwest Territories fur industry. Furs marketed under the Government of Northwest Territories Genuine Mackenzie Valley Fur Program fur label have shown strong returns to NWT trappers over the last three years. Northwest Territories wolverine, Arctic, cross and red fox furs have sold out at international auctions. At the most recent season opening sale of wild fur held in North Bay, Ontario, 93 and 96 per cent of Arctic fox and black bear furs were sold. Wolf pelts received the highest bids with an average of $353.90 per pelt, and a top price of $661.51. Wolverines averaged $311.35 per pelt, and a top price of $432. The government's Genuine Mackenzie Valley Fur Program provides one-window access to international markets for NWT trappers, and marketing and promotion of fur at international venues through the partnerships with other harvesting jurisdictions and private sector. More than $460,000 has been paid out in the form of advances to NWT trappers under the Genuine Mackenzie Valley Fur Program this season. Access to the Genuine Mackenzie Valley Fur Program fur label, which guarantees buyers a single source of quality, authentic NWT-harvested fur, benefits hunters and trappers across the North. The government estimates that 10,000 pelts have been delivered to auction by NWT trappers since November 1, 2015. On top, overall prices continue to be realized at auction for NWT mink, lynx, wolf, Arctic fox and red fox. The Genuine Mackenzie Valley Fur Program offers support under five sub-programs. The Fur Price Program provides production against sudden and unanticipated declines in market prices and pays all associated costs of selling furs at auction, including shipping and drumming. The Guaranteed Fur Advance provides trappers with fully-guaranteed interim funds to continue trapping while still awaiting the sale of furs at auction. The Trapper's Grubstake provides eligible trappers with funds to defray a portion of their start-up costs at the beginning of each trapping season. The Prime Fur Bonus Program provides funds based on…

Thank you, Mr. Chair, and thanks to both Members from Yellowknife for their comments. In my region there are mineral claim stakes that are outstanding and so we negotiate fair agreements with exploration companies. I believe that what we have in place is sound, and I also believe that moving ahead with negotiations for other sites, I think we have a good system in place that will still be effective in negotiating impact and benefit agreements and other agreements with exploration companies.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. In a sense, I agree with the Member for Frame Lake, but then again we spoke earlier on this as well too and I had mentioned that the Member may be carrying baggage from five or 10 years down the road. We need to look forward, making sure that we're okay and not making decisions from the past today. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. Mr. Chair, I think we need to keep in mind with all of this, here, going on, that there are other Aboriginal governments of the Northwest Territories that we have to consider when looking at mineral claim stakes, oil and gas developments. I’m kind of leery about the wording of this as it may scare away business opportunities in the Northwest Territories. Thank you, Mr. Chair.