Thank you, Madam Speaker. At the present time, the Department of Renewable Resources will follow with the fur strategy that was tabled in the Legislative Assembly. The first step the department is taking is hiring a person who will train in a fur grading centre and learn to properly grade fur. This, I believe, will be the first step towards being able to identify wild furs that are harvested from the Northwest Territories. Thank you, Madam Speaker.

Thank you, Madam Speaker. I have the assurance of the Minister of Fisheries and Oceans, Mr. Tobin, that all the offices that are in the marine fisheries division of the department will continue to be employed by the department. With changes that will be taking place as far as freshwater fisheries are concerned, my deputy minister has confirmed that he will be meeting with the deputy minister of the Department of Fisheries and Oceans within the next three weeks. Thank you, Madam Speaker.

Thank you, Madam Speaker. At the present time, I believe the Department of Fisheries and Oceans will continue to operate offices in the Northwest Territories that have to do with marine fisheries. However, I believe it is the intention of the Minister to transfer freshwater fisheries to the Department of the Environment. The time frame and the specific areas that will be transferred, I am not aware of at this point. It is our intent to start these discussions at the deputy minister level and find out exactly what it is that the Government of the Northwest Territories would be able to take over. Thank you.

Thank you, Madam Speaker. Yes, we are looking at how we might be able to take over some areas that the Department of Fisheries and Oceans is responsible for. At the present time, we have not come to a conclusion about what areas of the department we will be able to work with. My deputy minister will be meeting with the deputy minister of the Department of Fisheries and Oceans within the next three weeks in Ottawa and I believe they will be starting discussions at that time. Thank you, Madam Speaker.

(Translation) Thank you, Madam Speaker. With regard to caribou hunting, I will be

informing all communities and the hunters in the communities who will be affected by this. Thank you.

(Translation) Thank you, Madam Speaker. I am quite aware of what the Member is asking about, but I will look into the matter further and get back to him. I will look into the matter about the people who were in the Coast Guard helicopter hunting caribou, and I will get back to the Member for High Arctic. Thank you.

Thank you, Madam Speaker. The trapper incentive program which is run by the government will be ending this year. Last year, payments for harvesters were given. And, a payment has been sent to each of the trappers who participated in the program last year. This occurred towards the end of October, 1994. The way the new program will work is, for example white fox, a first payment of approximately $25 dollars will be given to a trapper for a good quality pelt that is brought into Renewable Resources.

As a second payment in the fall, a trapper will receive $13 for a total price of $38. However, the second payment will not go out to the trapper until the following fall; so, in October of 1995 the trapper will receive the extra $13. For every pelt the trapper brings into either a private vendor or Renewable Resources, they will receive the $13. This will be the same for seals, to a maximum of 5,000 pelts, white fox, coloured fox, marten, mink, beaver and muskrat. Thank you, Madam Speaker.

Thank you, Madam Speaker. As we speak, the renewable resources officers as well as regional offices, should be distributing information on the new program to all interested harvesters. All members of the staff of the Department of Renewable Resources are aware and understand the program. They have been instructed to deliver the program and to explain to harvesters what the program is about. Thank you, Madam Speaker.

Thank you, Madam Speaker. The fur pricing program that is being initiated by the Department of Renewable Resources has three main objectives, which are: to establish a guaranteed or minimum price schedule for selected prime wild furs harvested in the Northwest Territories; to increase participation in trapping, whether they are trappers who stopped trapping years ago or young people who would like to earn an income in trapping; and, to increase the proportion of quality prime wild fur in the Northwest Territories.

The incentive program that was run by the Government of the Northwest Territories, I believe, was an effective program. However, I don't think it encouraged new trappers or trappers who had trapped before to get back into trapping. The intent of the program is to try to bring more trappers in the trapping industry.

The way the program will work is there will be a slight increase of payment to harvesters who bring in pelts to Renewable Resources. There will be a first payment and then a second payment which will follow in the following year, in the following fall of the harvesting season. For example, for trappers who trap this winter will receive a first payment when they bring pelts into the department and they will also receive a second payment in the fall of next year, in 1995. Regardless of whether they bring the fur into Renewable Resources or into private vendors, they will receive the second payment, based on the number of furs they are able to sell. Thank you, Madam Speaker.