David Ramsay

I am pleased to present Bill 27, An Act to Amend the Revolving Funds Act.

The reason for this amendment is to increase the Fur Marketing Service Revolving Fund from $900,000 to $1.5 million.

The Government of the Northwest Territories supports the fur industry in the Northwest Territories through this fund and the Genuine Mackenzie Valley Fur Price Program.

It often takes a month to six weeks for the fur to be sold at auction after trappers deliver furs to the GNWT under the program. The advance payments made to the trappers from the fund allow them to continue trapping in the interim period.

Due...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I move, seconded by the honourable Member for Monfwi, that Bill 27, An Act to Amend the Revolving Funds Act, be read for the second time.

This bill amends the Revolving Funds Act to increase the Fur Marketing Service Revolving Fund.

We have had discussions with FFMC as recently as earlier this year, and we see the relationship with that organization as being the key to getting a new fish processing facility into Hay River. We believe that working with them, there has been a changing of heart with the fishermen in Hay River. They’ve wanted in, they’ve wanted out, they’re back in. We do believe that there is some utility in us maintaining that relationship with that organization.

But, again, I think that’s good on the export side, but we’ve got a domestic market here in the Northwest Territories that, again, I think we...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Over the past 20 years, the amount of fish taken from Great Slave Lake would amount to about 2.2 million pounds. In the last number of years… I think the Member asked for last year, the total exported from the NWT in thousands of pounds was 1,038, so that would be 103,000 pounds.

Yes, Mr. Chairman.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I seek unanimous consent to waive Rule 69(2) and have Bill 27, An Act to Amend the Revolving Funds Act, moved into Committee of the Whole for today. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

---Unanimous consent granted

It’s been a difficult task because of fuel prices and the price of fuel for fisherman to get out on the lake. Also, with the increase of the Canadian dollar against the American dollar, it’s had a big impact on what prices are paid for that fish. But, again, I’ll point out the fact that we do have a support to fishermen program here in the Northwest Territories. It’s $225,000. There’s a Fish Harvesters Support Program, a Commercial Fish Harvesters Support Program, Fish Harvesters Expansion Program, a Fish Harvesters New Entrance Support Program, and also some core funding that we’ve also...

Mr. Speaker, I move, seconded by the honourable Member for Monfwi, that Bill 27, An Act to Amend the Revolving Funds Act, be read for the first time. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to update the House on the progress being made to advance the Inuvik to Tuktoyaktuk Highway Project. This winter we plan to begin constructing the final link between the NWT highway system and the Arctic Coast community of Tuktoyaktuk. This all-weather highway will be constructed in one of Canada’s most challenging environments.

The Inuvik to Tuktoyaktuk highway is a legacy project of this government that will help reduce the high cost of living in our most northerly region and will assist in opening up new economic development and tourism opportunities for residents...

Mr. Speaker, I wish to table the following document, entitled Northwest Territories Economic Opportunities Strategy. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.