Frederick Blake Jr.

Yes, thank you, Mr. Chair. Just going back a couple of years ago, you know, I really like the work the department has done on the area of… You know, we have a young trapper out of Hay River. His name doesn't hit me right now, but I'm sure you know who I'm referring to. He works with the fur harvesting program, and I like to see that sort of trapping highlighted. You can even get it on satellite TV. I watch it. The reason is, here in the NWT, we use Conibear traps. These are the latest codes we follow here in the NWT, and anybody who watches Yukon Men, you know, those programs in Alaska that...

Thank you, Mr. Chair. Yes, it just felt like that number is kind of low, there. I know one year we had over 20 camps that were underwater, so for the future I think a little more needs to be put into that area. But in another area here, under the local wildlife committees. This refers to the RRCs, HTCs, and whatnot; one thing the RRCs in my riding have noticed is that they're using a lot of their own funds to operate the RRC. I see it says band councils here, but I’m not sure if the money goes directly to the Gwichyaa Gwich’in, for example, and Tsiigehtchic. You know, they operate the RRC, and...

Thank you, Mr. Chair. Where to begin here?

---Laughter

Thank you, Mr. Chair. I just want to ask the Minister: as we all know, we have some challenges with population of caribou herds and I want to ensure that we get developing management plans here for our wildlife. As we all know, caribou is the priority right now, and I just want to know what's the status of that? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. I just want to thank the department for starting the fire crew in Tsiigehtchic once again. It's the second year after they had a lay-off of about eight years, I believe, or six to eight years anyway. It's good to see that we're actually training more people and, you know, being more prepared for major fires here. You know, hopefully, knock on wood, that the rest of the summer we don't have much activity in fires, but it's always better to be prepared and have people on standby. As we were saying in the briefings, you know, it's better to put these fires out before they...

Thank you, Mr. Chair. Just under timber permits and licences, I know a few years back when we started doing the volunteer permitting for driftwood, anybody that collected driftwood, it seems like the department is making it mandatory now. I would just like to get a little information on that.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. At the community meeting, what the people actually wanted to see was these courses offered before the election. That way people will know which responsibilities the council will have before they actually run. I'd just like to ask the Minister if they would be willing to offer these courses through the fall. Mahsi.

Also during the update, the department said they were going to go through the hiring process for an SAO for the community. I'd just like to ask the Minister: was an SAO hired for the community at this time?

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, please join me in congratulating one of my constituents from the hamlet of Aklavik: Ms. Davina McLeod. Ms. McLeod was recently recognized by Sport North and awarded the 2015-2016 Female Athlete of the Year. Mr. Speaker, at a young age, Davina was taught how to skate by her father, Dave McLeod, and how to compete competitively at hockey tournaments. The support from her mother, Nina McLeod, has never stopped. Regardless of where Davina had to travel, Nina was in the stands cheering on her favourite hockey star. Mr. Speaker, in March, at the 2016 Arctic...

Thank you, Mr. Chair. Just under the fur pricing program, you know, I know we're well above other agents like the Yukon and other areas throughout Canada. I sure hope this program continues. It really helps out the trappers. I just wanted to commend the department on that. I know the struggles they have in the Yukon compared to our trappers here in the NWT, and I've really noticed a lot more younger people going out trapping. It goes to show that Take a Kid Trapping is very successful, and I just hope that those programs continue. Thank you, Mr. Chair.