Herbert Nakimayak

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Today I would like to talk about the hunters and trappers in the Northwest Territories, along with some highlights of two specific programs that are offered within the Genuine Mackenzie Valley Fur Program under the Department of Industry, Tourism and Investment. The program names are the Prime Fur Bonus and the Trappers' Grubstake.

Mr. Speaker, hunting and trapping has been a cornerstone of the NWT's traditional economy for centuries. Even today, it continues to be a vital source of commercial enterprise and income for many individuals and businesses across the Northwest...

Those were my concerns, Mr. Chair. You know, there are a lot of complaints about this, but, at the same time, you know, it's okay, but I do not like it. That is just the way it is. It's going to raise the cost of living, and I am sure the government and the Minister and his staff are doing the best to bring the costs down. Like you said, like everybody says, this is imposing. We cannot mistake this with anything else, any other programs that the government are putting out, but this is a bill in itself. I will support this, knowing that it's going to bring the cost of living up, but, then again...

Thank you, Mr. Chair. I won't be long. Listening to the debate, I won't repeat too much, if anything. You know, my region in the territories has the highest costs of living, likely the highest cost of transportation. One of my questions after listening, this is just a question. Aviation fuel is exempt and heating fuel is exempt. I am wondering if flying in fuel to the communities would bring the cost down as opposed to shipping it by sea. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. That's a good timeline. It gives hunters and trappers time enough to prepare for their upcoming season. Mr. Speaker, we do have a lot of outfitters, as well, in the region, and they sometimes require export for hides outside the country. My question to the Minister is: will outfitters in the Northwest Territories be able to get CITES forms, CITES is the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species, permits for export of animal hides out of the country? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Earlier I spoke about the Grubstake and Prime Fur Bonus Programs, and my questions are for the Minister of Environment and Natural Resources. I would like to ask the Minister: when can hunters and trappers expect to receive payments for their monies earned from the auctions in 2019? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I would like to recognize a couple of ladies from Tuktoyaktuk, Ms. Wanda Steen and her sister Annie. Mr. Speaker, Annie and Wanda have both worked for the Inuvialuit for a long time and likely still have a lot of connections. Annie also participated in some programs in Tuktoyaktuk, and she has actually helped the Community Corporation and the Hamlet of Tuktoyaktuk progress a lot with the tourism industry.

Mr. Speaker, when the Inuvik to Tuktoyaktuk Highway was completed, there was a little bit of a lack of infrastructure, and Annie picked up the a slack on that. I would...

Yes, thank you, Mr. Chair. It might be a good idea to look into buying an airplane, now that we have barges.

---Laughter

Thank you, Mr. Chair. Speaking about the report, we travelled around the territory. Obviously, the issue was the cost of living, the cost of transportation. In my region, we rely a lot on gasoline for harvesting, for country food and things like that, transportation for airplanes, which we see there will be exemptions. I just want to say, Mr. Chair, I won't be long, but if we went with the federal backstop, we would definitely be paying more, and we would definitely feel it further in the territories. I think that this is probably the best way forward for now as the legislature and the...

I appreciate the response from the Minister. What about the Arctic char, the coney, the whitefish and the herring, and other fish species that we rely on in the Arctic? They make up a high percentage of food and nutrients for Nunakput residents. This can be looked at as a threat to our food security, not just in Nunakput, but all communities across the territories. My question is: what will the department do to ensure the planning for community-based monitoring of these species, as well as other type of species that are now entering our waters, for the fall season as the ice will set in and...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Earlier on, I spoke about the amount of salmon being caught in fish nets across Nunakput, and my questions are for the Minister of ENR. Mr. Speaker, my first question is: has the department responded to communities who are experiencing higher than normal salmon catches this season? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.