Herbert Nakimayak

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...

In my region, there are a lot of hunters who trap in the bush, as well as along the coast. It is good to hear that the Minister is looking into this. Also, there are a lot of returning trappers preparing for the fall season. What is the timeline for when the Grubstake Program will be available to trappers this year?

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I would like to welcome my friend Tina Decouto from Iqaluit, as well, too. She has done a lot of good work in Nunavut. Welcome to the Northwest Territories. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

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...

Thank you, Mr. Chair. Throughout this Assembly, I always encourage the government to work with Indigenous governments to develop policy, especially the regulation stages. It is good to hear that the GNWT and the department are involved with Indigenous governments, the IRC which is close to my region with oil and gas interests. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. I am looking at the second page, and I am just going to read this sentence here, this paragraph: "This bill was developed through an extensive policy development effort, including significant legislative research. Two months of open multi-platform engagement with the public industry. Indigenous governments and NGOs, not as stakeholders, feedback, and also the Intergovernmental Council." I'm just wondering if the Minister can elaborate on that? Thank you, Mr. Chair.