Thank you, Minister. Ms. Kelly.
Thank you, Madam Chair. These are contributions to local wildlife committees that provide assistance and resources to harvesters, and the last time that that amount was looked at was 10 years ago. Thank you, Madam Chair.
Thank you, Ms. Kelly. Member for Frame Lake.
Thanks, Madam Chair. Wow, 10 years. That's a lot of inflation. There have also been changes in wildlife populations, particularly around caribou, where there are harvesting prohibitions on the Bathurst herd, a number of restrictions on a number of other herds, so people have to go further to access different wildlife, different herds, to get food. Does the department have any plans to increase the harvesters assistance program?
Thank you, Member for Frame Lake. Minister of ENR.
Thank you, Madam Chair. Right now, the department has been asked by our Indigenous governments to look at this program, to evaluate it, and see if we are actually meeting our needs moving forward. For further detail, I'll ask the deputy minister to add to the answer. Thank you, Madam Chair.
Thank you, Minister. Ms. Kelly.
Thank you, Madam Chair. During our engagements to develop the Sustainable Livelihoods Action Plan in 18 communities and at three regional meetings, there were concerns that were expressed about how the funding through CHAP was put out into communities, so we've agreed to do a review of CHAP funding this year. Another comment that was made was that there was a real need for some harvesting mentorship programs in communities to support others to get out on the land and harvest safely and responsibly. We are looking into training and mentorship programs under the Sustainable Livelihoods Action Plan. Thank you, Mr. Chair.
Thank you, Ms. Kelly. Member for Frame Lake.
Thanks, Madam Chair. Can someone tell me, this review that's going to be done, is it being done internally, externally? Do we have a cost figure for that review? Thanks, Madam Chair.
Thank you, Member. Minister of ENR.
Thank you, Madam Chair. It's done internally, and we haven't got a cost to it right now. Thank you, Madam Chair.
Thank you, Minister. Member for Frame Lake.
Thanks, Madam Chair. Can someone tell me, I understand that it's application-based or request-based, that the money does go to local wildlife committees. Is this an oversubscribed program? Thanks, Madam Chair.
Thank you, Member. Minister of ENR.
Yes, it is. Thank you, Madam Chair.
Thank you, Minister. Member for Frame Lake.
Thanks, Madam Chair. Following this review, is the department waiting for the review before it makes any decisions about increasing the funding for this program? Thanks, Madam Chair.
Thank you, Member. Minister of ENR.
Thank you, Madam Chair. Yes.
Thank you, Minister. Member for Frame Lake.
Thanks, Madam Chair. No further questions on this section. Thanks.
Member for Nunakput.
Thank you, Madam Chair. Just in regards to the Take a Kid Trapping program, the uptake in that in my riding. It's really helpful with the community. Is there any plan for increases if people are not taking, like other communities are not taking advantage of that program? Are there opportunities for other communities to get more funding to do more with the communities? Thank you, Madam Chair.
Thank you, Member for Nunakput. Minister of ENR.
Thank you, Madam Chair. Right now, it's fully subscribed, so no; right now, people access it fully. Thank you, Madam Chair.
Thank you, Minister. Member for Nunakput.
Thank you, Madam Chair. How is the department, I guess, looking and making sure all the monies are being spent? I know, stuff like this, uptake would be really big in the communities. How is it being tracked so they're not losing money or having to give it back at the end of the year? Thank you, Madam Chair.
Thank you, Member for Nunakput. Minister of ENR.
Thank you, Madam Chair. My understanding is it's contribution agreements, and they have to provide reports as part of the contribution agreement. Thank you, Madam Chair.
Thank you, Minister. Member for Nunakput.
Thank you, Madam Chair. That being said, the contribution agreement, if they're not spending the money, the money is sent back. What happens to that money once it's sent back? Thanks, Madam Chair.
Thank you, Member. Minister of ENR.
Thank you, Madam Chair. If it's sent back, it's going to be recovery for the next year. Thank you, Madam Chair.
Thank you, Minister. Member for Nunakput.
Thank you, Madam Chair. That's cost savings, I guess, for the department if somebody's not spending that money, then. The monies that are not being spent, what's the timeline on the contribution agreement deadline? Do they have enough time to resubscribe, for some communities to resubscribe to that funding for that year to do the expenditures, instead of having to, basically, give it back to the GNWT, and then, not able to spend it? Thank you, Madam Chair.
Thank you, Member for Nunakput. Minister of ENR.
Thank you, Madam Chair. Presently, there has been limited or hardly any money being returned back, so it's subscribed. The applicants have been utilizing the money to its fullest. Thank you, Madam Chair.
Thank you, Minister. Member for Nunakput.
Thank you, Madam Chair. Just in regards to the community harvesters program that my colleague, Mr. O'Reilly, brought up, in regard to that with the assistance program, how many communities are they assisting in that program? Thank you, Madam Chair.
Thank you, Member for Nunakput. Minister of ENR.
Thank you, Madam Chair. To get the full list, we're willing to share it with you, but we have a good chunk of 41 in 2018-2019 right now, 41 applicants. Thank you, Madam Chair.
Thank you, Minister. Member for Nunakput.
Thank you, Madam Chair. It's okay. That's good, then. It's not to each community; it's to the different claims group, I guess. Is that correct, Madam Chair?
Thank you, Member. Minister.
Thank you, Madam Chair. It is to different organizations, like hunters and trappers, as well. Thank you, Madam Chair.
Thank you, Minister. Member for Nunakput.
Thank you, Madam Chair. Okay. Thank you, Mr. Minister, on that. Moving on to disaster compensation, I had some communities, camps and stuff like that, that, due to high water, some in the Delta, some in the coastline communities, how does that work on the disaster compensation, and how much is allowable, I guess, in regard to their cabins and stuff like that? What would they get back? Thank you, Madam Chair.
Thank you, Member for Nunakput. Minister.
Thank you, Madam Chair. It's application-based, but for further detail I will ask the deputy minister, with your permission, to answer the rest of the question. Thank you, Madam Chair.
