Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I am happy today to update my colleagues on the huge increases in pelt prices seen at the first wild fur auction of the year.
However, I would first like to take a moment to recognize the loss of a respected elder, wise teacher and talented trapper, Mr. Aà Harry Pierre Mantla. Even at the age of 71, Aà was one of the most active trappers in the North Slave region and could be regularly counted on for 200 marten pelts a year. We would like to offer our sincere condolences to the Mantla family. His contribution to the fur industry will be missed.
The first wild fur sale of the season was held last month. Fur sold through the Genuine Mackenzie Valley Fur Program had notable price increases across the board; cross fox, red fox and beaver pelt prices all more than doubled. The prices were also up for grizzly bear, muskrat, wolf and arctic fox.
The pelts sold through our Genuine Mackenzie Valley Fur Program continue to fetch a higher-than-average price for harvesters in the Northwest Territories. One example is cross fox: a high of $100 for a pelt this year, compared to the overall average of $64.
