Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I have questions for the Minister of ITI in follow-up to my Member’s statement. Last year, in 2013, we had a major flood in the Mackenzie Delta from the Peel River and there were about 20 cabins that were flooded, some by two or three feet. There were actually three cabins that drifted away down the Peel River.
I’d like to ask the Minister, out of roughly 20 claims filed, why was there only one claim approved?
Thank you, Mr. Blake. The Minister of Industry, Tourism and Investment, Mr. Ramsay.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I thank the Member for his questions and his concerns regarding the Harvesters Assistance Program that the Department of ITI has. We have $15,000 earmarked for that program on an annual basis and we are currently reviewing the criteria for claims to be filed for access to that funding. We are going to continue with reviewing the criteria.
In the last couple of years, the Member is correct, we’ve had flooding both in the Inuvik region and also in the Sahtu and we’ve had to find funding from within the Department of ITI. Two years ago it was close to $80,000 and three years ago it was $80,000 exactly. We do need to come up with a way to fund that program and review the criteria so that more people can get claims approved when they need the funding.
The policy states the applicant must earn roughly 20 percent of their earnings on a yearly basis from on the land.
Will the department make changes to that policy?
I give the Member a commitment that we will look at the program criteria and understand there are number of elders that are out. Some of those cabins belong to elders who don’t necessarily earn a living or are retired.
Again, that criteria is under review and it’s something I can commit to the Member that we will look at that issue.
Many of those elders and people that do live out on the land do not sell what they make out there. A lot of them share it with their families or barter with other people for other goods.
Will the Minister overlook the policy and help my constituents rebuild their camps on the land?
I will commit to go back to the department and have a discussion with them about how fast we can move forward with a review of the criteria, and if there are individuals that have had applications in whether that new criteria could apply to those applicants or whether they’d have to reapply, we will try to sort that situation out for the Member in the Inuvik region. Thank you.
Thank you, Mr. Ramsay. Final, short supplementary, Mr. Blake.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Will the Minister ensure that happens over the summer? Thank you.
Thank you. Yes, I can assure the Member that I’ll have that discussion immediately with the department. Thank you.
Thank you, Mr. Ramsay. The Member for Yellowknife Centre, Mr. Hawkins.
