Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I'm going to pick up on the Member for Nunakput's Member's statement and ask the Minister of Environment and Natural Resources some questions on traditional economy. I'd like to ask the Minister how much money is there in the traditional economy budgets, whether they rest in ITI or ENR? Thank you.
Masi. Minister of Environment and Natural Resources.
Mr. Chair, the exact number that is in the budget I'm not quite sure of, but I do know that the fur advancement loan we paid out $408,000 for this year. But as for the exact dollar figure in the budget, I will get that number and I will share it with the Member, but it does rest in ENR.
Mr. Speaker, I'm hoping this is not too technical, but I'd like to ask the Minister: aside from taking kids trapping, what other programs are delivered under this budget?
Mr. Speaker, the other programs that are supported are the Community Harvesters Assistance Program, our local Wildlife Committee, Take a Kid Trapping as the Member said, and Harvesting Program, the Western Harvesters' Assistance Program, the Hunters and Trappers Disaster Compensation Program, and the Workers' Safety and Compensation Commission coverage for resource harvesters. So again, that is a wide topic of areas that it covers, and I will get the exact dollar figure and share it with the Members.
Mr. Speaker, as a traditional economy, I'd like to ask the Minister what the full spectrum of supports are there for hunters and trappers?
Mr. Speaker, through the Genuine Mackenzie Valley Fur Program we provide support for participants in the fur industry; there's three elements to it. There's actually the Guaranteed Advance for Furs, the Prime Fur Bonus, and the Fall Grubstake bonus and these are very good programs and a number of harvesters out there take the government up and ENR up on these opportunities.
Masi. Oral questions. Member for Tu Nedhe-Wiilideh.
Marci cho, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, as the House knows we have an issue with the numbers for caribou, and whether the caribou has moved further east or if the caribou are simply decreasing in numbers, I don't know, but I'm sure the Minister knows.
I'd like to ask the Minister if there's anything available to help the communities that traditionally live off caribou? If there's anything available to help those communities to go to where the caribou are to hunt for their communities?
Mr. Speaker, the Member is absolutely right, there is some concerns with the caribou and it's coming to a point where the caribou actually have no chance with all the technology that we have in getting out to the caribou and that's allowed their numbers to dwindle along with a number of other things, but there is some funding available to help community harvesters. As to the exact, I would have to confirm that, but I do know there's money available to help harvesters go and do a community harvest.
Masi. Oral questions. Member for Kam Lake.
