February 13, 2012 - 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.

Mr. Speaker, 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.
The arctic fox broke its previous record for top selling price, with a pelt going for the
all-time high of $200. Muskrat and beaver were also in high demand at auction.
All of the Northwest Territories muskrat pelts shipped to auction were sold, as were
95 percent of beaver pelts.

Total Northwest Territories sales at the auction held in North Bay, Ontario, totalled $124,000 – the highest amount at this auction in recent years.

The good news, Mr. Speaker, is that we still have three more fur auctions to go this year. The next auction where Genuine Mackenzie Valley Furs will be sold is at the Fur Harvesters Auction on March 23, 2012 in Seattle, Washington. Last year at this same auction, over $815,000 worth of Genuine Mackenzie Valley Furs were sold. If recent prices and demand are any indication, our trappers will again enjoy high sales at future auctions.

Mr. Speaker, 2012 marks the ten-year anniversary of the revitalized Genuine Mackenzie Valley Furs Program. Since its inception, the Program has provided Northwest Territories trappers with a comprehensive fur marketing service, in addition to a guaranteed fur advance for Northwest Territories trappers while their fur is shipped to sale; a prime fur bonus for those whose furs sell for more than the advance; and a grubstake payment of $5 per pelt paid to eligible trappers at the start of each
fur-trapping season.

This Program is the best in Canada in terms of support provided to trappers. The success of our trappers is of vital importance to the Government of the Northwest Territories. With their success, both their families and communities benefit.
Finally, Mr. Speaker, and perhaps most importantly, I am pleased to report that since the introduction of the Take a Kid Trapping Program, provided under the Genuine Mackenzie Valley Fur Program, the number of youth involved in the trapping industry is also continuing to grow.

Last year, the Take a Kid Trapping and Harvesting Program hosted 49 projects in regions throughout the NWT. A total of 2,274 youth participated – an increase of
23 percent over the previous year. This is the most participation we have seen to date, which demonstrates a significant and growing interest in the program. This is a good sign for the future of our fur industry.

A recent project that also took place through this Program was the construction of a traditional kayak in Tuktoyaktuk. I want to congratulate the high school students at the Mangilaluk School for their hard work completing the kayak, and a special thanks to
Mr. Darrel Nasogaluak, the program instructor. The kayak will be proudly displayed in the Tuktoyaktuk airport for everyone to enjoy.

By actively supporting the harvesting and marketing of wild fur through the Genuine Mackenzie Valley Furs Program, as well as engaging youth in the Take a Kid Trapping Program, the Government of the Northwest Territories is taking action to diversify the economy and provide all communities and regions with opportunities and choices.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker.