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Time to review "very small" hunter compensation funds, Quassa says

Paul-Quassa-2
Paul Quassa was here.

Hunters in some Nunavut communities are losing their boats due to a lack of marine facilities, Aggu MLA Paul Quassa said in the legislative assembly on Wednesday.

It's time to review the "very small" pots of money available for compensating hunters on losses, Aggu MLA Paul Quassa says.

He mentioned an incident in his hometown of Iglulik where the tide went out, a boat capsized and the motor wound up soaked in salt water, ruining it.

Environment Minister Jeannie Ehaloak said the GNWT has $60,000 budgetted for the Wildlife Damage Prevention Program and another $40,000 for the Wildlife Damage Compensation Program.

Quassa responded that those amounts are "very small." Boats and motors are costly to replace, he said, suggesting that the government boost those funds.

"The $40,000 and $60,000 will only benefit very few hunters if we look at Nunavut as a whole. I think that we should review those pots of money," he said.

On Thursday, Arviat North-Whale Cove MLA John Main said there are too many forms involved with the Wildlife Damage Prevent Program – eight different forms for eight different wildlife deterrent methods. He also said the waiting period of up to 90 days for approval or rejection of applications is too long.

Ehaloak said she would have her department staff look into simplifying the process.