Effective Date: April 1, 2016

Applicable FAM Policies: 810 - Grants

Applicability: GNWT Departments

INTERPRETATION

The Government only offers incentive grants to assist trappers who are serious about their profession. Eligible trappers are those who:

• Hold valid General Hunting or Trapping Licenses for hunting and trapping in the Northwest Territories,
• Have honored their debts under the Trappers' Assistance Program, and
• Plan to continue trapping in a new fur season and are eligible to receive the grant for the purpose of outfitting for the new season.

Trappers are permitted to share fur with a trapping partner provided that:

1. The trappers declare their intention to form a partnership at the commencement of the trapping operation;
2. All parties are working on the trapline and are actively engaged in the trapping operation; and
3. The local Wildlife Officer (or authorized official) is advised of the names of the partners and the details of the sharing arrangement.

Calculation of Grant

For the purpose of calculating the grant, the fur season is from July 1 to June 30 in the following year.

Proceeds from the sale of all fur-bearing animals, with the exception of Muskoxen and Polar bear hides, are eligible for inclusion in the calculation of the grant.

At the close of each trapping season, the local Wildlife Officer shall:

1. Determine gross total value of the fur sales achieved by each trapper by consulting: i) the trader's fur records; ii) the Fur Auction returns; iii) receipts from private sales;
2. Deduct from the gross total value the sale of muskoxen or polar bear hides; and
3. Forward the individual trapper's records to the Regional Superintendent of the Department of Industry, Tourism and Investment (ITI) by July 15. (Copies of fur auction returns and receipts from private sales must be attached to the trapper's record)

Fur sold privately is creditable to the trapper's account for the purpose of calculating the grant. Receipts for sales must be provided to the local Wildlife Officer including:

• Name and address of purchaser;
• Date of sale;
• Species;
• Number of pelts;
• Price received;
• Signature of purchaser; and
• Signature of trapper.

The grant is calculated as a percentage of sales achieved within a set range. Both the percentage payable and the scale are variable but must be fixed and circulated to all Wildlife Officers (or authorized officials) prior to June 30 in any year, the rates being applicable to the fur season commencing July 1 of the same year. The authority to set the percentage rate and scale of sales required to qualify under the Trappers' Assistance Program is vested in the Commissioner of the Northwest Territories or his or her appointed official.

The trapper shall be advised on the performance level expected in order to qualify for a grant at the end of the ensuing fur season.

Payment

Cheques made payable to the individual trapper are mailed to the local Wildlife Officer, who acts as a custodian of the cheques until such time as the trapper requires the funds for the purpose of outfitting for a new fur season.

Control

On the receipt of the cheques, the Wildlife Officer shall issue a receipt to the Regional Superintendent of ITI indicating: cheque numbers; names and addresses of the payees; the amount of each cheque; and cheque dates. The Wildlife Officer shall keep the cheques in a locked safe or cabinet and shall maintain a log of cheques issued.

When the cheque is issued, the Wildlife Officer shall obtain the trapper's signature in the log, indicating that he or she has received the cheque.

The Regional Superintendent, ITI shall be responsible for providing the Comptroller General with an updated list of the names and addresses of all custodians of the cheques.

Where the custodian is not an employee of the Government, arrangements must be made to ensure that the custodian is covered by a fidelity bond prior to receiving the cheques.

Upon termination of employment or transfer to a new location, a Wildlife Officer shall either:

1. Return all unissued cheques to the Regional Superintendent, ITI by registered mail; or
2. Provide the Regional Superintendent, ITI with a receipt for the cheques, signed by his or her successor.

Debts to the Government

The Commissioner of the Northwest Territories reserves the right to offset debts due to the Government by trappers who have outstanding loans issued under the Trappers' Assistance Program of the Fur Marketing /Traditional Economy Division, ITI.

Penalty

Where it is found that a trapper has provided false records or false information concerning the sale of fur, or has intentionally aided another trapper to falsify records, the Commissioner of the Northwest Territories may withhold the grant from each party involved for up to three consecutive years following the offense. The power of withholding the grant is vested solely in the Commissioner.