The Grand Council of the Crees has negotiated a side deal to the James Bay and Northern Quebec Agreement that will allocate an additional $4.4 million to the income security program for Cree hunters and trappers. Announced at the end of May, the agreement will increase the program to over $21 million.
The program will increase the daily allowance of income security recipients by 15 per cent over a three-year period. As well, the creation of a daily isolation allowance will raise the daily allowance for activities carried out away from the settlement by 30 per cent.
An insurance fund financed on a 50-50 basis between the Cree and Quebec will allow Cree hunters and trappers who are unable to carry out harvesting activities due to illness, accident or natural disaster to offset the resulting loss of income.
