David Ramsay

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. This past spring the staff and students at N.J. Macpherson School challenged themselves to raise $15,000 to help Stanton Territorial Hospital. For a kindergarten to Grade 5 school with just over 250 students, that was an ambitious goal.

Mr. Speaker, I’m pleased to say not only did the students reach their goal, they surpassed it. They raised just over $17,000 and I’m extremely proud to say that the school is in my riding of Kam Lake.

After hearing that the Stanton Territorial Hospital Foundation is currently raising money for a dedicated area in our territorial hospital...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I wish to table the following document, entitled “NWT Economic Outlook Report, 2011-2012.” Thank you.

I’ve had the opportunity to sit down with the Territorial Farmers Association for a meeting, and I look forward, at the earliest opportunity, to meet with them again as we advance the Economic Development Strategy. I think we will be leaning heavily on organizations like the Territorial Farmers Association for that level of expertise and knowledge when it comes to agriculture here in the NWT and how they feel the government could help out in that regard. Certainly, they will be a part of this as we move forward. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. In response to Mr. Nadli’s questions last week, we have done a great deal. We understand the importance of locally grown food. We recognize the importance of processing fish and meat locally and getting it into the local homes. We’ve been in 29 communities in the Northwest Territories on the Community Garden Initiative and that’s through the Growing Forward Fund that the federal government had. Also, I should note, we are advancing some capital investment aimed at replacing the defunct grading station in Hay River for eggs and the production of eggs in our territory...

I will find out for the Member. We also have the 1-800 number, as well, that people can call. It’s important to us that safety is the number one concern here for the travelling public. I will get that information for the Member. Thank you.

Mr. Speaker, we have incredible resource potential in our territory, and with it, significant opportunity for economic growth. But to truly have a diversified economy that provides all communities and regions with opportunities and choices, we need more than just resource development. Today I would like to talk to you about the Sustainable Economic Development Strategy.

This Assembly has indicated that we need to grow our economy carefully and sustainably. MLAs have identified a comprehensive, sustainable economic development strategy as a priority.

Mr. Speaker, economic conditions in the NWT...

Thank you, Madam Chair. We have had a great deal of success working with industry in the Sahtu when it comes to winter roads. We’re looking forward to continuing that partnership with industry as the resource is developed in the Sahtu. We are also looking for more opportunities to partner with industry. There is potentially a lot more opportunity when it comes to winter roads in the development of winter roads in the Sahtu. Potentially, the opportunity I think will also exist for all-weather roads once the resource is developed and it’s more proven up. I do believe there is a tremendous...

I may not be able to supply the contract in its entirety to the Member, but what I would put out there is, perhaps, we can get the details. They don’t have to be exactly specific, but when it comes to costs and who is responsible for what, I believe certainly the Member and the public both deserve to know that. We can’t produce the contract itself but perhaps we can get some of the details on how the contract works so that both the Member and the public would have a better understanding of why we’re in the position we’re in today. I think that may be a worthwhile exercise and I’ll endeavour to...

Thank you. The Member keeps talking about a contract from 2010. That was a contract signed by a previous government and I would not be in a position to respond to a decision of the previous government, but there were a number of questions asked in this House in 2010 and I don’t believe the Member asked any of those questions at that time. Thank you.

Thank you. We hope that when the Sustainable Economic Development Strategy gets rolling, agriculture certainly will fit into that strategy and will be thoroughly examined. Some communities have a lot more opportunities in that area than others, especially communities, of course, in the southern part of the Northwest Territories. But as I mentioned in my Minister’s statement earlier today, it will be at the community level where opportunities exist. Again, agriculture for many communities is going to be one of the areas that we will target. Thank you.