Herbert Nakimayak

Thank you, Mr. Chair. Mr. Chair, I won't take up too much time. I know there's a lot of questions and I won't reiterate what my colleagues are saying. Just coming from my region of Nunakput, I know teachers are overworked and like other Members here have had tons of e-mails from teachers, from principals, and from education boards. I believe that students need a good comfortable place to go to school and a chance to learn. In my home town of Paulatuk, we've gone through a couple of principals and teacher burnout is an example of, also a sign of whether a child wants to go to school or not.

I...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, the Northwest Territories Association of Communities, or NWTAC as it is commonly referred to, was established in 1966 when municipal leaders from Yellowknife, Fort Smith, Hay River, and lnuvik formed an association to represent community governments in the Northwest Territories. Since its beginning, the NWTAC has grown to represent all 33 communities of the Northwest Territories' incorporated communities. It is registered as a not-for-profit society and is governed in accordance with its own by-laws. Acting on its own democratically adopted resolutions, the...

I appreciate the response. Mr. Speaker, my second question is: the commercial fishery revitalization strategies focus on Great Slave Lake. I support that, Mr. Speaker, but has ITI considered the potential of an Arctic fishery centred in the Nunakput riding?

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I'd also like to welcome Ms. Jessica Schmidt. Jessica taught in Paulatuk for six years as a principal, and she has contributed a lot to the community here in her time. Welcome, Jessica. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

I appreciate the response. Mr. Speaker, my third question is: what is ITI doing to allow for the sale of locally produced meat and dairy products in the Northwest Territories communities this year, beyond funded sales?

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My questions today are for the Minister of Industry, Tourism and Investment. Earlier on, my statement was about selling local foods and wildlife in local stores. Mr. Speaker, my first question is: how is ITI working through the implementation of both the NWT Agriculture Strategy and the Commercial Fisheries Revitalization Strategy to bring local foods to local stores? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, building on my Member's statement yesterday on traditional foods and subsistence harvesting, I want to highlight how food from the land should be sold in local stores in the Northwest Territories.

Mr. Speaker, selling local food in local stores is among the goals of both the agriculture and the commercial fishery strategies. Key partnerships need to be put in place and all stakeholders need to be involved to make this happen. There is a high demand for local food across the Northwest Territories as people become more aware of the benefits of local food...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. That is very helpful information. Mr. Speaker, my final question for the Minister: is ITI considering small-scale abattoir legislation that could help communities in Nunakput and elsewhere market local meat products? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker, and I appreciate the response, and you mentioned ENR. Mr. Speaker, my final question is: how does the health department work with Environment, ENR, to ensure food from the land is safe and free from contaminants? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

I appreciate the response from the Minister. It looks like we can work with the Inuvialuit on that. Mr. Speaker, my second question is: what steps can be taken to make sure small businesses will pass food inspections and get local foods into local stores?