Jane Groenewegen

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Well, that’s good and I’d like to invite both of the Ministers to come to Hay River; at his earliest convenience for Minister McLeod, ITI, to come and meet with the Territorial Farmers’ Association, as well. There are revisions to the PATA, or the Property Assessment and Taxation Act, on our legislative agenda right now. I would want to ask if this particular revision could be incorporated in that revision that’s underway now. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, in order to advance agriculture, I think we need an agriculture policy. That’s something that has been wanted by the folks from the Territorial Farmers’ Association for, like I said, a number of years now. Is there any reason why we cannot, within the life of this government, or even sooner, develop such a policy to encourage this activity? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker, and thank you, colleagues. A third thing would be a program for a tax rebate for fuel purchased for agricultural pursuits. We have fertile tracts of land, long growing seasons, proponents willing to participate, and ready local markets for agricultural products. All we need now is the serious support of this government. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

---Applause

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Okay, if it’s difficult to do that with the federal government, what about the people involved in these activities just submitting these receipts to this government for a rebate on the fuel for the tax portion only related to roads? That should not be too difficult to administer. Just submit their receipts in these activities for a rebate on their fuel purchases. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I think my question is for the Premier. A lot of people are involved in activities where they consume petroleum products in the North that have nothing to do with using our roads and yet there is a road tax component on gasoline and diesel. I am thinking along the same vein as the folks involved in agriculture who need petroleum products, and people involved in the commercial fishing industry. I don’t know why fuel for their vessels should be contributing to a road tax. Also, harvesters that are involved in traditional hunting and trapping activities are all paying...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I realize that access to new land for agriculture is an issue, but there are many people who already do have considerable sized parcels of land for agriculture. However, this government does not recognize a means under our Property Assessment and Taxation Act for there to be a dual use for an assessment on that property. For example, if somebody lives on 40 acres, which is quite possible around Hay River, and they have a house on one acre, they’re going to get taxed for residential rates on the whole parcel of land. We need some small revisions like...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, the area of agriculture has a tremendous potential in the Northwest Territories. Sometimes people don’t think it does and I’m not sure why, because actually we’ve gone backwards in the area of agriculture. Many years ago a lot of the produce that was grown around Fort Simpson, Fort Providence, Hay River was actually shipped down the Mackenzie to a lot of other communities and it was quite a thriving activity and endeavour. Many years ago, and it seems like we’ve gone backwards since then. I’m not sure why, but I can’t really say there’s been a...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, agriculture is a renewable resource sector activity which needs this government’s attention. Since 1995, the Territorial Farmers' Association has been asking this government to develop and adopt a comprehensive agriculture policy. Many things affecting agriculture fall within the mandate of the territorial government. It’s fine to tell communities to take the initiative to develop their own policies, but the GNWT has the responsibility to create a policy as a framework within which municipal jurisdictions can operate.

Agriculture has met with relative...

Thank you, Mr. Chair. I move that we report progress.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. We are going to save our questions until after our comments, so we have a cast of thousands of questions over here. Just kidding. That is what we decided to do. I am not sure if Members have any questions or not. There is one question I do have. I would just like to ask the Premier -- I probably should have asked this on the day you ran for Premier and not today; it is a bit late now -- I hope there is going to be a real culture of working together. You talk about change. There is one thing that is very quickly within our ability as 19 Members to change here. I...