Debates of March 14, 2007 (day 2)

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I recently had the opportunity to meet with the Territorial Farmers' Association in Hay River. Agriculture is a renewable resource activity that has great potential in the North. In fact, in times past, it has contributed significantly to the production of food in the Northwest Territories.

The TFA has undertaken several innovative and amazing initiatives recently. In September 2006, the TFA hosted a pan-North American circumpolar agriculture conference in Hay River. The theme of the conference was Changing Times in Northern Agriculture. The objective of the conference was to promote agriculture possibilities in northern regions and to generate North American interest in circumpolar agriculture.

I had the pleasure of representing Minister Bell at this conference and speaking at one of the noon luncheons. The TFA has also been involved in testing a product combining sawdust, straw and peat to compost chicken manure to be used to enrich the soil of northern farms. Another very interesting project was the harvesting of a seed collection that would see the future pipeline route re-vegetated with northern plant species after construction.

Mr. Speaker, a study by the Territorial Farmers’ Association estimates that 25 percent of the produce shipped from the South could be grown in the North. This 25 percent could be worth as much as $13 million and could generate as many as 80 jobs. Soil surveys have proven that about 3.6 million hectares of land in the South Slave lowlands and the Upper Mackenzie, including the Hay River and Fort Liard regions, are potential arable lands.

Mr. Speaker, our government needs to support this forward thinking association. We have all heard the pleas of our people regarding the high cost of living, the high cost of food and the lack of availability of fresh foods in many of our communities.

In order to encourage agricultural activity during our pre-budget consultations last summer, we heard from the TFA of a way that our government could do their part to encourage agriculture through the re-examining of how agricultural land is assessed under the Property Assessment and Taxation Act. There is no unique distinction in the PATA for agriculture lands assessment. Agriculture is a low-impact activity and, unlike non-renewable resources, effort and money invested in agriculture isn’t here today and gone tomorrow. I would like this government to demonstrate its commitment to continuing to work with the TFA and its members, by attending the 16th annual seminar in Hay River on March 24th.

Mr. Speaker, I would like to seek unanimous consent to conclude my statement, please.

The Member is seeking unanimous consent to conclude her statement. Are there any nays? There are no nays. You may conclude your statement, Mrs. Groenewegen.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. This year’s focus will be on gardening and greenhouses. Many interesting presenters are lined up, including a company that specializes in water treatment plants which could provide innovative ideas for small communities and businesses that would benefit from alternate water delivery systems. Mr. Speaker, we need to do what we can as a government to support organizations like the Territorial Farmers’ Association who work very hard to generate interest and support producers in the area of agriculture. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

---Applause