Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My questions are for the Minister of Industry, Tourism and Investment. He talked in his ministerial statement today about the Growing Forward 2 Agreement providing $1.2 million per year for the NWT agricultural sector over the next five years. This is an increase in funding of almost $500,000 per year.
There has been a proposal before ITI with respect to the Northern Farm Training Institute, which is scheduled to start up in Hay River in the month of April. I would like to ask the Minister if any plans have been finalized for the magnitude or the scope of funding that this organization requires to get going out of this funding. Thank you.
Thank you, Mrs. Groenewegen. The honourable Minister of Industry, Tourism and Investment, Mr. Ramsay.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. It would be anticipated that that would come out of this funding. Discussions are underway with the proponents in Hay River and the department. I could provide the Member, and I know other Members have had questions about where this is at. We can provide an update to Members at the earliest opportunity. Thank you.
Mr. Speaker, we seem to have tens of millions of dollars as a government to put into big projects. This is a small project. Pardon the pun, but this is a grassroots project, which is very hinged on the proponents who have a passion for sustainable work, and jobs, and endeavours that are completely doable and renewable within our territory. I appreciate the ADM taking the time to meet with the proponents from Hay River recently. I appreciate the Minister’s support, but I don’t want this to get weighed down in the bureaucracy, and I’d like the Minister’s support that he will steer this proposal through the bureaucratic red tape and ensure this project gets off the ground. Thank you.
Thank you. I have met with the proponents in the past and I am very supportive of the project moving forward, and I’ve given the proponents every indication that I will continue to support their efforts. We have to continue putting together a package, a plan on how this money is going to be spent. I certainly would anticipate that the project in Hay River is going to bring people in from the communities and train them in Hay River so they can go back to their home communities and train others is going to be an integral part of this new Growing Forward 2 funding. Thank you.
