Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Today I'd like to talk about the Agriculture Strategy for the Northwest Territories. Mr. Speaker, people everywhere have certain basic needs that unite us as humans, such things as shelter, family, clothing, and the need for food. To thrive and flourish, every human being requires access to a healthy diet. Without that, none of the other elements of a healthy and happy life are possible. Like a lot of things, getting access to a healthy diet presents the North with more challenges than most other Canadian regions. Our communities are smaller and sparsely located, we're challenged by transportation between communities and access to the rest of the country, and our climate doesn't favour growing in abundance or during all periods of the year.
Nevertheless, the land has provided for people here, for as long as any of us can remember. Many types of foods thrive on our land, and have sustained people for many generations. There's a history of producing local crops in many northern communities in all regions. Recent years have seen innovation and new initiatives that make producing some of our own foods a reality in most NWT communities.
Mr. Speaker, like anything, food production takes knowledge and hard work. Anyone who has worked the land will tell you, it's not a matter of throwing down some seeds and then harvesting supper. But it is possible to supplement imported processed and packaged food with locally grown crops. Not only does that provide us with a healthy alternative in many cases, it also helps us to become more independent, and less reliant on southern producers. It helps us to be more secure in our own supply of our own foods and ultimately our own health. Most certainly there are economic benefits to our communities that result from spending here at home, as well as reducing the cost of living.
Mr. Speaker, last summer the government consulted with people in the agriculture community. Northerners are excited, and many are passionate, about the potential for growing our own food. In our mandate discussions earlier this year, this Assembly committed to investing in our agricultural sector, and specifically to developing and implementing an Agriculture Strategy, that I am now pleased to see is underway. At the appropriate time today, I'll have questions about the strategy for the Minister of Industry, Tourism and Investment. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Masi. Members' statements. Member for Tu Nedhe-Wiilideh.
