Thank you, Mr. Speaker. A couple of times now I've asked the Minister of Industry, Tourism and Investment about why the position manager of traditional economy, agriculture, and fisheries is located in Yellowknife as opposed to the centre of agriculture and fisheries which is Hay River. The position manages two employees. One is supposed to be positioned in Hay River. The role of this position is to set the direction for the sectors, design and deliver strategies, develop the terms of reference. It is centred on developing these sectors as future industries and opportunities in the territory.
Now, when I ask the Minister why this position is in Yellowknife, his answer is because it is pan-territorial. I would like to ask the Minister, what does he mean that it is pan-territorial that requires it to be in Yellowknife? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Masi. Minister of Industry, Tourism and Investment.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. As I've answered this question a number of times already, this is a pan-territorial position that represents all citizens of the Northwest Territories. We have reallocated the position in Hay River that was presently there, away from agriculture, to look after the fishing and agriculture industry to help facilitate that in the South Slave. The position that the Member opposite is referring to is based out of Yellowknife, and it needs to be here to look after the whole Northwest Territories. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
As I also mentioned, I believe 1.2 million pounds of fish were caught in the South Slave, brought to the fish plant in Hay River. I think 68,000 pounds were caught in the North Slave, and I think 10,000 up in the Mackenzie Delta. Clearly, the vast majority of work is in Hay River. There is an agriculture strategy, which the most employment and industry is going to be created in Hay River. Same with the fishery strategy. When the Minister says "pan-territorial," everything I am saying, it seems to be in the South. The only thing that I can think of that is really pan-territorial is these community gardens that are in all the communities. Is that what the Minister is referring to, the community garden aspect of the agriculture?
There are a couple of things I want to say. First of all, Norman Wells grew 9,000 pounds of potatoes. That's not some small, little community garden we are talking about. There is a region at looking at extending their agriculture. I have had conversations with people in Fort Good Hope who want to do commercial agriculture in their region as well.
As much as the South Slave is maybe thinking they are the agricultural hub of the Northwest Territories, there are a number of communities that are already reaching out and doing it. Gameti is another good example, with what they have been able to accomplish there with the small amount of funds that we made available to them. We want to grow this industry to make people self-sufficient in the Northwest Territories, and I don't think the discussion should be about if there is a job in Hay River or Yellowknife. This is about growing the industry, and diversifying our economy in the Northwest Territories.
I am glad to hear that agriculture is sprouting out to all over the territory. I guess my issue is that I have seen that fish plant sitting in Hay River, no work being done to it for decades, and its industry sort of floating along there. Things are moving now, but I cannot help but think that if the person who is responsible for driving the sector had to drive by that fish plant every day, things might move a little faster. Will the Minister at least commit to looking into the idea of moving this? Can he commit to exploring the benefits that might come out of having this positon in Hay River?
I have made my position quite clear on this. I want to talk about fishing a little bit because he's talking about fishing. I had just happened to have the opportunity to go to the fish plant last week when I was home. One thing I can say, yes, fishing is a big part of Hay River industry, but the Member from the Beau-Del there, from Mr. Blake, has approached us about doing commercial fishing in Northwest Territories. This is going to have greater implications than just in Hay River, plus we also have money set aside, $1.4 million invested in the Hay River plant as we move forward, if we can make a deal with Freshwater and the federal government.
Masi. Again, I would like to remind Members to refer to Members in their riding, please. Thank you. Oral questions. Member for Hay River North.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I appreciate the Minister's comments. I'd love to see that there is agriculture throughout the territory. There is commercial fishing growing throughout the territory, but if it is so important to have the position in Yellowknife because this is pan-territorial, how come the superintendent from the South Slave is going up to the Beaufort Delta to look into the fish plant? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The reason the superintendent from the South Slave is going to the Mackenzie Delta to help them on how to move their fishing industry forward is because all the experience that he has dealing with the Freshwater Fishing Corporation and Tlicho Investment Corporation, and he deals with the fishermen on a day-to-day basis as problems come and arise, and helps them move their businesses forward. Why wouldn't we send someone with that amount of experience to help introduce a new industry into the Mackenzie Delta?
Masi. Oral questions. Member for Yellowknife Centre.
