Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My questions today are for the Minister of Industry, Tourism and Investment. Earlier on, my statement was about selling local foods and wildlife in local stores. Mr. Speaker, my first question is: how is ITI working through the implementation of both the NWT Agriculture Strategy and the Commercial Fisheries Revitalization Strategy to bring local foods to local stores? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Masi. Minister of Industry, Tourism and Investment.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Both the development of the Agriculture Strategy and the fishing strategy that we've tabled this year precedes a very big important agenda for the government for our economic development of the Northwest Territories, but, getting strictly to the question about buying local foods in local stores, the challenge with that moving forward is that we have an agricultural strategy, but we have a need to develop a process moving forward, as it is the first agricultural strategy in the Northwest Territories, and the regulatory framework around that, and what needs to be put in place to protect and guide that for consumers and for retailers in the Northwest Territories. We need to develop food safety and inspection guidelines and regulations, as well.
Around the fishing strategy, we are still committed to the Great Slave Lake revitalization commercial fishery strategy. We still have the $1.4 million at work, that has been set in place to help develop the commercial fishing strategy. We have a number of support programs that were put in place around the fishing strategy, as well, which last year helped see the increase in the quota for the Northwest Territories. We will continue to work on those issues moving forward to try to bring greater economic opportunities for residents in Northwest Territories. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
I appreciate the response. Mr. Speaker, my second question is: the commercial fishery revitalization strategies focus on Great Slave Lake. I support that, Mr. Speaker, but has ITI considered the potential of an Arctic fishery centred in the Nunakput riding?
The fishing strategy moving forward, it says for Great Slave Lake, but, if you look at what we have in the document, fish harvester expansion programs to help fishers cover part of their capital investment is one of the ones in the strategy; support for new entrants into the fishing industry in the Northwest Territories; the Northern Food Development Program, ITI supports fishers for the domestic commercial market in the NWT. There are a number of things in there. We have also allocated another $225,000 in this year's budget towards helping revitalize this stuff, and I believe that all of these programs are available to help enhance the Arctic fishery. I would be glad to sit down with the Member and see how we can work that out.
I appreciate the response. Mr. Speaker, my third question is: what is ITI doing to allow for the sale of locally produced meat and dairy products in the Northwest Territories communities this year, beyond funded sales?
I think the Minister of Health actually touched on some of this yesterday. We are working closely with the Department of health and the Department of Environment and Natural Resources on this moving forward, to allow for future sales of these products, so, hopefully, within the next two years in the NWT. But before these sales can occur, public health regulations need to be developed, so that is why I am doing work within the departments.
From my understanding, though, through the Food Establishment Safety Regulations, this allows food to be sold that has been harvested legally by NWT harvesters and legally obtained by the operator, so there is an avenue there that something could be worked on in the short term. Health and Social Services' environment unit is working on what we need to do moving forward. For regulations and stuff, I think we need to defer those questions to the Minister of Health. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Masi. Oral questions. Member for Nunakput.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. That is very helpful information. Mr. Speaker, my final question for the Minister: is ITI considering small-scale abattoir legislation that could help communities in Nunakput and elsewhere market local meat products? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Masi. Minister of Industry, Tourism and Investment.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Again, I will have to defer that question to the Minister of Health and Social Services with respect to abattoir legislation. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Masi. Oral questions. Member for Hay River North.
