Thank you, Mr. Speaker. As a follow-up to my statement on the fishery, I’ll have questions for the Minister of ITI.
I guess my first question will be: I know we’ve had a successful summer, but does the Minister have the actual production numbers and some of the update on where we are with the current fish plant? Thank you.
Thank you, Mr. Bouchard. The Minister of Industry, Tourism and Investment, Mr. Ramsay.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. A vitalization strategy and business plan have been developed to help ensure the longevity and the health of the fishery, the commercial fishery on Great Slave Lake. The Member highlighted a number of areas where the government has worked very hard at the revitalization of the commercial fishery. We continue to push forward. There’s a new fishing cooperative in Hay River. We’ve approached the federal government on a number of occasions, both the Minister of Fisheries and Oceans, Ms. Shea, and also CanNor. We haven’t had any success on getting a response from the federal government on our request.
As the Member mentioned, and others have mentioned, there’s an election coming up soon. We will have a better understanding of the government in Ottawa after that election takes place.
I can let the Member and Members know that the $1.5 million we have earmarked for the fish plant in Hay River is something we feel very strongly about. If we can’t get investment from the federal government on moving forward with the development of that export grade fish plant, we will be seeking some type of private equity, private investment in that facility so it can move ahead. We can’t wait forever for the federal government. Thank you.
Thank you. My next question would be about that federal government influence. Have we been talking to our current MP candidates going forward to make sure that they know it’s on their priorities? I know I’ve written a letter, but has the Minister, has Cabinet made that a priority to those candidates? Thank you.
We continue to talk about the importance of the commercial fishery to the Northwest Territories economy. It is a shadow of its former self. The numbers are better this year and I will commit to the Member and Members of the House to get the most recent numbers to them. The Member cited between 30 and 40 percent increase in production. We’ve seen some new fishermen get out on the lake taking part in the fishery.
As I mentioned in my previous response, we can’t wait forever for the federal government. If they don’t make a move and support us on moving forward with the fish plant in Hay River, there are other ways to get that investment into Hay River and make this a reality. Thank you.
My next question is: Is the Minister committed to that continuing? We know that increase is seen and we equate it to that subsidy that was provided to the fishermen this year. Is that a commitment that will carry on in the business plan until that fish plant is completed? Thank you.
We’ve got a number of programs that we have in place to help fishermen on Great Slave Lake. We have a Fish Harvesters Support Program, Commercial Fish Harvesters Support Program, Fish Harvesters Expansion Program, Fish Harvesters New Entrance Support Program and also some core funding that’s available to fishermen on Great Slave Lake. Our intent is to see this funding and support carried forward so we can continue to move toward getting that export grade fish facility constructed and in operation in Hay River. Thank you.
Thank you, Mr. Ramsay. Final, short supplementary, Mr. Bouchard.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. We all know that the Hay River harbour is important to the fishing industry. Obviously, my question is: Has the Minister talked to his counterpart in Transportation as well as some of the people he has contacts with in Ottawa about the dredging of the Hay River? We need this for the fishing industry of Hay River. Thank you.
Thank you. I’m very well aware of the situation in the port of Hay River, being a former Minister of Transportation, and yes, we do talk extensively about dredging. Not just in Hay River, but there are other areas in the Northwest Territories that require dredging, and I’m fully aware of the situation in Hay River, Mr. Speaker. Thank you.
Thank you, Mr. Ramsay. Member for Range Lake, Mr. Dolynny.
