COMMUNITY WELLNESS AND SAFETY

Commitment 4.3.5

We will reduce the burden of chronic disease by promoting healthy lifestyles and improving screening and management, with specific focus on:

• Expanding the production and availability of local foods such as fish, country food, and garden produce.

The NWT Economic Opportunities Strategy identified opportunities in agriculture and commercial fisheries revitalization.

NWT Agriculture Strategy

The need for an agriculture strategy to advance economic opportunities in the agriculture sector was first identified in the Economic Opportunities Strategy (EOS).

In developing an Agriculture Strategy, input was received from agricultural experts, producers, businesses, community organizations and residents.

The Strategy is a five year plan that provides a foundation to guide the expansion and growth of the business of food in the NWT.  It is the blueprint with which we intend to grow the economic viability of our agriculture sector.  It outlines the actions we must take, the investments we must make and the legislative tools that need to be put in place.  Over time, the implementation of this Strategy will support and advance commitments that we have made to address the cost-of-living, foster healthy families and enhance capacity-building programs for our youth.

The Agriculture Strategy was released in March 2017 (milestone 1).  The Department of Industry, Tourism, and Investment (ITI) leads the implementation of the Strategy and is working in particular with the Departments of Lands, Environment and Natural Resources, and Health and Social Services to advance the Agriculture Strategy.

Since fall 2016, ITI has led an Interdepartmental Agriculture Working Group to initiate various activities within the Strategy’s Action Plan (milestones 4 and 5).

Strategy for Revitalizing the Great Slave Lake Commercial Fishery

The need to revitalize the NWT’s commercial fishing sector was first identified in the 2013 NWT Economic Opportunities Strategy which recommended that the commercial fishing industry be revitalized to give greater benefit and opportunity to northerners.

The Strategy for Revitalizing the Great Slave Lake Fishery was tabled in the Legislative Assembly on March 2, 2017 (milestone 2).

The Government of the Northwest Territories (GNWT) has made a $1.41 million investment to build a new fish processing plant in Hay River.  Building of the plant is expected to begin by the fall of 2018.

The Strategy, as developed, relies on the existence of the Freshwater Fish Marketing Corporation.  The GNWT is monitoring the situation regarding its future closely and advocating for the best interests of NWT fishers.

Related Mandate Commitments

• Commitment 1.2.1 - We will expand the agricultural sector by:
  • Implementing the Agriculture Strategy
  • Improving access to agricultural land
  • Updating agricultural funding programs
  • Supporting training for commercial farmers
• Commitment 1.2.4 - We will finalize and implement the Commercial Fisheries Revitalization Strategy to increase fish production, encourage and mentor new entrants to the Great Slave Lake fishery, negotiate an agreement with the Freshwater Fish Marketing Corporation to access markets outside of NWT, seek federal funding to build a new fish processing plant in Hay River, and work with the Tu Cho Co-Operative to promote and market fish caught in Great Slave Lake.
• Commitment 2.5.5 - We will implement programs that support youth in their communities and in their schools to encourage local food production and consumption.