Michael Nadli

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, northern agriculture is a success story waiting to happen, and residents of the Deh Cho want to be part of the localfood movement that is enhancing the health and sustainability of our communities.

Mr. Speaker, [English translation not provided].

Mr. Speaker, an enterprising resident of Fort Providence wants to put locally produced food on the shelves at northern grocery stores. He is trying to spearhead an initiative that would eventually see locally grown produce in our stores all year. With support from the Northern Farm Training Institute and community...

Thank you, Mr. Chair. No further questions.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. I'd like to thank the deputy minister for providing an explanation. If those decisions were merited on those two points, where would the community within this part of the NWT, say a community that's just off the road on the main transportation road from Enterprise to Yellowknife at the same time serviced by Northland Utilities, how could they be part of that initiative to try to get off diesel and perhaps consider a solar project? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. No further questions.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. Yes, it's good to know that the new changes have been taking place in terms of the operations of the highways, some operations and it's encouraging that once again I've heard the word forever, which is good. The other point that I wanted to make and to seek some clarification: is this in terms of the pullback of Enterprise in terms of whether that's temporary in terms of maybe decommissioning the operations there and getting service from Hay River. Can I get some clarification on that? Mahsi.

Thank you. I understand that with community residents RCMP local detachments are developing community policing plans. I just wanted to understand whether that will continue, especially in regard to smaller communities such as Kakisa that efforts have been made to ensure that their input will be sought and that at least their involvement -- at least lay the foundation of community policing plans. Mahsi.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Are we looking for partnership opportunities with the universities and other northern jurisdictions to advance local food production in the NWT? Mahsi.

I'd like to thank the Minister for his reply. It's very encouraging that we're not-- we need to develop a strategy but those programs and services could be readily available for people at the local level. How is agriculture being incorporated into the GNWT science agenda?

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My questions today are for the Minister of Industry, Tourism and Investment. Look, it's pretty clear in terms of agriculture, we know what we want to do, it's the question of how, and critically, of course, is when. So I understand that the draft Agriculture Strategy has gone to the appropriate standing committee, it's under review as the Minister indicated, can the Minister give us a timeline on the target implementation for some of the strategy's immediate and short-term actions? Mahsi.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. I just wanted to clarify to see if I'm understanding this correctly. The government asked that the NTPC in a community providing perhaps power. In the case of Kakisa it's serviced, of course, by Northlands Utilities so it's not considered a government asset but Kakisa needs backup power. How would a community like Kakisa be considered for perhaps a solar energy project to try to create a decent backup system? Thank you.