Today marks the official launch of a new federal territorial agreement under the Canadian Agricultural Partnership.
Member of Parliament for the Northwest Territories, Michael McLeod, joined NWT Minister of Industry, Tourism and Investment, Wally Schumann, to formalize the federal/territorial agreement at Polar Egg in Hay River, which is currently the NWT’s most successful commercial agriculture business.
“The Government of Canada is committed to the priorities that are important to Canadians— jobs, growth, and long-term prosperity,” said Lawrence MacAulay, Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada.
“In working with the Government of Northwest Territories through the Canadian Agricultural Partnership, we will support regionally effective programs to help grow northern agriculture,” said MacAulay.
The Canadian Agricultural Partnership is a five-year, $3-billion cost-shared investment by federal, provincial and territorial governments in national, regional and local agriculture initiatives.
About $5.6 million will be invested into the NWT agriculture sector under the new partnership.
It will fund initiatives and investments aimed at encouraging the development of a relevant, commercially-viable food production and processing sector; and advancing greater self-sufficiency and food production in the NWT’s remote communities.
Aligned with the NWT Agriculture Strategy introduced last year, this partnership will support emerging food growers and processors encouraging greater participation and entrepreneurial interest in the agriculture sector in the NWT.
Specific programming will invest in research, innovation, sustainability, capacity building, trade, processing, public awareness, and youth involvement to ensure the sector continues to evolve.
