Check against delivery

Mr. Speaker, the Government of the Northwest Territories is committed to revitalizing the Great Slave Lake commercial fishery.

The Northwest Territories has a long history of commercial fishing. From the 1950s to the 1990s, production varied between 750,000 and 2 million kilograms per year. But in the last twenty years, production has declined due to several factors that reduced fishers’ incomes while the cost of fishing went up.

To reverse this decline, in 2017 the Government of the Northwest Territories released a Strategy for Revitalizing the Great Slave Lake Commercial Fishery. This vision, which was developed through extensive engagement with fishers, aims to re-establish this once-powerful sector and, with strategic investments and actions, maximize opportunities to grow and diversify our economy, create jobs, and increase the food security of northerners while supporting self-determination.

Mr. Speaker, an important element of this Strategy is the construction of a new fish processing plant in Hay River. This state-of-the-art facility will have the capacity to process fish from Hay River and around the lake, including Yellowknife, which will help add value to the NWT economy. While the 2022 floods and 2023 wildfires have delayed the plant’s completion, I expect the plant to be operational for the 2024 open water season.

Another action to advance this Strategy is to enhance training, recruitment, and retention programs for fishers. Last summer, we piloted the Commercial Fishery Support Program, which offers fuel rebates, volume incentives, and income supplements for newly established local fishers and experienced out-of-territory fishers.

The program also provides financial support for implementing new technologies and sustainable practices, encouraging fishers to adopt innovative approaches.

Looking back at the disruptions caused by flooding, wildfires, and evacuations in the past year, it is remarkable that the Great Slave Lake fishery is exceeding expectations and growing. 2023 marked the highest recorded harvest since before the COVID-19 pandemic. This output highlights the resilience, ingenuity, and hard work of our fishers in the Northwest Territories.

Mr.  Speaker, the Government of the Northwest Territories is focused on increasing participation in the Great Slave Lake fishery. We recognize the need to replace retiring fishers, to attract new fishers into the industry, and to empower existing fishers to increase capacity. In 2023, the department’s training sessions supported 20 participants to become certified commercial fishers, and the department plans more training sessions this year. Our long-term aim is to transition the NWT fishery away from its dependence on the Freshwater Fish Marketing Corporation.

The department is also actively exploring the possibility of developing a new Yellowknife harbour, which would create opportunities for a new cohort of fishers on the North Side of the lake. To support the existing Yellowknife-based commercial fishers and facilitate their operations, a collection station was opened last summer, and again this winter for fish harvested in Yellowknife.

Mr. Speaker, revitalizing the Great Slave Lake commercial fishery is a long-term goal that requires investments in infrastructure, supports for new entrants in the industry, and changes in how we do business. With the dedication and resilience of NWT fishers, I believe the industry can thrive with a focus on ensuring a reliable food supply, creating income opportunities for residents, and promoting a stronger, more diversified economic foundation.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker.