YELLOWKNIFE (September 17, 2012) -- Minister of Industry, Tourism and Investment David Ramsay has given his support to the multi-lateral Growing Forward 2 Agreement for Agriculture. This sets the stage for bilateral negotiations to take place between the federal and territorial governments on a new five-year joint funding agreement for agriculture in the NWT. Ministers of Agriculture and Agri-foods met in Whitehorse last week.
"Agriculture in the NWT has witnessed tremendous growth in interest and participation over the past number of years,” said Minister Ramsay. “Almost all of our communities have seen the benefit of agriculture development and have expressed keen interest in seeing it continue.”
Growing Forward 2 will provide up to $1.2 million per year for the NWT agriculture sector over the next five years – a funding increase of almost $500,000 per year.
"Increasing the supply of locally produced food, diversifying the food basket and lowering the cost of food for families are priorities for the NWT. This new agreement will go a long way toward helping us address these needs,” Minister Ramsay said.
The GNWT’s investment in agriculture further supports the 17th Legislative Assembly’s priority to support small business and the traditional economies in the interest of strengthening and diversifying the NWT economy.
The aim is to complete negotiations for this agreement by March 31, 2013.
For more information, contact:
Alayna Ward
Manager, Public Affairs and Communications
Industry, Tourism and Investment
Government of the Northwest Territories
867-920-8696