Fur, Agriculture & Fisheries
Growing Forward
Growing Forward is a commitment to Canada's agriculture sector that's focused on achieving results, reflects input from across the sector and delivers programs that are simple, more effective and tailored to local needs.
Governments are investing $1.3 billion over five years into Growing Forward programs. The funding represents $330 million more than the Agricultural Policy Framework (APF) and is cost-shared on a 60:40 basis between the Government of Canada and the provincial and territorial governments.
Growing Forward puts emphasis on building a profitable sector through its three strategic outcomes:
- A competitive and innovative sector: From idea to invention to consumer, growing new opportunities that support innovation and competitiveness.
- A sector that contributes to society's priorities: Enabling the sector to contribute to the priorities of increasingly health-conscious and environmentally aware Canadians.
- A sector proactive in managing risks: The programs available through the Business Risk Management (BRM) suite were the first programs available under Growing Forward, offering more responsive, predictable and bankable programs for farmers.
In addition, Growing Forward provides:
- Flexible programs that better meet local needs: Finding the best ways of adapting programs to meet regional needs while achieving common national goals.
- Action on key regulatory priorities: A competitive and innovative sector supported by modernizing regulatory processes and improving regulatory cooperation for the betterment of all Canadians.
- Better service delivery: Simple and more accessible programs and services.
The Canada/Northwest Territories Growing Forward Bi-Lateral Agreement, signed in July 2009, sets out the following programs to be provided to producers in the Northwest Territories:
Small Scale Foods Program:
The aim of the Small Scale Foods Program is to establish market gardens in 25 communities across the NWT. Once established, community garden programs will be augmented with training, upgraded equipment and ongoing support to maximize efficiencies and yields.
Northern Agri-Foods Program:
The Northern Agri-Foods Program aims to work with producers in the establishment, expansion and development of land based initiatives. The Program also targets existing commercial greenhouse operators with funding aimed at increasing yields and efficiencies. In addition, the Program will examine the potential feasibility of non-timber forest initiatives such as birch syrup production. Finally, the Program will provide support for workshops and seminars aimed at increasing the agriculture and agri-foods knowledge base in the NWT.
Commercial Harvest Program:
The Commercial Harvest Program continues with work that has been carried out for a number of years involving harvests for commercial markets. The Program is designed to assist NWT First Nations, communities, organizations and governments to implement and conduct commercial harvests for plants, berries, caribou, muskox and other wild species, as shown to be feasible.
Traditional Harvest Program:
The Traditional Harvest Program is designed to assist Northwest Territories Community/Regional Wildlife Organizations in the local harvest of plants, berries, caribou, muskox and other wild species, as shown to be feasible. The Program consists of three components:
- Community Harvests: This initiative provides assistance in conducting community hunts/harvests.
- Take a Kid Harvesting: This initiative encourages youth in the NWT to participate in traditional on the land food harvesting practices.
- Small Equipment: This initiative provides assistance for the purchase of harvesting, processing and storage equipment.
Intersettlement Trade Program:
The Intersettlement Trade Program provides assistance to ship food products from the point of harvest/production to markets in the NWT, but does not apply to export sales.
Agriculture in the Environment:
The Agriculture in the Environment Program will:
- Provide for the development of regional environmental plans and assistance to agriculture, agri-food and agri-based product operations in the implementation of environmental farm plans using the completed NWT manual and the mitigation of environmental impacts.
- Provide support for studies to collect soil, vegetation and water data, and incorporate this data into databases.
Bison Management Strategy:
The Bison Management Strategy will provide support for research in the control and reduction of transmissible diseases in bison. The Strategy will be implemented by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources.
More information is available from the Department of Industry, Tourism and Investment.
Program Management:
Doug Doan, Assistant Deputy Minister
John C. Colford, Manager, Traditional Economy Agriculture and Fisheries
Program Delivery:
Regional Superintendents, Industry Tourism and Investment
Don Craik, Inuvik, 867 777-7286
Andy Short, Sahtu, 867-587-7170
Kevin Todd, North Slave, 867-920-3230
Lloyd Jones, South Slave, 867-872-6430
Gerd Fricke, Dehcho, 867-695-7520
Program Coordination:
Gene Hachey, Agriculture, Agri-foods and Commercial Wildlife Development Consultant, 867-874-5408
- Small Scale Foods Program
- Northern Agri-Foods Program
- Commercial Harvest Program
- Intersettlement Trade Program
- Agriculture in the Environment Program
- Liaison with Department of Environment and Natural Resources
Guy Erasmus – Fur Management/Traditional Economy 867 920-6404
- Traditional Harvest Program
- Intersettlement Trade Program
