Fur, Agriculture & Fisheries

Growing Forward

The Government of the Northwest Territories is partnered with the Government of Canada in its delivery of programs for the agriculture sector. Under the banner, "Growing Forward" it is delivering programs that are simple, more effective and tailored to the needs of the NWT's agricultural community.

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.

Read Growing Forward’s 2011 Annual Report here.

For more information, download a Growing Forward brochure here.

Download a Growing Forward application form here.

Download the Northern Lights Gardening Manual here.


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.

To learn more, contact your regional ITI office.