Mr. Speaker, the abattoir was born long before I came along. The Member could not enjoy a personal summary of the history of that particular project. But I do know that when I came along, the parties involved in it, mainly the Department of Economic Development and the Northwest Territories Development Corporation were less than satisfied with the way that the abattoir was being utilized. In fact, the suggestion was that Hay River, being the entrepreneurial capital in the view of some Members, I think, the Member from Hay River would be the first to suggest that, it is not an out-of-step demand to ask that the private sector should take the lead in making full, economic use of this abattoir and that it is not acceptable to think that the Government of the Northwest Territories, through its department or through its Northwest Territories Development Corporation, should continue to carry this operation indefinitely, suffering financial losses in the process. That was the situation as I saw it when I became Minister. That is still the way I see it. The abattoir is there. It is ready to be utilized. It is sitting in the middle of a thriving entrepreneurial community. I asked them to look within their creative little souls to see if someone could come out and say, let me have the lease of this wonderful abattoir, and I shall create jobs and make myself a nice business income and profit in the meantime. I am waiting for such a proposal.
Stephen Kakfwi on Question 23-13(5): Plan For Hay River Abattoir
In the Legislative Assembly on October 22nd, 1997. See this statement in context.
Return To Question 23-13(5): Plan For Hay River Abattoir
Question 23-13(5): Plan For Hay River Abattoir
Item 6: Oral Questions
October 21st, 1997
Page 34
See context to find out what was said next.