Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Today I’d like to talk about the Food Rescue Program and highlight some of what it’s accomplished over the last 15 months.

The Donation of Food Act that was passed in 2008 ensures that those who donate food and distribute donated food are not liable for possible harm unless it was a result of intent to harm or reckless behaviour. This act has allowed the Food Rescue Program to increase, as it serves a pressing need within our community.

I would like to highlight the work of Ruby Trudel, a champion and facilitator of the program, and all of the volunteers who have helped her since the beginning of the program. They have done a lot of work and are a great resource for individuals in other communities who are interested in doing the same thing.

From the end of June 2008 until September 2009 the Food Rescue Program has rescued 125,000 pounds of food. Of that they have donated around 119,000 pounds of various food products. A breakdown of this includes some 7,000 pounds of meat, 16,000 litres of dairy product, 3,000 litres of juice, 876 dozen eggs, and over 1,700 sandwiches. Food banks across North America value each pound of food at around $2. This means that within 15 months of operations, Food Rescue, along with those people and companies supporting it, has donated and delivered around $238,000 worth of food to the community that would otherwise have been unavailable or ended up in a landfill.

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The Food Rescue Program is performing a valuable service to the community and is seeking to expand even further. The program is on the verge of moving into a larger but temporary facility on Old Airport Road. I would like to acknowledge the partners who have helped make this possible. First, Central Mechanical for providing the location and the power; Matrix Aviation for providing the shelter itself; Ryfan Electric for wiring and getting the facility operational. This is an important step for the longevity of food rescue in Yellowknife.

Ultimately, the Food Rescue Program’s long-term goal is to establish itself somewhere on a permanent basis. This would allow easier access to clients the program serves. Over the long term,

being within walking distance around public transportation routes is an important advantage the program is working towards. Achieving this goal would allow Food Rescue to begin limited daily distribution to selected groups within the community on a weekly rotation, operating like a mini food bank. Due to this, the Food Rescue Program requires continued support from various levels of government and larger communities.