Thank you, Mr. Speaker. One of my fondest memories from early childhood was visiting O’Callahan’s amazing and magical cabbage patch near where the Explorer Hotel now stands.

In those days if you wanted fresh vegetables here or, indeed, anywhere in the NWT, you usually grew them yourself. Back then, home and market gardens throughout the Territories supplied people with enough vegetables to meet their needs for a healthy diet. After losing that tradition, the Growing Forward II Program, a joint funding program between Canada and the GNWT, was meant to support a local produce revival. Unfortunately, red tape and delays, changing rules and inconsistent management are delaying delivery of this vital support to an industry that is extremely time sensitive. While pouring timely and large pots of money into the Take A Kid Harvesting portion of the program, growers’ applications and appeals are literally delayed for months.

Community gardeners are increasingly frustrated. After debilitating delays, delivery of the wrong soil products and other royal faux pas, we had hoped ITI would be tuned up this year. No such luck. Sadly, we see a repeat pattern this year.

Meanwhile, however, the Yellowknife Farmers Market is moving forward with the unhesitating support of the City of Yellowknife. I am very pleased to note that this Tuesday the market opened for the first evening of the year. With more vendors than ever and more customers than ever, leading to long but excited lineups, it was a very successful start to this year’s season.

While we were busy here in session, Marianne, my wife, was able to attend the market and come home with two bags of fresh lettuce and spinach, amongst other purchases. Last night, on the 4th of June, we

ate our first fresh local green salad of the season.

These market pioneers in food security are bringing back the old days in new ways. Last year the exchange at the Yellowknife Market Garden not only led people to a more active lifestyle that was better for our environment and health, they contributed half a million dollars to the local GDP and a stronger community. I have even greater expectations for market success this year. Please join me in congratulating Yellowknife Farmers Market launch of year two.

I seek unanimous consent to conclude my statement.

---Unanimous consent granted