Mr. Speaker, the season for planting may still be a long way off, but February 23rd was Agriculture Day in Canada. We have much to celebrate and work towards in support of agriculture in the Northwest Territories. I will also speak to the connection between the agriculture industry and efforts to strengthen food security. Despite the snow and still frigid temperatures, right now is, in fact, an important time of planning and investment for food growers and harvesters across our country and in the Northwest Territories.
Mr. Speaker, as we mark Agriculture Day this year, the Department of Industry, Tourism and Investment is preparing to implement the fourth year of the GNWT's Agriculture Strategy, The Business of Food: A Food Production Plan. Since 2017, we have invested in planning, training, capacity building, community partnerships, and regulatory improvements designed to position our commercial agriculture sector to increase its production of fresh, healthy, safe, and more-affordable locally grown food choices.
The industry has indeed grown, and as recently announced, the Department of Industry, Tourism and Investment has responded to requests for increased financial supports for large-scale development on established and growing commercial farm businesses. Three significant investments were made this winter in farms in the Hay River area under the federal Canadian Agriculture Partnership. We continue to take stock of the progress that is being made by farmers and harvesters in order to determine what investments and initiatives are needed to continue the evolution and growth in our territory's emerging agriculture sector.
Mr. Speaker, our government's first agriculture strategy was introduced as a means to advance regional economic development and diversification, but we also recognize that our agriculture sector can do much more than diversify and strengthen our economy. Our government's mandate includes a commitment to increase food security through locally produced, harvested, and affordable food. The growth of our agriculture sector is central to this commitment, and for the past year, the COVID pandemic has brought it to the forefront.
Food security is an issue that impacts everybody in the territory and, for too many of our residents, touches every aspect of their lives, particularly affecting health and education outcomes. It is an issue that rightfully is now commanding a collaborative all-of- government approach. While this work is being led by the Department of Industry, Tourism and Investment, we are reliant on support from the Departments of Health and Social Services, Environment and Natural Resources, and Lands as well as our ongoing partnership with the Government of Canada.
The department has been working with these partner departments to consider how the GNWT can better support food security efforts across the territory. In doing this, the department has compiled an inventory of GNWT food security programming and developed a set of considerations to assist the GNWT in making meaningful progress on food security, and Health and Social Services lead an anti-poverty roundtable meeting focused, as well, on food security. All of these pieces will come together under a single document that we are currently drafting.
Canada's Agriculture Day is an important opportunity to celebrate the growth of this industry over the last few years, including initiatives by producers to adapt their businesses to the pandemic. It is also a chance to highlight the rising interest across the Northwest Territories to think creatively about local food production, such as shown at farmers markets, community greenhouses, and especially our small and vibrant community of commercial growers and food producers. Together, these efforts support the commitment that our government has made to addressing food security. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.