GNWT shelves policy until land claims settled
Terry Halifax
Northern News Services
Hay River (Mar 12/01) - Fields of grain rippled by the wind, verdant pastures, the cluck of contented fowl and sun beams reflected from greenhouse glass are not common sights and sounds in the Northwest Territories.
But in the narrow window that opens June 15 and slides shut in mid-August hardy Northern agriculturists manage to feed themselves and scratch out a living.
"If it will grow in Saskatchewan, it can grow here," is Ben Greenfield's motto.
Ben and his wife Francis own Paradise Gardens, 20 productive acres within Hay River town limits. Vegetables and saskatoon bushes flourish there.
The Greenfields have worked their plot for 35 years, making them pioneers among the mixed lot of 50 market gardeners, egg producers, an apiarist and greenhouse growers who define agriculture in the Northwest Territories.
Tax troubles and promise
There is room to grow agriculture in the territory, but not without fair property assessment, says Greenfield.
"Property taxes are killing us," he said.
Evellyn Coleman, executive director of the Territorial Farmers Association said that with the right encouragement, NWT producers could replace 25 per cent of the foodstuffs now imported from the south.
Lower land tax bills are just one item on a wish list that includes a rebate on fuel taxes and permission to move farm equipment on territorial roads.
But most of all, they want a policy on agriculture that applies to the entire territory, said Coleman.
Joe Handley, minister of Resources, Wildlife and Economic Development, said the GNWT will not have an agricultural policy as long as aboriginal land claims are outstanding.
The government is developing a "strategy" and leaving policy to municipalities where land is available for agriculture.
"I see doing this in steps," Handley said in a recent interview.
Beset by rising energy costs that forced Norman Wells greenhouse grower Gerry Loomis to close his doors after a dozen years in operation, agriculture producers say they need help now.
They have met with Hay River councillors, but Coleman points out that the most important items -- tax breaks and transportation -- are under GNWT control.
Coleman suspects that it's experience and past blunders in agriculture that make the government shy away.
"They built and abattoir (in Hay River) on a field of dreams," she said.
A lack of land
Since the freeze on agriculture development that followed the Mackenzie Valley pipeline inquiry 25 years ago, there has not been sufficient land available for large scale cattle production, Coleman explained.
"So I don't know who they thought would use the abattoir. Even so, it might have succeeded. But they shut it down after just 18 months," she said.
Handley said he is faced with the choice of doing nothing until the claims are settled, or developing a strategy with the municipalities.
He said RWED plans to work with communities to identify blocks of land and a tax levy for farmers.
"We can't really charge commercial property tax rates to a farm operation and expect that it's going to be viable," Handley said.
Hay River Mayor Duncan McNeill said the town has land and people working small plots who want to enlarge their operations. If that's to be done, McNeill said they will need some direction from the GNWT.
