Mar 22, 2021 Governance &amp; Priorities Committee

THE CITY HAD DEVELOPED OUR AGRICULTURAL STRATEGY, WHICH WAS ADOPTED BY COUNCIL IN MAY OF 2019, AND IT'S INTENDED TO GROW THE LOCAL FOOD ECONOMY, TO GROW FOOD SECURITY, TO GROW THE AMOUNT OF FOOD THAT WE CAN GROW, HUNT AND FORAGE HERE IN THE YELLOWKNIFE AREA, AS WELL AS GROWING OUR CONNECTIONS TO LAND HISTORY, CULTURES AND PEOPLE.

HENCE, WE'VE ADOPTED THE TERM GROW IS SHORT FORM FOR OUR AGRICULTURAL STRATEGY IT IS OUR BRAND FOR AGRICULTURAL STRATEGY.

ADMINISTRATION HAS TAKEN THE TIME TO ANALYZE THE RECOMMENDATIONS IN GROW WORKING WITH PARTNERS.

AND WE'RE NOW PROPOSING A PLAN TO ADVANCE THESE RECOMMENDATIONS.

THE STRATEGY HIGHLIGHTS OBJECTIVES AND ACTIONS, AND THE IMPLEMENTATION PLAN ITSELF PROPOSES THE TIMELINES.

WHO IS LEADING THE WORK AS WELL AS WHO IS PARTNERING WITH US AND ANY ADDITIONAL RESOURCES THAT WE MAY NEED TO MAKE THAT HAPPEN.

WE REALLY APPRECIATE THE SUPPORT OF THE SMALL BUT MIGHTY FARMING, GROWING AND FOOD COMMUNITY IN YELLOWKNIFE WHO HAVE BEEN REALLY INTEGRAL IN COORDINATING THIS WORK WITH US AS WE ADVANCE IT ACROSS ALL FRONTS.

WE'LL TURN IT OVER TO KYLE.

ETIENNE HAS JOINED US.

HELLO ETIENNE.

KYLE DO HAVE A PRESENTATION OR JUST SOME VERBAL COMMENTS.

I DO HAVE A PRESENTATION, IF I CAN PUT THAT UP.

SURE THING.

PAULA IF YOU'RE ABLE TO MAKE KYLE A PRESENTER, PLEASE.

YEAH, IT WANTS ME TO JUST QUICKLY DO SOMETHING.

SOMEWHERE HERE.

NOW WANTS ME TO RESTART, SO I THINK I'LL SKIP A PRESENTATION SO THAT I CAN I'LL JUST SPEAK TO IT FOR NOW AND THEN I CAN DISTRIBUTE IT AROUND LATER.

BUT FOR WHATEVER REASON, GOTOMEETING DOESN'T WANT ME TO DO THIS.

SO I WILL JUST START BY SAYING THAT WE WANTED TO GIVE A LITTLE PRESENTATION ON THE RECOMMENDATION PLAN THAT CAME FORWARD FOR THE GROWTH STRATEGY.

WHO WE ARE.

FIRST OF ALL, SOME OF YOU MAY KNOW ME, BUT I'M HERE ON THE CAPACITY OF BUSH ORDER PROVISIONS, WHICH IS A PARTNERSHIP BETWEEN MYSELF AND MY PARTNER, MARIE.

WE'RE TWO LONG TIME YELLOWKNIFER'S.

AND WE RECENTLY STARTED UP A BUSH ORDER PROVISIONS, WHICH IS AN AGRICULTURE FOCUSED BUSINESS WITH A BAKERY COMPONENT.

SO OUR AMBITION IS TO GROW FRESH PRODUCE HERE IN YELLOWKNIFE.

WE ARE, IN FACT, COMMERCIAL PROPERTY OWNERS IN KAM LAKE WHICH IS ZONED AGRICULTURE.

AND WE'RE LOOKING TO DEVELOP A SOIL BASED [INAUDIBLE] OF KIND OF SMALL SCALE FARM ON THAT PROPERTY AS WE MOVE FORWARD IN THE SPRING HERE.

SO WHY ARE WE HERE TODAY? WE WERE BOTH INDIVIDUALLY TAKING PART IN THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE STRATEGY GROW BACK IN 2018.

HOWEVER, IN 2020 WE DEVELOPED BUSH ORDER PROVISIONS, WHICH IS A COMMERCIAL [INAUDIBLE] PROPERTY NOW, AND IT'S CONVERTING OUTDOOR GROWING SPACE AND BUILDING A

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COMMERCIAL KITCHEN FOR BAKING AND PROCESSING THOSE FRESH PRODUCE THAT WILL BE GROWING ON SITE.

WE'VE MADE A SIGNIFICANT INVESTMENT IN FINANCIAL INVESTMENT IN GROWING AND DEVELOPING THE AGRICULTURE SECTOR IN YELLOWKNIFE.

SO WE WANTED TO JUST GIVE THIS PRESENTATION AND SHOW OUR SUPPORT AND MAYBE PROVIDE SOME RECOMMENDATIONS FOR THIS IMPLEMENTATION PLAN.

SO I'M LOOKING AT A PRESENTATION AND I'M JUST GOING TO KIND OF WALK THROUGH THE ACTIONS THAT WE HAD COMMENTS ON.

ACTION 1.12 WHICH WILL UPDATE THE ZONING BYLAW 404 REGARDING PERMITTING URBAN AGRICULTURE AND PERMITTING SMALL LIVESTOCK IN YELLOWKNIFE.

WE DO RECOMMEND IT OR WE SUPPORT THIS.

BUT WE WOULD ALSO LIKE TO SEE AND I KNOW THIS KIND OF OPENS A CAN OF WORMS BECAUSE I REMEMBER A PREVIOUS COUNCIL DISCUSSION AROUND LIVESTOCK AND CERTAIN COMMERCIAL AGRICULTURE ZONED AREAS.

NOW, WE WOULD SUPPORT IT WITH CERTAIN LIMITATIONS, OF COURSE, NOISE, BYLAWS, WHAT HAVE YOU, ALL THAT TYPE OF STUFF.

BUT FURTHER TO ONE OF THESE POINTS, WE WOULD ALSO ENCOURAGE THE CITY TO LOOK INTO THE VIABILITY OF A COMMUNAL ABATTOIR, WHICH WOULD BE MORE OF AN ECONOMIC DRIVER TO BRING MORE LIVESTOCK TO MARKET.

SO IF WE HAD SOMETHING LIKE A COMMERCIAL ABATTOIR, IT COULD CREATE JOBS, IT COULD CREATE MORE BUSINESSES THAT ARE GROWING OR TAKING CARE OF LIVESTOCK, POULTRY, SMALL GOATS, WHAT HAVE YOU.

BUT IT COULD ALSO BE A PARTNERSHIP WITH A LOCAL BUTCHER THAT IT MAY ALREADY EXIST.

BUT WE'VE SEEN IN OTHER PLACES THE YUKON BEING ONE THAT A COMMUNAL OR A SHARED ABATTOIR REALLY GETS THOSE PARTICULAR AGRICULTURAL BUSINESSES OFF THE GROUND.

SO WHEN LOOKING AT WHEN STUDYING THE LOOKING AT THE PERMITTING OF LIVESTOCK AND THEN THE COMMUNITY HUB, FOOD HUB THAT WOULD BE ANOTHER POINT TO LOOK AT.

GOING INTO ACTION, 1.14 INCENTIVIZING NEW AGRICULTURE BUSINESSES.

WE SUPPORT THIS ACTION ITEM.

FURTHER WE WOULD SUPPORT THE UPDATE TO TAX ADMINISTRATION BYLAW TO REDUCE TAXES AND FEES FOR COMMERCIAL AGRICULTURE BUSINESSES AS OUTLINED IN THE GROW STRATEGY.

WE NOTICED THAT THIS WAS DROPPED FROM THE IMPLEMENTATION PLAN.

WE BELIEVE THAT AGRICULTURE IS A NEW SECTOR AND WHILE WE'VE ALREADY ACTUALLY PURCHASED PROPERTY, COMMERCIAL PROPERTY AT MARKET VALUE AND ARE PAYING REGULAR PROPERTY TAXES AND DON'T HAVE AN ISSUE WITH THAT, IT IS A BIG FINANCIAL INVESTMENT FOR US TO BUY PROPERTY AT MARKET VALUE AND TO BE PAYING REGULAR PROPERTY TAXES WHILE WE'RE STILL CONVERTING THE PROPERTY INTO FARMLAND.

ESSENTIALLY, WE DON'T HAVE REVENUE ON THAT LAND BECAUSE WE NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT IT'S NUTRIENT DENSE TO BE ABLE TO GROW [INAUDIBLE].

SO AN INCENTIVE OR A BIT OF A TAX BREAK, THERE COULD EVEN BE SOMETHING IN THE LINES OF A SHORT OR OVER THE TERM OF A FIRST COUPLE OF YEARS TYPE OF THING UNTIL THE BUSINESS IS SUSTAINABLE AND OPERATING ON A NORMAL PACE MAY BE SOMETHING TO LOOK AT AS AN INCENTIVE TO GET MORE BUSINESSES INTO THAT, INTO THE SECTOR.

EXPANDING ON AREAS WHERE COMMERCIAL GREENHOUSES AND ENCLOSED GROWING SYSTEMS ARE PERMITTED .

OUR INITIATIVE IS LOOKING AT CONSTRUCTING A COMMERCIAL PASSIVE SOLAR GREENHOUSE IN THE FUTURE.

IT'S NOT IN OUR IMMEDIATE PLANS, BUT WE ARE DEFINITELY WANTING TO GO THAT ROUTE.

AND NOT ONLY JUST A GREEN HOUSE, BUT UTILIZING A PASSIVE SOLAR GREEN HOUSE, ONE THAT IS USING ENVIRONMENTALLY FRIENDLY RESOURCES RATHER THAN MORE JUST FOSSIL FUELS GENERATED KIND OF BUILDING OFF OF THE FACT THAT WE HAVE SO MUCH SUNLIGHT DURING SUMMER AND THEN USING THAT TO EXTEND IT INTO THE LONGER GROWING SEASONS.

WE ENCOURAGE I KNOW IN THE RECOMMENDATIONS FOR IMPLEMENTATION PLAN.

THEY ARE SAYING THAT THEY WILL DEVELOP THESE GREENHOUSE DESIGN GUIDELINES AND WE WOULD JUST ENCOURAGE THE CITY TO REACH OUT TO STAKEHOLDERS IN THE AGRICULTURE SECTOR FURTHER TO DISCUSS WHAT THOSE IDEAS MIGHT BE THAT ARE OUT THERE ALREADY SO THAT THEY'RE IN LINE WITH WHAT THE CITY DEVELOPS AS THEY GO DOWN THAT ROAD.

UPDATING BUSINESS LICENSE BYLAW 3451 AND LICENSING TO PRODUCE PROCESS TO INCLUDE COMMERCIAL FOOD AND AGRICULTURE, INCLUDING GREENHOUSES AND ENCLOSED GROWING SYSTEMS. WE SUPPORT THIS.

LIKE I SAID, WE'RE PLANNING THIS ALREADY, SO WE'D LIKE TO SEE THIS GO THROUGH.

OBJECTIVE 2.1 IS A BIG ONE FOR US, WHICH IS THE OPTIMIZING WATER ACCESS.

WE SUPPORT THIS OBJECTIVE PRETTY MUCH WHOLE HEARTEDLY.

WE ACTUALLY SUPPORT IT SO MUCH THAT WE'D LOVE TO SEE IT GO FROM A MEDIUM PRIORITY OBJECTIVE TO A HIGH PRIORITY ONE.

WATER ACCESS IS ONE OF OUR BIGGEST BARRIERS FOR COMMERCIAL AGRICULTURE OPERATIONS.

SO FAR, THE ONLY ZONED AREAS OF TOWN THAT ARE AGRICULTURE SPECIFIC DON'T HAVE PIPED WATER, AS YOU KNOW.

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SO IT'S ALL TRUCK WATER.

SO ACCESS TO WATER IS ALREADY A BIG BARRIER FOR US.

LOOKING AT THOSE SUPPORTS, WE'D LIKE TO SEE SOME INCENTIVES, I BELIEVE ACTION 2.12 IS ENCOURAGING RAINFALL COLLECTION FOR HOME USE, ESPECIALLY IN AREAS OUTSIDE OF PIPE SERVICE WE'RE A COMMERCIAL OPERATIONS SO WE'D LOVE TO SEE THAT ON THE COMMERCIAL SIDE AS WELL.

BUT WE'D ALSO ADVISE THAT THE GNWT ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH OFFICER BE CONSULTED WHEN READINGS FOR WATER AND WATER SOURCE REQUIREMENTS WE KNOW WE'VE HAD DISCUSSIONS WITH THEM ABOUT CERTAIN THINGS AND THEY HAVE CERTAIN REQUIREMENTS THAT THEY WANT TO SEE IN PLACE.

SO MAKING SURE THAT THE CITY AND THE EHO ARE ON THE SAME PAGE WHENEVER IT COMES TO THAT WOULD BE NECESSARY.

AND I BELIEVE IN ACTION 2.1.3 IS CONSIDER THE ESTABLISHMENT OF A WATER SUBSIDY THAT WOULD SUPPORT COMMERCIAL AND COMMUNITY AGRICULTURAL VIABILITY IN YELLOWKNIFE, ESPECIALLY IN THOSE AREAS OUTSIDE OF PIPED WATER.

AS A KAM LAKE PROPERTY OWNER IN AN AGRICULTURAL BUSINESS, WE WOULD ABSOLUTELY SUPPORT THIS ACTION.

WE'RE LOOKING AT CREATIVE SOLUTIONS TO BRING WATER TO OUR SITE OUTSIDE OF JUST THE REGULAR TRUCK SERVICE THAT IS PROVIDED.

SO ANY SUBSIDY OR SUPPORT FROM THE CITY TO HELP GET THAT OFF THE GROUND WOULD BE WONDERFUL.

AND AGAIN, WE BELIEVE THIS PARTICULAR ACTION WATER SHOULD BE A HIGH PRIORITY BECAUSE IT'S SOMETHING THAT IS ABSOLUTELY NECESSARY FOR ANY AQUACULTURE OPERATION BE IT IN A GROW SYSTEM OR NOT OR OUTSIDE.

OK, MOVING ON TO OBJECTIVE 2.2 AND SUPPORTING THE ACCESS TO SOIL AND COMPOST FOR FOOD AND AGRICULTURE.

ACTION 2.2.1 IS TO PROVIDE SOIL AND COMPOST FOR COMMUNITY GARDENS.

AGRICULTURE GROWING MEDIUM IS OFTEN SOIL.

IF THERE'S A LARGE NEED FOR SOIL AND COMPOST IN ANY AGRICULTURAL BUSINESS OTHER THAN OUTSIDE OF HYDROPONICS, THIS ACTION SHOULD BE BROADER, SHOULD BE ALLOWED FOR COMMERCIAL AS WELL AS JUST COMMUNITY GARDENS, SOIL AND COMPOST ARE A RENEWABLE RESOURCE AND SHOULD BE AND CAN BE DEVELOPED LOCALLY UNLIKE OTHER GROWING METHODS WHICH MIGHT BRING IN THEIR NUTRIENTS.

THERE'S A LOT OF OPPORTUNITY IN THE AGRICULTURE SECTOR FOR DOING THIS STUFF LOCALLY.

I BELIEVE ACTION 2.2.2 WAS TO PROMOTE THE CITY COMPOSTING PROGRAM AND HOW TO ACCESS COMPOST.

NOW, WHEN WE WROTE OUR BUSINESS PLAN BACK IN LATE 2019, A BIG COMPONENT FOR US WAS UTILIZING THE CITY'S COMPOSTING PROGRAM, WHICH IN THE GROWTH STRATEGY OUTLINES THAT THAT WOULD BE DEVELOPED FURTHER.

IN THE SPRING OF 2020 WE WERE MADE AWARE THAT THAT COMPOST SALE WAS NO LONGER GOING TO BE A ITEM THAT WAS BEING PROVIDED BY THE CITY ANY LONGER.

THIS WAS A KIND OF A BLOW TO US BECAUSE WE WERE KIND OF BETTING ON BEING ONE OF THE LARGEST CUSTOMERS OF THIS PROGRAM, HAVING SEEN ITS SUCCESS IN YEARS PAST.

SO IT HAS NOW BEEN DROPPED FROM THE IMPLEMENTATION PLAN.

I UNDERSTAND THAT THERE'S PARTICULAR REASONS WHY IT WAS DROPPED AND WHY THE COMPOSTING HAS BEEN TURNED INTERNALLY FOR USE.

HOWEVER, THAT'S NOW AN AREA THAT HAS BEEN PUT BACK ON ON US.

YES.

AS A BUSINESS.

SO WE'RE NOW HAVING TO LOOK HOW TO UTILIZE OUR SPACE BETTER TO IMPLEMENT A COMPOSTING PROGRAM.

HOWEVER, THERE IS OTHER WAYS MAYBE THE CITY COULD LOOK AT HOW TO ENCOURAGE COMPOSTING ON A LARGER SCALE.

ONE OPTION COULD BE THROUGH THE LAND ADMINISTRATION BYLAW, WHICH IS MENTIONED SOMEWHERE ELSE IN THE STRATEGY, WHICH IS REGARDING THE DISPOSAL OF LAND AND A CONCESSION OF LAND TENURES.

THERE COULD BE OPPORTUNITY FOR A COMPOST PROGRAM IN SOME OTHER SPOT REGARDING THAT.

NEEDLESS TO SAY, WE WERE DISAPPOINTED THAT IT WAS TAKEN OUT OF THE IMPLEMENTATION PLAN.

WE WERE DISAPPOINTED THAT THE COMPOST SALES ENDED AS AN AGRICULTURE BUSINESS COMING INTO THE SECTOR NOW.

SO IF THERE'S ANYTHING THAT COULD BE DONE MOVING FORWARD, COMPOST IS A BIG COMPONENT.

NOT JUST FOR COMMUNITY GARDENS, BUT FOR THE INDUSTRY AS A WHOLE.

OK, MOVING ON TO OBJECTIVE 3.2 AND INTEGRATING INFORMATION ON FOOD AND AGRICULTURE RELATED EVENTS, ACTIVITIES.

AND WE ENCOURAGE THIS IS REGARDING ENCOURAGING THE PLANTING OF PLANTS AND EDIBLES ON STREETS AND BOULEVARDS IN THE RIGHT OF WAY.

THIS HAS REALLY LITTLE TO DO WITH OUR BUSINESS.

IT'S JUST MORE OF A AGRICULTURE AND A ECOLOGICAL COMPONENT THAT WE BELIEVE IN.

AS SOME MAY KNOW, WE DO HAVE SOME HONEYBEES.

HOW THEY'RE DOING THIS WINTER IS STILL UNKNOWN.

BUT WE COMMEND THE CITY'S EFFORT ON PUTTING IN SOME OF THOSE PLANTS THAT ARE A FOOD SOURCE FOR BEES AND OTHER INSECTS IN FRANKLIN'S MEDIAN.

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ALTHOUGH WE CHUCKLED A LITTLE BIT WHEN THEY WERE ACTUALLY MOWED DOWN BEFORE THE CLOVER COULD ACTUALLY BLOOM AND BE AN ACTUAL FOOD SOURCE FOR THE BEES AND THE INSECTS.

SO WE WOULD ENCOURAGE FURTHER EDUCATION REGARDING THESE PLANTS THAT ARE BEING PLANTED FOR FOOD SOURCE FOR INSECTS OR EDIBLE SOURCES TO ENSURE THAT INTERNALLY EVERYONE'S AWARE OF THEIR ROLE AND WHAT THEIR PURPOSE IS BEFORE IT GETS CUT SHORT A LITTLE TOO MUCH.

OBJECTIVE 4.1 ENCOURAGING FOOD AND AGRICULTURE, BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT, FOOD PROCESSING AND DISTRIBUTION CAPACITY.

THIS ACTION IS 4.1.1 SUPPORTING AND PARTICIPATING IN EXPLORING THE VIABILITY OF THE YELLOWKNIFE COMMERCIAL FOOD INCUBATOR AND COMMUNITY HUB.

WE SUPPORT THIS ACTION.

WE'VE SEEN THE WEBINAR THAT CAME OUT OR THAT WE'LL BE OUT LATER THIS WEEK ALONG WITH THE SERIES.

AS AN AGRICULTURE BUSINESS, WE'RE INVESTED IN NOT ONLY PROPERLY GROWING FRESH FOOD, BUT WE'RE ALSO BUILDING THAT COMMERCIAL KITCHEN, WHICH IS A COMPONENT.

WE HOPE TO BE CONSULTED FURTHER ON THIS FOOD HUB INITIATIVE.

WE WERE KIND OF SURPRISED TO SEE THIS RESEARCH PROJECT KIND OF POP UP OUT OF NOWHERE.

ALL OF A SUDDEN.

BEING A AGRICULTURE BUSINESS THAT IS NOT ONLY GROWING FOOD AND OPENING UP SPACE FOR GROWING FOOD, BUT ALSO BUILDING A CERTIFIED COMMERCIAL KITCHEN, WHICH I'M GOING TO TELL YOU NOW, IS QUITE A FINANCIAL UNDERTAKING THAT WE DIDN'T EXPECT.

WE'RE TRYING TO SET IN MOTION SOME OF THESE THINGS THAT MIGHT SHOW UP IN THE FOOD HUB.

SO WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT AND PART OF WHY I'M HERE TODAY IS SO THAT WE ARE CONSULTED AND SO THAT WE'RE PART OF THE DISCUSSION SO THAT, YOU KNOW, WHAT THE CITY TRIES TO MOVE FORWARD DOING KIND OF IS IN LINE WITH WHAT WE'RE ALSO TRYING TO DO SO THAT THERE IS NO OVERLAP.

SO THERE'S NOT TOO MUCH OF ONE PARTICULAR THING IN OUR SMALL COMMUNITY SO THAT WE'RE KIND OF SUPPORTING EVERYONE ALL OVER THE PLACE.

SO I HOPE THAT THE COMMERCIAL SIDE OF THINGS IS ALSO CONSIDERED IN THE FOOD HUB VIABILITY.

ALLOWING FARM GATE SALES, THIS IS SOMETHING THAT THE GNWT TALKED ABOUT A COUPLE OF YEARS AGO WITH A CHANGE TO THE FOOD SAFETY ACT, SO I WOULD ENCOURAGE THE CITY TO MAKE SURE THAT THINGS ARE ALIGNED WITH THE EHO AGAIN, ENSURING THAT FARM GATE SALES ARE ALLOWED.

OBVIOUSLY, I THINK THE CITY WILL BE LOOKING AT THE BUSINESS LICENSING SIDE OF IT, ENSURING THAT CONSUMER CAPACITY IS FOLLOWED.

BUT THERE IS A LARGE COMPONENT THAT EHO TAKES CARE OF.

AND WE NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT AS A BUSINESS, WE NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT BOTH ARE IN LINE WITH ONE ANOTHER SO THAT WE'RE NOT DOING DOUBLE THE WORK OR WHAT HAVE YOU, BUT JUST MAKING SURE THAT THOSE TWO ALIGN.

SUPPORTING THE FARMERS MARKET IN A PUBLIC SPACE, THE FARMERS MARKET HAS BEEN NEAR AND DEAR TO US BECAUSE IT'S KIND OF WHERE WE GOT OUR START.

EACH YEAR, THE FARMER'S MARKET BECOMES INCREASINGLY HIGHER IN COSTS TO RUN.

WE UNDERSTAND THAT THERE IS COST TO RENTING SPACES AND DOING PARTICULAR THINGS.

HOWEVER, THE HIGHER COST GETS PASSED DOWN TO THE VENDORS.

AND WHILE WE MAY BE ESTABLISHED AS LONG TIME VENDORS, THERE ARE NEW VENDORS WHO CAN'T AFFORD THAT INITIAL FEE FOR THE FARMER'S MARKET.

SO WE WOULD ENCOURAGE THE CITY TO LOOK AT WAYS OF SUPPORTING THE FARMER'S MARKET IN REDUCING RENTAL FEES, WHETHER IT BE PUBLIC SPACE LIKE THIS ON THE CASE OF THE PLAZA OR IF IT IS JUST A CITY PARKING LOT.

SOME WAY TO HELP LOWER THE BARRIER TO ENTRY FOR NEW AGRICULTURE BUSINESSES TO GET INTO THE FARMER'S MARKET WOULD BE AN EXCELLENT WAY TO ENCOURAGE AND FOSTER THOSE NEW BUSINESSES COMING TO THE MARKET.

AND I THINK THIS IS ABOUT MY FINAL OBJECTIVE AND POINT, IT'S ENCOURAGING MULTI-STAKEHOLDER IN COORDINATION OF THE IMPLEMENTATION OF GROW, WORKING WITH LOCAL, REGIONAL AND TERRITORIAL ORGANIZATIONS TO SHARE INFORMATION AND UPDATES ON FOOD AND AGRICULTURE ACTIVITIES.

WE SUPPORT THIS ACTION.

WE HOPE THAT PRIVATE SECTOR IS ALSO INCLUDED IN THIS.

GROW KIND OF CROSSES OVER THE LINE BETWEEN ORGANIZATIONS, COMMUNITY GARDENS AND NON-PROFITS, AS WELL AS COMMERCIAL AND PRIVATE SECTOR BUSINESSES.

SO WE HOPE THAT AS A PRIVATE SECTOR BUSINESS, THAT IS A FOR PROFIT BUSINESS, BUT ALSO ONE THAT WANTS TO ENSURE THAT THE AGRICULTURE INDUSTRY FLOURISHES AND GROWS UNATTENDED.

WE HOPE TO BE INVOLVED ON A REGULAR BASIS WITH THESE INFORMATION SHARING SESSIONS.

AND WE WOULD DEFINITELY SUPPORT AND PARTICIPATE IN A QUARTERLY MEETING REGARDING IMPLEMENTATION OF THIS PLAN.

AND ALTHOUGH YOU DIDN'T GET TO SEE MY BEAUTIFUL SLIDES, THAT IS ALL I HAVE TO SAY.

AND I KNOW I KIND OF WENT POINT FOR POINT THERE, BUT THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO DISCUSS THIS AND BRING THIS FORWARD.

AND I'M NOT SURE WHAT THE PROCESS IS NEXT YEAR, BUT I'M HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS OR FIELD FEEDBACK FROM THERE.

PERFECT.

THANKS KYLE.

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AND IF YOU WANT TO SEND IN YOUR PRESENTATION, WE'LL MAKE SURE WE POST IT ONLINE AND CIRCULATE IT WITH COUNCILLORS.

WITH THAT, I WILL OPEN IT UP TO QUESTIONS FROM COUNCIL.

I GUESS IT'S A FAIR STATEMENT TO SAY THAT YOU BELIEVE THAT THE GOVERNANCE, INCLUDING COMMUNITY GOVERNMENT, SHOULD BE SUBSIDIZING AGRICULTURE IN THE NORTHWEST TERRITORIES.

THANKS FOR THAT KYLE.

IS THAT A FAIR STATEMENT? KYLE.

I WOULD SAY I BELIEVE THAT THE MUNICIPAL GOVERNMENT, INTERNAL GOVERNANCE SHOULD HELP SUPPORT AND FOSTER A NEW INDUSTRY UP AND COMING.

SO I ALWAYS HAVE A CHALLENGE WHEN ANY SPECIFIC INDUSTRY COMES ALONG AND ASKS FOR VERY SPECIFIC SUPPORTS AND THE QUESTION THAT I'M TRYING TO ASK EVERY INDUSTRY THAT COMES FORWARD IS WHAT OTHER INDUSTRIES DO YOU FEEL SHOULD GET SIMILAR SUPPORTS? KYLE.

I CAN'T TELL YOU WHAT OTHER INDUSTRIES, BECAUSE I'M NOT IN THOSE OTHER PARTICULAR INDUSTRIES, I'M HERE TODAY JUST TO SHOW MY SUPPORT OF WHAT WAS DEVELOPED IN THE GROW STRATEGY.

SO IF THERE IS A PARTICULAR STRATEGY THAT SAYS TO PROVIDE A SUBSIDY REGARDING THIS PARTICULAR THING OR POSSIBLY GIVE A PROPERTY TAX INCENTIVE, THEN I'M ALL FOR SUPPORTING IT.

AM I DIRECTLY ASKING FOR IT? NOT NECESSARILY.

BUT I'M SUPPORTING SOMETHING THAT'S IN THE STRATEGY.

I'M HAPPY TO PAY THE PROPERTY TAXES THAT WE'RE CURRENTLY PAYING, ALTHOUGH I WOULD LOVE A SUBSIDY FOR SURE.

YEAH, EVERYBODY WANTS A SUBSIDY, AND THAT'S THE CHALLENGE AS A COUNCILLOR, IS HOW DO WE FIGURE OUT WHAT SPECIFIC GROUPS SHOULD GET THESE SUBSIDIES FOR HOW LONG SHOULD THEY GET THESE SUBSIDIES? BECAUSE IT'S QUITE DIFFICULT FOR ALL SUBSIDIES BACK.

YOU KNOW, I THINK.

WOULD YOU BE SUPPORTIVE, LIKE WE TALK ABOUT TO WATER, SPECIFICALLY WATER? YOU KNOW, WE'VE HAD CHALLENGES WITH OTHER BUSINESSES IN THE CITY AND THEIR COST OF WATER.

I KNOW THAT MYSELF FOR A WASHROOM THAT GETS FLUSHED PROBABLY LESS THAN 20 TIMES A MONTH.

YOU KNOW THAT COSTS OVER TWO HUNDRED DOLLARS FOR THAT PRIVILEGE.

OUR WATER IS WE HAVE CHALLENGES AND THE CITIES LOOKING AT IT.

BUT DO YOU THINK WE SHOULD BE AGRICULTURE SPECIFIC ON SOMETHING LIKE THAT? OR DO YOU THINK ALL INDUSTRY SHOULD WORK TOGETHER TO TRY TO BE MORE FAIR? THE DIPLOMATIC ANSWER IS THAT WE SHOULD ALL LOOK AT A WAY WE CAN ALL BE FAIR, I WILL SAY THAT AS AN AGRICULTURE BUSINESS, WHILE EVERYONE IS FLUSHING A TOILET, NOT EVERY SECTOR IS USING THAT WATER TO NECESSARILY MAYBE GROW THE PRODUCT THAT THEY'RE PRODUCING.

YOU CAN ARGUE THAT THERE ARE SOME SECTORS THAT ARE USING WATER WITHIN THEIR PRODUCTION.

HOWEVER, I WOULD SAY THAT AGRICULTURE IS PROBABLY ONE OF THE BIGGER ONES THAT IS USING WATER TO TURN THAT WATER AND USE THAT WATER INTO PRODUCING THE ACTUAL OUTPUT OF THE BUSINESSES MANDATE.

YEP.

NO, UNFORTUNATELY, I WAS TRAVELING, SO I DIDN'T GET TO SPEND THE AMOUNT OF TIME THAT I WAS HOPING TO, TO READ ALL OF THE STRATEGY THAT'S BEFORE US.

BUT YOU KNOW, ON THE ZONING PORTIONS THERE'S, YOU DIDN'T SPEAK TOO MUCH TO THAT, BUT WOULD YOU SUPPORT, YOU KNOW, SOME PRETTY SIGNIFICANT CHANGES LIKE.

YOU KNOW, CURRENTLY IN OUR CURRENT ZONING BYLAW THE LANDSCAPING REQUIREMENTS ARE THINGS LIKE TREES AND THE GREEN AREA, SHRUBS AND THOSE SORTS OF THINGS, WHICH ARE ALSO WATER INTENSIVE, THAT DON'T PRODUCE A LOT OTHER THAN THEY LOOK GOOD.

WOULD YOU BE IN FAVOR OF MAKING, YOU KNOW, LIKE IF AND ACTUALLY, MAYOR ALTY AND MYSELF SUPPORTED THIS FOR THE [INAUDIBLE] AT ONE POINT WHERE INSTEAD OF, YOU KNOW, PLANTING LAWNS AND TREES AND THINGS OF THAT NATURE, THAT PEOPLE TRY TO ENCOURAGE PEOPLE TO PLANT THINGS LIKE RASPBERRY BUSHES OR OTHER PLANTS THAT ACTUALLY PRODUCE SOMETHING.

THEY ALSO USE WATER, SO DO THE TREES, YOU KNOW, AT LEAST THEN IF WE'RE USING WATER, WE ACTUALLY GET SOMETHING.

WOULD YOU BE IN SUPPORT OF THOSE TYPES OF CHANGES IN THE ZONING BYLAW? KYLE.

YES, ABSOLUTELY, I BELIEVE THERE WAS ONE ACTION ITEM IN THIS IMPLEMENTATION PLAN REGARDING IN PLANTING EDIBLE SHRUBBERY AND TREES AROUND ON CITY PROPERTIES.

SO, YES, I WOULD SUPPORT THAT.

AND I WOULD ALSO SUPPORT THAT, I BELIEVE AS A NEW PROPERTY OWNER.

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IN KAM LAKE I BELIEVE THERE IS A CAVEAT WHERE WE HAVE TO HAVE A CERTAIN AMOUNT OF TREES IN WHICH WE'RE CONVERTING THE ENTIRE SPACE INTO A GROWING AREA.

BUT THOSE TREES THAT WE WOULD BE MANDATED TO PLANT, I WOULD GLADLY PLANT EDIBLE ONES.

YEAH, OH, YEAH.

NO FURTHER QUESTIONS, THANK YOU.

YEAH, WE DEFINITELY WELCOME WHEN THE DRAFT ZONING BYLAW GOES OUT IT WOULD BE GREAT TO GET YOUR FEEDBACK FROM AN AGRICULTURAL PERSPECTIVE AND THEN PARTICIPATE IN THE STATUTORY PUBLIC HEARING IF YOU WANT TO REALLY REINFORCE ANY POINTS OR RECOMMEND ANY CHANGES.

BUT THAT'S STILL TO COME LATER ON.

SO WE'LL KEEP YOU UPDATED THERE.

COUNCILLOR MORGAN.

THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR, AND THANKS KYLE FOR TAKING THE TIME TODAY.

I REALLY RESPECT ALL THE WORK THAT YOU'RE DOING, AND I'M SURE IT IS A HUGE AMOUNT OF WORK TO GET A BUSINESS LIKE THAT UNDERWAY.

I HAD A COUPLE OF FOLLOW UP QUESTIONS.

ONE THE IDEA ABOUT THE COMMUNAL ABATTOIR.

CAN YOU CLARIFY WHAT ROLE YOU'RE HOPING THE CITY MIGHT TAKE IN THAT? ARE YOU HOPING THAT THE CITY WOULD TAKE THAT ON AS A PROJECT OR JUST THAT WE WOULD PROVIDE ZONING OR SPACE FOR IT TO HAPPEN? CAN YOU EXPLAIN THAT.

KYLE.

SURE.

THIS MAY BE MORE OF A TOPIC OF DISCUSSION THAT COMES THROUGH THE THE RESEARCH FOR THE COMMUNITY FOOD HUB BECAUSE THAT COULD BE ONE OF THE VIABLE THINGS.

WE BROUGHT IT UP BECAUSE OF THE ACTION ITEM REGARDING LIVESTOCK AND WE JUST TACKED IT ONTO THAT AND SAYING THAT ALLOWING LIVESTOCK IS GREAT.

BUT IF WE WANT TO LOOK AT COMMERCIAL AGRICULTURE, WE NEED SOME WAY OF PROPERLY PROCESSING THAT LIVESTOCK THAT IS HERE.

SO COMMUNAL ABATTOIR WOULD REDUCE THE COST ON ANY ONE ENTITY OR ONE BUSINESS, AND IT WOULD ALLOW FOR ESSENTIALLY THE SHARING OF THE INFRASTRUCTURE, WHETHER THE CITY THEMSELVES IMPLEMENTS THAT OR WHETHER IT IS A PARTNER ORGANIZATION THAT IS SET UP THAT IMPLEMENTS THAT.

OR MAYBE IT'S SOMETHING ALONG THE LINES OF IT'S A CONTRACT THAT GOES OUT EVERY TWO YEARS TO A PARTICULAR ENTITY THAT MAY ALREADY HAVE THE FACILITY CAPABILITIES.

THAT IS TO BE DETERMINED.

WHAT WE'RE BRINGING FORWARD IN THIS PRESENTATION WAS JUST TO SAY THAT WE WOULD SUPPORT THE IDEA OF SUCH A INFRASTRUCTURE PIECE AS IT WOULD BE AN ECONOMIC DRIVER BECAUSE IT WOULD CREATE ONE OR TWO OR THREE MORE JOBS.

IT WOULD ALLOW OTHER BUSINESSES IN THE LIVES OF SMALL LIVESTOCK SECTOR TO ACTUALLY BE ABLE TO PRODUCE AND THEN RESELL THE PRODUCTS THAT THEY ARE GROWING OR PRODUCING HERE WITHIN YELLOWKNIFE OR WITHIN THE TERRITORY.

SO THAT IS OUR RECOMMENDATION OR WHERE WE SUPPORT THIS IDEA.

OK, AND CAN YOU HELP ME UNDERSTAND, IS THERE SOMETHING PREVENTING THAT FROM BEING JUST A PRIVATE BUSINESS, LIKE SOMEONE'S OWN STARTUP? KYLE.

AS FAR AS I'M AWARE, IT IS NOT, ALTHOUGH I THINK THE BARRIER IS THAT THERE IS NOT ENOUGH USE CASE YET FOR IT.

SO IF SOMEONE WERE TO INVEST IN BUILDING AN ABATTOIR OR BRINGING AN ABATTOIR UP BECAUSE THEY CAN OFTEN BE BUILT INSIDE MOBILE TRAILERS.

IT'S JUST A LARGE INFRASTRUCTURE COSTS UP FRONT FOR ONE PARTICULAR ENTITY WITHOUT A PROVEN SECTOR BEHIND IT YET.

WHEREAS A COMMUNAL ONE THERE MAY BE A COST SHARING COMPONENT WHICH WOULD SPREAD THAT OUT AND THEN IT WOULD HELP FOSTER BUSINESSES OR NON-PROFITS OR ORGANIZATIONS TO GET INTO SMALL LIVESTOCK MANAGEMENT.

OKAY.

MY SECOND QUESTION AND THIS I GUESS ECHOES A LITTLE BIT OF COUNCILLOR KONGE'S SENTIMENT THERE.

I MEAN, OBVIOUSLY WE HAVE TO WHEN WE MAKE POLICY, WE HAVE TO THINK OF WHAT CATEGORY OF THING ARE WE TRYING TO PROMOTE AND ARE WE BEING TOO SPECIFIC OR TOO GENERAL, BUT YOU GIVE THE EXAMPLE OF, SAY, EITHER PROPERTY TAX BREAKS OR REDUCTIONS IN LAND COSTS FOR SMALL AGRICULTURE BUSINESSES.

DO YOU THINK THAT THAT SAME LOGIC COULD APPLY, LIKE SHOULD WE BE GIVING TAX BREAKS TO ALL SMALL BUSINESSES, STARTING UP AGRICULTURE OR NOT, OR IS THERE SOMETHING UNIQUE ABOUT AGRICULTURE THAT YOU THINK MERITS US TARGETING THAT SPECIFIC SECTOR FOR PROPERTY TAX BREAKS OR REDUCED LAND COSTS? KYLE.

THANKS FOR THE QUESTION.

I AM BIASED AND I HAVE AN AGRICULTURE BUSINESS.

[00:30:03]

SO THAT SAID, THERE IS A I THINK A COMPONENT OF THIS THAT GOES OUTSIDE OF JUST BUSINESS AND THAT'S THAT FOOD SUSTAINABILITY AND FOOD SECURITY IN THE NORTH IS LOW.

AND THE AGRICULTURAL SECTOR, I THINK EVERY BUSINESS THAT'S BEING SET UP IN THE AGRICULTURE SECTOR RIGHT NOW IS TO TRY TO PROVIDE MORE FOOD LOCALLY.

AND THAT'S NOT JUST DONE BECAUSE THERE'S A GOOD BUSINESS MODEL BEHIND IT.

I THINK THAT'S DONE BECAUSE THERE'S A DRIVE TO BRING SOME SUSTAINABILITY TO THE NORTH.

SO I THINK IT SHOULD BE SPECIFIC TO AGRICULTURE BUSINESSES BECAUSE WE'RE TRYING TO REDUCE FOOD MILES.

WE'RE TRYING TO BRING MORE SUSTAINABILITY HERE.

AND THE PANDEMIC WAS A PERFECT EXAMPLE OF THAT.

FOOD CHAINS WERE CUT OFF.

BUT THEN IF WE LOOK FURTHER BACK DURING THE 2016 FOREST FIRE SEASON, OUR ROADS WERE CUT OFF.

SO WE WERE LOSING OUT ON FOOD AND FOOD CHAIN SUPPLY THERE.

SO IT'S ALL SECTORS ARE PROBABLY IMPACTED BY THIS.

ALTHOUGH ALLOWING AGRICULTURE BUSINESSES OR REMOVING BARRIERS FOR AGRICULTURE BUSINESSES WOULD HELP DEVELOP MORE AGRICULTURE BUSINESSES, WHICH WOULD BRING FURTHER SUSTAINABILITY FOR ALL NORTHERNERS AND YELLOWKNIFER'S HERE WHEN THOSE PARTICULAR THINGS MAY HAPPEN, PANDEMIC FOREST FIRE OR WHATEVER ELSE MIGHT CUT OFF THE FOOD SUPPLY CHAIN.

OK, I'LL FOLLOW UP ON THAT ONE JUST BRIEFLY, AND I DO UNDERSTAND YOUR POINTS THERE, BUT I GUESS I WOULD QUESTION LIKE YOU'RE IN THE FOOD BUSINESS YOURSELF, OBVIOUSLY, AND HUGE AMOUNTS OF WORK AND COST AND RESOURCES GO INTO SETTING THAT UP.

DO YOU THINK AND I'M NOT TRYING TO PICK ON YOU HERE, THAT THE PRODUCTS YOU'RE GOING TO PRODUCE ARE GOING TO BE AFFORDABLE TO A LARGE CROSS-SECTION OF THE FOOD INSECURE POPULATION IN YELLOWKNIFE.

IS HAVING MORE LOCAL BUSINESSES GROWING THINGS IN YELLOWKNIFE, IS THAT GOING TO ENSURE SOMEONE WITH A VERY LOW INCOME IS GOING TO BE ABLE TO EAT YOUR PRODUCTS? WELL, THAT'S A VERY GOOD QUESTION.

AND ONE WE GRAPPLE WITH EVERY SINGLE DAY.

WE SET THIS UP TO BRING FOOD TO THE COMMUNITY.

WE'RE LOOKING INTERNALLY WITHIN OUR BUSINESS WAYS OF MAKING SURE THAT WE CAN TAKE ON THOSE TYPES OF INITIATIVES.

WE UNDERSTAND THAT THE FOOD THAT WE'RE PRODUCING MIGHT BE A HIGHER COST BECAUSE IT COSTS MORE TO PRODUCE.

AS A BUSINESS WE'RE LOOKING AT WAYS TO PUT BACK.

MARIE AND I CONSTANTLY TALK ABOUT A ONE PERCENT KIND OF MECHANISM WHERE ONE PERCENT OF OUR PRODUCT OR ONE PERCENT OF OUR REVENUE GETS PUT BACK INTO A NONPROFIT OR A LOCAL ORGANIZATION THAT WOULD HELP DISTRIBUTE OUR FOOD ACROSS THE ENTIRE COMMUNITY.

HOW THAT LOOKS WE'RE NOT SURE YET.

IT WOULD BE OUR GOAL TO GET THIS STARTED AND THEN TO BE ABLE TO ADJUST COSTS TO MAKE IT ACCESSIBLE TO EVERYBODY.

THAT IS OUR GOAL.

WE UNDERSTAND AT THE BEGINNING THAT WE'LL NEED TO DO CERTAIN THINGS TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE COVERING OUR COSTS TO GET SET UP AND BECOME SUSTAINABLE.

BUT IT IS OUR LONG TERM GOAL TO BE ABLE TO DIRECT THE PRODUCTS TO ANYONE WHO WOULD WANT IT OR NEED IT.

OK, DEFINITELY A LAUDABLE GOAL, BUT I UNDERSTAND IT IS A CHALLENGE GIVEN THE COSTS OF STARTUP HERE.

LAST QUESTION.

YOU TALKED ABOUT WATER ACCESS AND THAT BEING SUCH A HIGH PRIORITY FOR YOU.

IS THERE ANY CHANCE THAT THERE ARE ANY ALTERNATIVES TO TRUCKED MUNICIPAL WATER THAT COULD BE EXPLORED? I MEAN, YOU KNOW, CERTAINLY RAIN BARRELS WERE MENTIONED IN THIS STRATEGY.

I DON'T KNOW IF THAT'S VIABLE FOR A LARGER TERM OPERATION, BUT.

I'M ASSUMING AND MAYBE YOU CAN CLARIFY HERE THAT IT'S NOT GOOD ENOUGH TO TRY TO JUST SAY PIPED WATER OUT OF A LOCAL WATER SOURCE LIKE KAM LAKE OR SOMETHING FOR YOUR CROPS, BUT MAYBE YOU CAN CLARIFY THAT.

BUT ARE THERE ANY ALTERNATIVES THAT COULD BE CHEAPER TO BE EXPLORED AS AN ALTERNATIVE TO TRUCKING TAP WATER? KYLE.

THERE VERY WELL COULD BE WE WOULD LOOK TO INVESTIGATE COLLECTION OF RAINWATER, WE COULD BUILD A SYSTEM ON OUR BUILDING THAT WOULD COLLECT IT OR THROUGHOUT THE PROPERTY WE COULD PUMP FROM A LAKE.

IF IT WAS NEARBY, WE COULD GET OUR OWN WATER TRUCK AND GO TO A PUMP HOUSE AND DO

[00:35:02]

THAT OURSELVES.

THESE ARE ALL OPTIONS.

BUT OUR FIRST STEP IS TO ACTUALLY WORK WITH THE ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH OFFICER.

THEY'RE THE ONES THAT REGULATE HOW WE DO THINGS, HOW WE PRODUCE THE FOOD, ESPECIALLY BECAUSE IT'S FOR RESALE SO WE CAN COME UP WITH THESE IDEAS AND WE CAN WORK WITH THE CITY ON WHAT THOSE IDEAS ARE AND WHAT MIGHT BE VIABLE WITH THE CITY.

BUT WE'RE KIND OF STUCK WITH AT THE END OF THE DAY, WE HAVE TO MAKE SURE THAT IT COMPLIES WITH THE FOOD SAFETY ACT AND COMPLIES WITH THE EHO REGULATIONS THAT ARE SET OUT FOR US AS A BUSINESS.

SO ALL OF THESE IDEAS COULD BE GREAT.

MAYBE THERE'S ONE I AM UNAWARE OF THAT COULD BE EVEN BETTER.

BUT THE FIRST STEP WOULD BE TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE IN COMPLIANCE WITH ALL THOSE REGULATIONS.

AND CAN YOU JUST CLARIFY THEN, ARE THE REGULATIONS AROUND WATER STILL TO BE DEVELOPED WITH THE EHO OR IS JUST THAT YOU HAVEN'T MET OR FIGURED OUT WHAT ALL THE RULES ARE THAT ALREADY EXIST? KYLE.

THANK YOU, BECAUSE AGRICULTURE IS SO NEW.

IT IS KIND OF DONE ON A CASE BY CASE APPROACH.

WHEN WE PUT IN AN APPLICATION, WE HAVE TO IDENTIFY WHERE OUR WATER SOURCE IS AND THEN WE HAVE TO WORK WITH THEM BASED ON THAT.

I'M NOT AN EXPERT ON IT.

I'VE ONLY GONE THROUGH THE PROCESS ONCE.

WE'LL BE GOING THROUGH IT AGAIN COME SPRINGTIME AT OUR NEW PROPERTY.

BUT THERE ARE DIFFERENT THINGS THAT THEY HAVE PUT IN PLACE WITH OTHER VENDORS THAT I CAN'T DIRECTLY SPEAK TO.

BUT I KNOW SOME INVOLVE IF THEY'RE COLLECTING IT FROM A LAKE, IT HAS TO BE TREATED WITH CERTAIN SOMETHING, BE IT CHLORINE, BE IT SOMETHING ELSE.

WE WERE ON CITY WATER LAST YEAR, SO IT WASN'T A PROBLEM.

WHAT IT MEANS FOR TRUCK WATER.

I DON'T THINK THERE'S A PROBLEM.

BUT IF WE WERE TO COLLECT RAINWATER, MAYBE IT NEEDS TO BE TREATED.

SO THERE IS NO STANDARDS.

CURRENTLY IT'S A CASE BY CASE BASIS, WHICH IS INCREDIBLY FRUSTRATING BECAUSE YOU DON'T KNOW UNTIL YOU'RE IN IT WHAT WILL WORK.

BUT THAT'S THE CURRENT SETUP.

SO I WISH THERE WAS A ONE STEP HANDY GUIDE TO BEING ABLE TO DO THIS.

OK, THANK YOU FOR CLARIFYING THAT.

THAT REALLY HELPS US GET MORE INSIGHTS INTO WHAT'S INVOLVED HERE.

ANY OTHER QUESTIONS FROM COUNCILLORS? JUST HAD ONE COLUMN YOU WERE TALKING ABOUT YOUR COMMERCIAL KITCHEN AND MAKING SURE THAT WE STAY IN TOUCH IN THAT RESEARCH PROJECT.

ARE YOU LOOKING TO RENT IT OUT TO OTHER BUSINESSES TO USE AS A COMMERCIAL KITCHEN? IT IS IN OUR BUSINESS PLAN TO RENT OUT THE KITCHEN, BEING A PARTICIPANT OF THE FARMER'S MARKET FOR SINCE THE BEGINNING.

I SAW A BIG NEED FOR COMMERCIAL KITCHEN SPACE.

THERE IS ONE OFFS AND NUP MIGHT HAVE SOMETHING.

PEOPLE USE BAKER CENTER [INAUDIBLE] WHO'S ON HERE AS WELL, MAY ACTUALLY HAVE SOMETHING ALREADY IN PLACE.

MY COMMENT WAS YES, IT'S IN OUR BUSINESS PLAN, BUT IT WAS MORE MAKING SURE THAT THE CITY STAYS IN CONTACT WITH MAYBE SOME PRIVATE SECTOR PEOPLE WHO ARE ALREADY IN THE DEVELOPMENT PHASE OR EVEN IN THE CONSTRUCTION PHASE OF SOMETHING LIKE THIS ALREADY WHERE THEY WOULD BE RENTING IT OUT OR SHARING IT WITH OTHER SMALLER BUSINESSES.

YEAH, THOSE THINGS, AND I'VE HEARD A LOT OVER THE YEARS ABOUT THE NEED OR DESIRE TO HAVE A COMMERCIAL KITCHEN, AND SO IT WOULDN'T BE THE CITY LOOKING TO COMPETE WITH YOU IN SETTING UP A COMMERCIAL KITCHEN.

IT'D BE GREAT IF IT'S SET UP BY BUSINESS OR NOT FOR PROFIT AND OTHER INDIVIDUALS CAN USE IT.

SO THAT WOULD BE GREAT NEWS TO HEAR.

YEAH, AND THE COMMERCIAL ABATTOIR IS JUST LOOKING AT UCONN AND HOW IT'S RUN BY THEIR TERRITORIAL GOVERNMENT.

SO, AGAIN, IT'S LOOKING INTO THAT STUFF AND PERHAPS ENCOURAGING ITI TO SET SOMETHING UP.

SEEING NO FURTHER QUESTIONS FOR THE PRESENTER.

THANKS AGAIN KYLE FOR COMING AND GIVING YOUR FEEDBACK ON THIS.

NEXT UP, ATA I'LL TURN THE FLOOR OVER TO YOU.

DID YOU HAVE A POWERPOINT PRESENTATION OR DID YOU WANT TO JUST SPEAK TO IT? NO, NO, I WILL GO WITH MY HEART.

FIRST OF ALL, I WOULD LIKE TO SAY A BIG THANK YOU TO WELCOME US TO BE ABLE TO ADDRESS A DIFFERENT PROBLEM.

EVERYONE HEAR ME.

YES, IT'S GOOD.

OK, AGAIN, KYLE, THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

YOU DEFINITELY BRING SO MANY IMPORTANT THINGS ON THE TABLE AS A LAND OWNER AND A COMMERCIAL KITCHEN OWNER.

IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT.

AND I WILL NOT REPEAT WHAT YOU SAID BECAUSE YOU REALLY GET INTO DETAILS.

[00:40:01]

AND I THINK IT'S ALL THOSE [INAUDIBLE] RECORDED THAT AND THINKING, YEAH, I'M SUPER HAPPY ABOUT THAT.

MY MAIN ISSUE, I WILL TALK ABOUT A DIFFERENT PERSPECTIVE SHOP OWNER AND KITCHEN OWNER THAT I DON'T HAVE [INAUDIBLE].

AND THE REASON WHY I DON'T HAVE LAND.

YOU KNOW I DON'T NEED TO MAKE A DROP BECAUSE OF THE LAND ARE IMPOSSIBLE TO GET FOR MY BUDGET, AND I'M GLAD THAT YOU HAD THE POSSIBILITY TO DO THAT KYLE, BUT I'M PRETTY SURE THAT YOU BECAUSE I DID MY BUSINESS [INAUDIBLE].

YOU STRUGGLE RIGHT NOW.

AND WE KNOW THAT A COMMERCIAL PRODUCTION OF VEGGIES, IT IS NOT EASY TO MAKE MONEY WITH.

WE NEED TO BE CREATIVE.

WE NEED TO TRY TO DO OTHER THINGS AROUND THIS, BECAUSE IF WE GO IN SOUTH IN QUEBEC, WE HAVE TAXES THAT IS WHICH IS THEY ARE REDUCED FOR AGRICULTURE.

WE HAVE ALSO [INAUDIBLE] ABOUT THE WATER.

THEY DO HAVE THAT.

I UNDERSTAND THAT IN THE NORTH WE DON'T HAVE THIS FLEXIBILITY, THIS QUANTITY OF WATER.

WE NEED TO REGULATE THAT.

AND I DEFINITELY UNDERSTAND THAT.

BUT IF WE WANT TO GO FORWARD TO THIS POSSIBILITY TO HAVE MORE GROWER, WE NEED TO THINK ABOUT THIS.

THE LAND ACCESS IS DEFINITELY AN ISSUE.

HOW CAN WE THINK TO MAKE THAT REALLY AFFORDABLE MAKE MONEY WITH IT AND WITH THE PRICE OF THE LAND AND SECOND THE SPACE? AND RIGHT NOW, I'M STUDYING AT THE LAURIER UNIVERSITY AND I'M DOING A MASTER CLASS WITH [INAUDIBLE].

AND KYLE YOU DO THE SAME? AND THE MODEL FOR SMALL SCALES GROWING HAVE TO BE MINIMUM ONE HECTARE TO BE ABLE TO SAY, OK, WE CAN MAKE MONEY FROM IT AND MAKE PROFIT AT LEAST 200 FAMILIES TO GET VEGGIES EVERY WEEK FOR THE WHOLE SUMMER.

THAT IS NEED DEFINITELY THE SPACE TO DO THAT.

RIGHT NOW YOU ALREADY ADDRESSED IN THE CALL THE LIMITED SPACE THAT WE HAVE, THE COST OF THE TAXES THE COST OF THE BUILDING, EVERYTHING LIKE THAT.

IF WE WANT THIS ABATTOIR PROJECT TO TAKE PLACE AND BE TAKEN SERIOUSLY, I REALLY THINK THAT THE CITY WILL HAVE TO BE INVOLVED IN SOMEHOW TO GET ACCESS TO LANDS.

OTHERWISE, HOW WE WILL DO THAT WE WILL JUST KNOCK THE DOOR OF CITIZENS IN YELLOWKNIFE TO TRY TO HAVE THEIR BACKYARD TO GET THE SPACE TO DO IT.

RIGHT NOW, IT'S AN ISSUE FOR SO MANY OF US, INCLUDING ME, BECAUSE I CAN'T BUY A LOT NOW IT'S NOT POSSIBLE IN THIS SITUATION THAT WE ARE WITH THE COVID AND EVERYTHING AND I WILL NOT BE ABLE TO MAKE IT WORK.

[INAUDIBLE] WE HAVE TO BE CREATIVE.

THAT SAID, WATER, I WILL NOT REPEAT MYSELF, IS THE SAME THING.

BECAUSE OF THE WATER TO GROW VEGGIES.

AND I FEEL GUILTY TO USE THIS AMAZING WATER THAT WE HAVE THIS WATER PLANT HERE THAT WE USE DRINKING WATER TO DO THAT.

I UNDERSTAND THAT SOME REGULATIONS HAVE TO BE APPLIED DEFINITELY.

BUT IF WE PUT [INAUDIBLE] OUR OWN WATER AND HAVE THIS SYSTEM THAT YOU CAN MAYBE HELP US TO GET AN IDEA OR CAN OR WILL BE ABLE TO FILTER THIS WATER AND MAKE IT LIKE GOOD FOR GROWING, BECAUSE IN SO MANY CASES WE NEED THIS WATER TO BE TESTED AND WE WILL DEFINITELY.

BUT IF WE CANNOT WORK TOGETHER TO HAVE THIS SYSTEM THAT, OK, IT'S JUST FOR TO SUPPORT AGRICULTURE OR ANY OTHER BUSINESSES THAT NEED THIS KIND OF WATER, THAT IT'S NOT THAT PURE THAT CRAZY, BEAUTIFUL WATER THAT WE HAVE FROM THE WATER PLANT.

[INAUDIBLE] THAT MAKES SENSE BUT IT'S ONE OF THE QUESTIONS I HAVE THIS SUMMER.

AND I THINK IT'S SOMETHING WHICH YOU SHOULD LOOK IT TO BECAUSE [INAUDIBLE] PROGRAM FOR AGRICULTURE IN [INAUDIBLE].

ITI, I GOT THE MONEY FROM ITI IN 2017 AND THEY STILL HAVE MONEY EVERY YEAR TO SUPPORT THAT FOR I THINK TWO MORE YEARS I HOPE, AND MORE.

BUT WITH THAT SAID THEY WILL NEVER SUPPORT THE GROWERS TO BUY A LOT.

THEY DON'T HAVE THIS KIND OF HELP.

YOU HAVE TO FIND A WAY AND YOU HAVE TO ALLOW THEM TO DO IT THEN.

AND MY POINT IS HERE, MY IDEAS BEHIND THAT IS SITTING AT HOME MANY MONTHS IN KAM LAKE MANY, MANY OF THEM.

AND IT'S DEFINITIVELY.

IF WE WANT TO TAKE THAT SERIOUSLY, I THINK AND I THINK YOU DO, BUT TO MAKE IT REAL, TO HAVE MORE POWER AND THE SUSTAINABILITY ABOUT GROWING FOOD IN THE NORTH I THINK NOT JUST YELLOWKNIFE BUT [INAUDIBLE] CITY TO ALLOW BY LEASE, YOU TAKE ONE OR TWO LOTS, THAT

[00:45:05]

YOU SAY OKAY THAT IF YOU WANT TO GROW, THAT IS THE LOT WE PROPOSE TO YOU AND WE LEASE THAT TO YOU, LINK IT WITH THE [INAUDIBLE] LIKE THAT WITH GROWERS.

AND WE SAY, OK, HOW COULD IT WORK TO MAKE THAT POSSIBLE, TO HAVE AT A REASONABLE PRICE SOME VEGGIES FOR FAMILIES IN THE NORTH.

WE SIT TOGETHER, WE CHAT, WE EVALUATE THIS, WHICH THEN IN FOLLOWING THAT, YOU'RE ABLE TO PUT A PRICE BY SPREADSHEET OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT TO SAY, OK, FOR THE LOT WE CAN WE ARE READY TO LEASE THAT FOR ONE PERIOD OF THREE YEARS AND GET ACCESS TO MORE LAND, BECAUSE IT'S ONE OF THE BIG ISSUE THAT I'M FACING PERSONALLY RIGHT NOW.

KYLE I'M SURE YOU WOULD LIKE TO PRODUCE MORE, BUT HOW YOU WILL DO THAT, YOU WILL HAVE THIS GREEN HOUSE.

NICE.

YOU WILL, LIKE, STEP UP SOME STORAGE, HAVE MORE THAT HAVE TO BE REALISTIC.

YOU NEED MORE LAND.

AND IF WE [INAUDIBLE] DO THAT, WE NEED TO WORK TOGETHER.

DEFINITELY.

REGARDING THE TAXES, REGARDING THE [INAUDIBLE] ACCESS, THAT'S FOR NOW.

IT'S MY ISSUE WHAT I'M FACING RIGHT NOW AND THAT WILL FACE MANY GROWERS OR STOP SOME PEOPLE TO JUST I WOULD LIKE TO DO THAT.

BUT YOU'RE FACING THOSE LIMIT.

I UNDERSTAND IT IS BRAND NEW.

WE DO THE STRATEGY RIGHT NOW.

WE WOULD LIKE TO WORK TOGETHER WITH YOU TO MAKE THAT STICK AND SIT AND HAVE SOMETHING THAT IS CLEAR FOR NEXT GROWER THAT WILL BE OK.

I UNDERSTAND MORE OF THE CONCEPT AND I KNOW WE HAVE GOOD BASE, GOT GOOD PLACES TO BEGIN.

AND KYLE AND ALSO THE [INAUDIBLE] MYSELF, WHEN WE BUILD THIS [INAUDIBLE] COMMERCIAL KITCHEN AND WE WANTED TO GO FORWARD WITH ITI, WITH THAT MONEY WE GOT, WE FACE WE HAVE TO BE HONEST, QUITE A BIG ISSUE WITH THE [INAUDIBLE].

AND THEY DID A GOOD JOB.

THEY HELP US.

BUT BECAUSE THOSE MODEL AND I'M HAPPY THAT YOU ARE YOU GOING FORWARD TO HAVE THIS MODEL FOR GREENHOUSE, THAT IT'S SUPER IMPORTANT BECAUSE AT FIRST IT WAS NOT THERE AND IT WAS HARD I WILL SAY IT TOOK TWO YEARS TO BUILD MY GREENHOUSE, AND WE DECIDED TO TRANSFORM THAT AS A COMMERCIAL KITCHEN BECAUSE IT WAS TOO COSTLY TO RESPECT WHAT CDL WAS PROPOSING TO US.

THEN AT THE END, WE SAID, OK, WE WILL GROW THE VEGGIES OUTSIDE THEN.

IT'S WHAT WAS THE PLAN, AND WE WILL REDUCE THE SIZE OF THE BUILDING, BUT THAT'S IT.

I THINK I SAID ENOUGH.

I HOPE YOU GET MY POINT WITH MY CREATIVE ENGLISH AND FRENCH.

THEN I TRIED MY BEST.

AND IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTION IT WILL BE A PLEASURE.

AND I WILL TRY TO ANSWER YOUR QUESTION WELL.

THANK YOU ETIENNE.

AND YEAH, AND I THINK ON SOME OF YOUR POINTS, I WAS JUST KIND OF SCROLLING THROUGH SEEING IF THEY WILL BE MET AND I SEE ONE OF THE RECOMMENDATIONS IN THE IMPLEMENTATION IS HOW OUR LAND ADMINISTRATION BYLAW CAN HELP ENCOURAGE FOOD AND AGRICULTURE THROUGH LAND DISPOSAL AND CONCESSIONS FOR LAND TENURE DECISIONS.

SO PERHAPS YOUR IDEA ABOUT THE LAND LEASING COULD BE AN OPTION WHEN THAT'S EXPLORED.

OPENING IT UP TO COUNCILLORS FOR QUESTIONS.

COUNCILLOR MORGAN.

THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR.

MERCI ETIENNE FOR COMING IN, AND SPEAKING TO US FROM YOUR HEART TODAY.

A QUESTION I HAVE TO YOU AROUND LAND.

HAVE YOU EXPLORED PARCELS OF LAND OUTSIDE MUNICIPAL LIMITS? WHAT ARE THE BARRIERS THERE? ETIENNE.

OH, YOU'RE JUST ON MUTE.

OH SORRY.

WHAT WE'RE FACING RIGHT NOW OUTSIDE I WOULD GIVE THE EXAMPLE OF [INAUDIBLE].

YOU CAN HAVE THE COMMERCIAL PRODUCTION OUTSIDE [INAUDIBLE] LAND OF [INAUDIBLE], SHE FACED SO MANY, SO MANY PROBLEMS THAT THEY'RE TRYING TO DO A COMMERCIAL PRODUCTION.

THEN IT'S I WOULD LIKE TO INVITE YOU TO A TOUGH QUESTION TO [INAUDIBLE] ABOUT THAT.

SHE KNOWS MORE ABOUT THE TOPIC, BUT I HEARD THEIR FRUSTRATION ABOUT IT.

OK, AND IN TERMS OF THE LIMITATIONS YOU FOUND, TRYING TO CONSTRUCT A GREENHOUSE.

HAS THAT IT LOOKS LIKE SOME WORK HAS ALREADY BEEN DONE IN THE NOTES IN THIS IMPLEMENTATION PLAN TOWARDS SUPPORTING GREENHOUSE DEVELOPMENT, HAVE THOSE ISSUES BEEN RESOLVED ALREADY OR IS YOUR UNDERSTANDING THAT THAT STILL STANDS? CAN YOU JUST EXPLAIN A BIT MORE? WHAT ARE THE PROBLEMS THAT PREVENT PEOPLE FROM BEING ABLE TO CONSTRUCT SPEAKERS]

[00:50:01]

I THINK ISSUES HAVE BEEN FLAGGED, BUT I DON'T THINK THE WORK HAS FINISHED YET.

BUT RIGHT NOW I THINK WHAT IS GOING ON WITH THE PROJECT TO HAVE SOMETHING SPECIFIC FOR GREENHOUSE IS ONE OF THE CONSEQUENCES THAT WE FACED.

BECAUSE WHAT WE WAS FACING AT FIRST WAS THE HUMIDITY CONTROL IN THE BUILDING? BECAUSE WE GROW INSIDE THE STRUCTURE THAT HAD TO BE ALL THE TIME SAFE FOR US.

YOU KNOW, WE ARE THERE AND WE WORK IN AND ALSO WE HAVE TO USE THAT PART OF THIS [INAUDIBLE] THAT ALWAYS HAVE TO STAY SAFE FOR OUR CUSTOMER BECAUSE WE [INAUDIBLE] AFTER THOSE [INAUDIBLE] INSIDE THE KITCHEN.

AND OF THE SYSTEM OF FENCING AND CONTROLLING THINGS AND WAS CONSIDERED AS WELL AN INDUSTRIAL BUILDING.

THAT IS IT WAS ASTONISHING AND SHOCKING THING THAT IT CROSSED THAT I HAVE TO ADMIT ABOUT IT, BUT IT WAS DEFINITELY A WAY MORE THAN WHAT MY PROJECT WAS AT FIRST, BECAUSE I GOT THE MONEY, I DID MY PLAN AND EVERYTHING [INAUDIBLE] AND EVERYTHING.

I GOT THE MONEY AND I GET THE MAXIMUM.

I SEE THE ITI DON'T GIVE MORE THAN SIXTY FIVE THOUSAND DOLLARS FOR A PROJECT LIKE THAT.

AND AT THE END, I HAVE TO BACK OFF AND GO BACK TO ITI AND EXPLAIN THIS [INAUDIBLE] AND I CAN PROVIDE YOU SOME MORE AND TO EXPLAIN THE DECISION WHY WE DECIDE TO JUST DO A COMMERCIAL KITCHEN THAT WAS A WAY TO GROW THE VEGGIES OUTSIDE.

AND WHAT IS SOMETHING THAT IT WILL [INAUDIBLE] KYLE WHEN YOU WILL DO A [INAUDIBLE] HOUSE.

IT'S WHAT WAS SUPPOSED TO BE FOR US AFTERWARDS.

BUT WHAT I UNDERSTOOD THAT YOU'RE WORKING ON RIGHT NOW FOR A SPECIFIC [INAUDIBLE] HOUSE GROWING THAT IT WILL BE IF YOU WON'T DO THAT AND WILL BE CLEAR THAT THAT IS WHAT YOU HAVE TO RESPECT.

AND YOU ARE YOU WILL BE ABLE TO EVALUATE YOUR COSTS AFTER WITH QUOTES AND THINGS THAT WILL BE CLEARER.

BUT IN THE PAST IT WAS UNFORTUNATELY NOT.

AND THE PROJECT CHANGED WE HAD LIKE QUITE A BIT OF MEETING WITH [INAUDIBLE] CAMPBELL.

AND I DON'T REMEMBER HIS NAME EXCUSE ME, DAVE [INAUDIBLE] FROM [INAUDIBLE].

AND IT WAS [INAUDIBLE] LIKE A BIT OF A NIGHTMARE.

THE THINGS CHANGE, [INAUDIBLE] IT DOESN'T WORK THEN I DON'T SEE THAT IT WAS NOT CLEAR FOR ALL OF US.

IT'S WHAT I'M SAYING HERE.

LIKE IT'S NEW FOR CITY ALL IT IS NEW FOR US TO TRY TO TO MAKE THINGS WORK.

AND NOW I THINK IT WILL BE FIXED, TO BE HONEST.

WHEN I HEARD FROM KYLE AND YOU CONFIRMED.

THIS NEW MODEL FOR GREENHOUSE AND REGULATION FROM GREENHOUSE, [INAUDIBLE], HAVE TO INCLUDE HOW YOU WANT THAT SPECIFICALLY AND WHAT PEOPLE WILL KNOW EXACTLY WHAT THEY HAVE TO FIX? YEAH, I HOPE I ANSWERED A QUESTION [INAUDIBLE].

SO, MORGAN, DID YOU WANT ETIENNE TO HIGHLIGHT WHAT WE'RE CURRENTLY UNDERWAY, MS. BASSI-KELLETT.

I GUESS, ITS OBJECTIVE 1.3.1 THERE'S A FEW POINTS THAT ETIENNE HAS SUGGESTED TO RESOLVE THESE ISSUES AROUND GREENHOUSES.

AND WE ALL COULD BE REALLY OPEN TO SIT AND IF WE CAN HELP YOU AND WORK TOGETHER TO INCREASE IT, JUST LIKE FACING I HAVE NO KNOWLEDGE ABOUT THE BUILDING AND THINGS LIKE THAT.

I LEARNED A BIT.

BUT I MEAN, I CAN EXPLAIN MORE THAT SITUATION THAT I FACE THAN PROBABLY KYLE AND [INAUDIBLE].

THANK YOU VERY MUCH, MADAM CHAIR, I WILL ASK MS. THISTLE IF SHE WANTS TO ADD ANYTHING FROM THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AND STRATEGY POINT OF VIEW, THEY'VE BEEN INSTRUMENTAL IN WORKING WITH A LOT OF THE STAKEHOLDERS.

THIS IS, ETIENNE HAS SUMMED IT UP REALLY ELOQUENTLY.

THIS IS AN AREA WHERE WE'RE STARTING TO WRAP OUR HEADS AROUND WHAT DO WE NEED TO DO TO BE SUPPORTING THIS LEVEL OF COMMERCIAL GREENHOUSE.

IT'S A LITTLE NEW TO US.

WE'RE REALLY PLEASED TO SEE THIS LEVEL OF INNOVATION, OF COURSE.

BUT NOW WE'VE GOT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE CATCHING UP FROM A REGULATORY POINT OF VIEW TO ENABLE THIS TO HAPPEN.

AFTER I ASK MS. THISTLE, IF SHE'S GOT ANYTHING TO ADD, I'LL SEE IF MR. LITTLEFAIR I KNOW HE DOESN'T SPEAK TO THE SPECIFICS, BUT IF THERE'S ANYTHING IN TERMS OF THE WORK FROM A BUILDING INSPECTIONS POINT OF VIEW, BUILDING SERVICES, IN TERMS OF WHAT WE'RE LOOKING AT, BEING ABLE TO SUPPORT FOR GREENHOUSES AND WE ARE GOING BIGGER IN OUR THINKING.

THANK YOU, MS. THISTLE.

THANKS I THINK BOTH THE PRESENTERS KYLE AND ETIENNE I HAVE CLEARLY POINTED OUT SOME OF THE PROBLEMS THAT BETWEEN THE MUNICIPAL TERRITORIAL REGULATIONS, THERE'S A LOT OF UNCLARITY OR UNCERTAINTY OR COMPLICATIONS, PART OF THE RECOMMENDATIONS IN THE

[00:55:01]

IMPLEMENTATION PLAN ARE RESEARCH ABOUT THINGS THAT WORK IN OTHER JURISDICTIONS.

THAT'S PART OF THE PROJECT WITH WILFRED LAURIER AND THE MITACS FUNDING IS TO GET INPUT FROM LOCAL PRODUCERS, STAKEHOLDERS AND DO SOME JURISDICTIONAL REVIEW AND RESEARCH ON COMMUNITY FOOD HUBS IN PARTICULAR.

BUT IT'S JUST ANOTHER EXAMPLE OF WHERE WE REALLY NEED TO TAKE A LOOK AT WHAT CAN WORK OR HAS WORKED IN OTHER PLACES, AS WELL AS LOOKING AT BYLAWS IN OUR CITIES AND SEEING WHAT KIND OF POLICIES AND BYLAWS THE OTHER CITIES IMPLEMENT TO HELP FACILITATE THESE KINDS OF UNDERTAKINGS.

THEY'VE CLEARLY POINTED OUT, AND WE'RE WELL AWARE THAT WE DON'T HAVE REALLY AGRICULTURE SPECIFIC THINGS IN OUR CURRENT ZONING BYLAW.

HOWEVER, WE'RE BRINGING FORWARD A NEW ZONING BYLAW IN THE VERY NEAR FUTURE.

AND THERE'S BEEN QUITE A BIT OF STAKEHOLDER ENGAGEMENT ON THAT ZONING BYLAW.

THERE'LL BE FURTHER OPPORTUNITIES TO ENGAGE IN THAT AS IT COMES THROUGH TO COMMITTEE AND COUNCIL.

AND THE STRATEGY ITSELF HAD A LOT OF RECOMMENDATIONS FOR THE ZONING BYLAW THAT ARE BEING CONSIDERED IN THE DRAFTING OF THE NEW VERSION OF THE ZONING BYLAW.

AND THE BUILDING BYLAW IS SLATED TO COME FORWARD IN THE NEXT THREE TO SIX MONTHS AS WELL.

AND THE RECOMMENDATIONS FROM GROW WILL ALSO BE CONSIDERED IN THE REVISIONS TO THE BUILDING BYLAW AS WELL AS THE BUSINESS LICENSE BYLAW.

NOT ONLY IS IT IN GROW WAS THAT KIND OF MADE IMPORTANT ALSO OUR ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT STRATEGY THAT WE HAD DONE AND ADOPTED IN APRIL AND WAS MOST RECENTLY BEFORE OUR COMMITTEE IN THE PAST COUPLE OF WEEKS, ALSO STRESSED THE IMPORTANCE OF FACILITATING OR ENCOURAGING AGRICULTURE.

SO MANY OF OUR BYLAWS, INCLUDING OUR INCENTIVES, NEED TO BE LOOKED AT WITH AGRICULTURE LENS, AND THAT'S PART OF THE WORK THAT'S BEEN OUTLINED IN THIS IMPLEMENTATION PLAN.

IT WON'T ADDRESS EVERY CONCERN IMMEDIATELY BECAUSE IT DOES INVOLVE TERRITORIAL AND MUNICIPAL REGULATIONS.

BUT WE'RE GOING TO MOVE FORWARD AS MUCH AS WE CAN AND WITH RESOURCES.

GREAT.

THANKS FOR THAT EXPLANATION.

YEAH, I'LL ASK MR. LITTLEFAIR IF HE COULD WEIGH IN A LITTLE BIT ON THE WORK ON THE ZONING BYLAW TO INCLUDE THIS AS MS. THISTLE HAS OUTLINED AS WELL AS WITH THE BUILDING INSPECTIONS AND BUILDING SERVICES.

MY COLLEAGUE SUMMED IT UP VERY WELL.

THE CHANGES ARE BEING INCORPORATED INTO THE ZONING BYLAW.

THE GROWTH STRATEGY IS FAMILIAR TO AND HAS BEEN REVIEWED FOR EVERYBODY THAT IS ON THE TEAM FOR DRAFTING THE ZONING BYLAW.

AND ON THE BUILDING BYLAWS SIDE.

AS MY COLLEAGUE SAID, WE ARE REVIEWING THAT DOCUMENT.

WE HAVE BEEN WORKING INTERNALLY AND IN THE MEANTIME, AS WITH THE NATIONAL BUILDING CODE AND OUR CURRENT ZONING BYLAW OR CORRECTION OUR BUILDING BYLAWS MY APOLOGIES, AND WE'VE BEEN ABLE TO TIE THESE STRUCTURES BACK TO THE NATIONAL BUILDING CODE.

AND WE HAVE BEEN DOING REVIEWS FOR GREENHOUSES USING THAT DOCUMENT.

ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE'RE PROPOSING FOR CHANGING IN THE BUILDING BYLAWS ACTUALLY TO POINT AND LIST THE NATIONAL FARM BUILDING CODE AS WELL AS THE NATIONAL BUILDING CODE.

SO IT'S CLEAR THAT WE CAN USE THOSE DOCUMENTS OR WE WILL BE USING THOSE DOCUMENTS FOR OUR EVALUATION OF STRUCTURES.

ANY OTHER QUESTIONS, COUNCILLOR MORGAN.

THANK YOU, COUNCILLOR KONGE.

I'M GOING TO ASK YOU THE SAME QUESTION I ASKED KYLE.

THANKS ETIENNE.

YOU KNOW, YOU'D LIKE TO SEE SOME SUBSIDIES AND STUFF FOR THE AGRICULTURAL BUSINESSES.

WHAT OTHER INDUSTRIES DO YOU FEEL SHOULD HAVE THOSE SAME TYPES OF SUBSIDIES AND SUCH.

I THINK ANY BUSINESSES THAT FACE THESE SAME KIND OF PROBLEM WITH ACCESS WATER, I WILL AGREE WITH MY COLLEAGUE KYLE.

I THINK IF IT'S GOOD FOR FOR US, IT COULD BE GOOD FOR THEM.

BUT WE ALWAYS HAVE TO KEEP IN MIND THAT SOME INDUSTRY ARE MORE PROFITABLE THAN OTHERS.

AND I THINK AGRICULTURE, IF WE WANT TO GO FORWARD WITH THIS STRATEGY IT NEEDS MORE SUPPORT AT FIRST, AT LEAST AT FIRST, WE HAVE TO START IT UP FOR REAL.

AND I THINK IT'S MY POINT.

[01:00:01]

AND THE MONEY FROM AGRICULTURE, IT'S NOT THAT MUCH.

BECAUSE I SAID AGAIN ABOUT THE SPACE WE HAVE TO DO SO.

IT IS A CHALLENGE AND WE NEED DEFINITELY MORE SUPPORT REGARDING THE LAND AND WATER.

IT'S ONE OF [INAUDIBLE] BUSINESS LIKE YOU REALLY NEED MORE WATER AND THE [INAUDIBLE] DO EXACTLY THE SAME, THAT WE DO A PROCESS [INAUDIBLE] SHARE AND ADDRESS THEIR PROBLEM AND THEY WILL GO FROM THERE.

OK, SO THE LAND, YOU KNOW, I MEAN, LAND IS NOT JUST AN AGRICULTURE ISSUE IN YELLOWKNIFE, THE LAND IS AN ISSUE FOR REALLY ALL BUSINESSES IN YELLOWKNIFE.

SO DO YOU THINK THAT.

ARE YOU SUGGESTING THAT AGRICULTURE ACTUALLY GETS PRIORITY ON LAND? ETIENNE.

NO, I JUST THINK YOU NEED A SPACE NOT PRIORITY.

IT'S I THINK IF WE AGREE ON ONE THING WHEN WE WILL AGREE, BECAUSE I THINK IT'S WHAT WE'RE FACING, DO WE WANT TO HAVE THIS SUSTAINABILITY? DO WE WANT TO WORK THERE TO HAVE LIVESTOCK TO GO THERE? IF IT'S THE CASE, WE JUST NEED TO GET SOME ROOM FOR AGRICULTURE.

I THINK IT'S THE POINT TO THAT.

YOU MADE JUST A COMMENT THAT I CAUGHT THAT, YOU KNOW, YOU FELT THERE WAS A LOT OF HURDLES TO THE COMMERCIAL KITCHEN.

YOU KNOW, I'VE DONE SEVERAL COMMERCIAL KITCHENS IN YELLOWKNIFE IN ALMOST 20 YEARS THAT I'VE BEEN IN BUSINESS HERE, COMMERCIAL KITCHENS ARE.

LIKE, THAT'S NOT REALLY THE CITY THAT REGULATES WHAT YOU HAVE TO DO IN A COMMERCIAL KITCHEN.

ALL WE'RE DOING AND MR. LITTLEFAIR, HE ALLUDED TO THIS IN HIS PREVIOUS ONE COMMENTS THAT, YOU KNOW, WE'RE INCORPORATING YOU KNOW NATIONAL BUILDING CODE, NATIONAL ELECTRICAL CODE, NATIONAL PLUMBING CODE IN ORDER TO MAKE THESE FACILITIES TO MEET, YOU KNOW, TO BE SAFE AND TO MEET THE INTENT OF THOSE OF THOSE NATIONAL CODES ARE IT ALMOST SOUNDED IN ONE OF YOUR COMMENTS THAT YOU'RE SUGGESTING THAT THE CITY TRY TO REDUCE THOSE REQUIREMENTS.

IS THAT WHAT YOU SUGGESTING? NO, NO, I'M SUGGESTING IS IT'S NOT ABOUT THE COMMERCIAL KITCHEN FOR CONSTRUCTION, IN FACT, THAT IT WAS ABOUT THE BUILDING THAT I WAS TRYING TO DO IT AS A GREENHOUSE AT FIRST.

AND WITH THE REQUIREMENT THAT WAS DEFINITELY FOR MY PROJECT WAS TOO MUCH AND TOO MUCH I WASN'T ABLE TO DO SO.

THEN I JUST TRANSFER THAT HAS FIRST A COLD ROOM.

AND AFTER THAT HAS CHANGE THAT HAS [INAUDIBLE] INSTEAD TO DO THE GREENHOUSE, BECAUSE IT'S WAS ON MY SIDE.

AND THE NEGOTIATION WITH THE CITY WAS IT WAS TOO MUCH FOR ME.

THEN IT'S A POINT.

IT'S NOT THE FACT THAT IT WAS NOT THE COMMERCIAL KITCHEN AT FIRST.

THE COMMERCIAL KITCHEN [INAUDIBLE] AND EVERYTHING AFTER.

I KNOW THAT BECAUSE I HAVE [INAUDIBLE] QUITE A BIT IN 10 YEARS.

YES, BUT THAT'S NOT THE ISSUE.

OK, BUT THE GREENHOUSE THEN.

I MEAN, THE GREENHOUSE FALLS UNDER THOSE SAME BUILDING REQUIREMENTS.

THERE ARE RULES AND REGULATIONS IN CANADA TO BUILDING THESE TYPE OF STRUCTURES, YOU KNOW, I WOULD CERTAINLY AS A COUNCILLOR NOT SUPPORT THAT WE REDUCE THOSE REQUIREMENTS.

I MEAN, IN ANY IN FACT, IN THE CITY OF YELLOWKNIFE, ALL WE'VE EVER DONE WITH THE NATIONAL CODES IS WE'VE INCREASED, ESPECIALLY ON THE ENERGY SIDE.

WE'VE SAID, OK, THE NATIONAL BUILDING CODES, THE MINIMUM WE WANT TO SEE MORE SO.

YOU KNOW, ARE YOU SUGGESTING THAT ON THE GREENHOUSES WE SHOULD DO LESS THAN THE NATIONAL CODES REQUIRE OR.

BECAUSE IT'S A GREENHOUSE THE THING IS, IT WAS CONSIDERED AS AN INDUSTRIAL BUILDING.

I THINK IT'S WHERE IT'S FELT IN IN IT'S KIND OF THE HARD PART FOR ME.

IT'S NOT FOR ME.

LIKE WHO AM I, WHO AM I I'M NOT AN ENGINEER OR ANYTHING BUT IN MY HEAD WAS DEFINITELY ASK FOR LESS, FOR LESS AND LESS COMPLICATED TO BUILD THE GREENHOUSE, FOR ME, IT'S LESS THAN AN INDUSTRIAL BUILDING, DEFINITELY.

IT'S WHERE WE WAS HARD TO REACH THE COMMON POINT.

I DIDN'T HAVE A CHOICE.

I HAD TO DO THAT AND SAID, OK, BUT I CAN'T, THEN I HAVE TO CHANGE IT AND REMOVE ALL THE EQUIPMENT THAT WAS SUPPOSED TO BE THERE TO CHANGE THE AIR AND TO REMOVE THE HUMIDITY AND THINGS.

[01:05:02]

IT WAS LIKE, OK, NO, I CAN'T, I CAN'T.

I HAVE TO BACK OFF.

AND I BACK OFF.

BUT LIKE I SAID, I THINK, YOU KNOW, YOU CAN GO I THINK YOU COULD CONFIRM OR BUT YOU WORK ON THIS SPECIFIC PROJECT.

YOU HAVE A GREENHOUSE MODEL, THEN YOU WORK ON THAT.

AND I JUST HOPE THAT IT WILL NOT BE THAT COMPLICATED, IT WILL BE EASIER FOR ANYONE COMING AND JUST [INAUDIBLE].

I HAVE THIS PROJECT HOW I'M DOING THAT.

AND COST WISE, THAT IS ACCESSIBLE ALSO BECAUSE AND I WILL REPEAT MYSELF THE MONEY FROM VEGGIES IS NOT EASY.

OK, SO.

LIKE YOUR GREENHOUSE THAT YOU ARE PROPOSING, THAT WAS GOING TO BE A COMMERCIAL GREENHOUSE, IS THAT CORRECT? EXACTLY.

AND WOULD YOU AGREE THAT A COMMERCIAL GREENHOUSE IS NOT THE SAME AS THE GREENHOUSE THAT I PUT IN MY BACKYARD? YEAH, YEAH, OBVIOUSLY.

OBVIOUSLY, BECAUSE WE NEED TO EXPECT SOME STUFF, SOME LIMIT, BUT STILL THE ACCESS HAS TO BE EASIER.

I DON'T WANT TO SAY NOT SAFE.

I JUST MEAN.

YOU HAVE STANDARD, AND I'M NOT A PROFESSIONAL AGAIN, IN THAT, BUT MY EXPERIENCE IN MY HANDS, IT COULD DEFINITELY BE LOWER LIKE.

I COULD TALK ABOUT THAT QUITE A BIT, BUT I CAN'T LIKE ANSWER SPECIFICALLY ALL OF YOUR QUESTION WILL BE A PLEASURE TO SIT DOWN AND I CAN SHOW YOU THE WORK THAT WE DID WITH THE CITY [INAUDIBLE].

IT WAS DEFINITELY AN ISSUE.

AND JUST TO INTERJECT, ONE OF THE RECOMMENDATIONS, AGAIN, ONE OF THE ACTIONS IS TO DEVELOP AND INTEGRATE COMMERCIAL GREENHOUSE AND ENCLOSED GROWING SYSTEM DESIGN GUIDELINES TO REGULATE LOCATION AND SIZE OF STRUCTURES.

SO, AGAIN, THE STAFF HAVE HEARD THE CONCERNS FROM THE COMMUNITY AND WILL BE WORKING GOING FORWARD TO ADDRESS THAT BY IMPLEMENTING THIS ACTION.

YOU TALKED ALSO ABOUT TAXES AND I MEAN THE WATER, I AGREE WE NEED TO DO SOMETHING ABOUT THE WATER AND CITY HALL HAS BEEN WORKING ON THAT FOR OVER A YEAR, TRYING TO COME UP WITH A BETTER SOLUTION ON HOW WE CHARGE FOR WATER, NOT JUST FOR AGRICULTURE, BUT FOR ALL INDUSTRIES.

WELL, YOU TALKED ABOUT THE TAX RATE.

DOES ADMIN HAVE AT THEIR FINGERTIPS WHAT THE YOU HAVE LAND THAT IS UNDER THE AGRICULTURE, WHAT THE TAX RATE FOR THAT LAND IS? IT JUST YEAH.

SORRY, I'VE GOT THE 2020 MILL RATES FOR AGRICULTURE IS 5.45.

FOR COMMERCIAL INDUSTRIAL.

IT'S TWELVE POINT ONE NINE AND RESIDENTIAL IS 5.39.

COMPARED TO OTHER COMMERCIAL ENTERPRISES, WHICH IS WHAT BOTH YOURSELF AND KYLE ARE JUST TALKING ABOUT, YOU'RE RECEIVING ALREADY A 50 PERCENT TAX BREAK COMPARED TO OTHER INDUSTRIES.

SO I MEAN ALREADY.

ARE YOU SUGGESTING THAT THERE SHOULD BE MORE OF A TAX BREAK OR WHAT ARE YOU SUGGESTING OR HOPING FOR? ETIENNE.

THANK YOU AND KYLE YOU COULD ALSO SAY SOMETHING, IF YOU WANT.

ON MY SIDE, I'M NOT LOOKING TO BUY BECAUSE THE MONEY IS WHAT I'M LOOKING IT'S TO LEASE, BUT ARE AT A REASONABLE PRICE.

AND IT'S WHAT I'M SEEKING FOR.

AND I'M SURE I'M NOT THE ONLY ONE.

I'M SPEAKING MORE ABOUT THOSE GROWER THAT DO NOT HAVE THE LAND AND THEY NOT HAVE THE MONEY TO BUY ONE, BUT THEY ARE DEFINITELY THE NETWORK AND COLLEAGUES OR AND GROUP TO WHO WOULD LIKE TO RENT A SPACE TO DO A GROWING PROJECT.

IT'S WHAT [INAUDIBLE] AND THE REASONABLE PRICE DEFINITELY THAT WILL INCLUDE THE DEFINITELY THE TAX THAT YOU MENTIONED [INAUDIBLE].

OK, YEAH, I MEAN, THE REASONABLE PRICE IS ALWAYS INTERESTING.

I SPEND A LOT OF TIME LOOKING AT REAL ESTATE IN NOT ONLY YELLOWKNIFE BUT ALL OVER THE COUNTRY.

IT'S ESPECIALLY INTERESTING RIGHT NOW.

AND I WOULD SAY THAT LAND IN YELLOWKNIFE IS ACTUALLY REASONABLE COMPARED TO LAND IN A LOT OF PLACES, YOU KNOW, WHERE WE HAVE A MAJOR CENTER THAT IS SERVICED, OUR LAND IS ACTUALLY FAIRLY INEXPENSIVE.

ANYWAY I'LL TALK ABOUT THAT WHEN WE GET TO THE WHEN WE START TALKING WITH THE ADMINISTRATION AND DISCUSSING THESE RECOMMENDATIONS.

THANK YOU ETIENNE.

ANY OTHER QUESTIONS FROM COUNCILLORS? I DID HAVE ONE AND I FORGOT TO ASK KYLE, BUT I CAN ASK YOU ETIENNE.

BUT THE GNWT IS WORKING ON THEY'RE CALLING IT THE RED TAPE PRODUCTION WORKING

[01:10:02]

GROUP.

AND ONE OF THE THINGS I'VE HEARD A LOT FROM GROWERS AND FOOD IS THE CHALLENGES WITH ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH.

AND AGAIN, A LOT LIKE THE CITY.

THIS IS A NEW BUSINESS OR A NEWER AREA.

AND SO THEY'RE KIND OF CATCHING UP ON REGULATIONS AND LOOKING AT EACH ONE CASE BY CASE AS OPPOSED TO HAVING THOSE STANDARD ONES THAT PEOPLE WILL KNOW WHAT THEY'RE GETTING INTO BEFORE.

HAVE YOU OR YOUR TERRITORIAL ORGANIZATION BEEN IN TOUCH WITH THE GNWT TO FLAG TO THEM THAT YOU WOULD LIKE TO WORK WITH THEM ON THIS RED TAPE PRODUCTION IN FOOD AND AGRICULTURE? ON MY SIDE WILL BE AND ASSET IN HAVING HEARD ABOUT THE RED TAPE PROJECT.

MAYBE KYLE [INAUDIBLE] YET TO ADDRESS ANYTHING WITH THE [INAUDIBLE] BECAUSE I WORK WITH ITI ON MANY, MANY DIFFERENT LEVEL WITH MY BUSINESS AND THEY SUPPORT ME A LOT.

AND DEFINITELY MAYBE I MISSED AN EMAIL.

I'M SORRY REBECCA.

BUT.

I DON'T KNOW.

IT'S NOT CLEAR ON HOW THEY SELECTED PEOPLE TO SIT ON IT.

AND IT'S SOUNDS LIKE THEY'RE KIND OF STILL WORKING THROUGH THEIR PROCESS.

SO WE JUST RECOMMEND THAT YOU REACH OUT TO THE MINISTER OF FINANCE MINISTER WAWZONEK IS THE DEPARTMENT WHO'S LEADING IT? AND I THINK THERE'S A LOT OF WORK IN THE FOOD AND AGRICULTURE THAT NEEDS.

AGAIN, IT'S KIND OF A NEWER INDUSTRY TO THE NORTH.

AND I'VE HEARD OF, YOU KNOW, ONE BUSINESS THAT HAD TO GET THEIR RECIPES APPROVED BY ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH OFFICERS EVERY WEEK.

AND THAT JUST SOUNDS LIKE A LOT OF WORK FOR THE BUSINESS AS WELL AS OUR [INAUDIBLE] HEALTH OFFICERS.

SO ANYTHING THAT CAN BE DONE.

SO TO FLAG YOUR INDUSTRY'S DESIRE TO WORK WITH THEM, I THINK WOULD BE A GOOD STEP.

THANK YOU FOR COMING TODAY.

THANK YOU TO ALL OF YOU.

NO PROBLEM.

ANY FURTHER QUESTIONS FOR THE PRESENTER? SEEING NONE, THANK YOU AGAIN ETIENNE AND KYLE FOR COMING AND SPEAKING TODAY, WITH THAT, I WILL OPEN IT UP TO QUESTIONS AND COMMENTS FROM COUNCIL ON THE IMPLEMENTATION PLAN.

COULD WE GET JUST A QUICK UPDATE ON WHERE WE ARE AT WITH OUR WATER RATES? I KNOW THAT ONE HAS BEEN KIND OF ONGOING FOR A WHILE.

MS. [INAUDIBLE].

THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR THE QUESTION AND YES, THIS IS A REALLY IMPORTANT ISSUE, WE'VE HAD THIS ON OUR WORKPLAN IN TWENTY TWENTY.

WE KNOW WHAT HAPPENED TO TWENTY TWENTY.

IT IS ON OUR WORK PLAN BETWEEN CORPORATE SERVICES AND PUBLIC WORKS AND ENGINEERING TO HAVE THIS WORK DONE BY THE END OF 2021.

ONE, HOW I GUESS MY QUESTION IS, WHAT IS THE PROCESS FOR SOMEBODY WHO EITHER OWNS OR LEASES PROPERTY TO GET THAT PROPERTY CHANGED FROM EITHER COMMERCIAL? I MEAN, WE ARE TALKING ABOUT COMMERCIAL ENTERPRISES TO AGRICULTURE.

KATE.

ON THE TAX SUBSIDY.

HOW WILL THAT PROCESS WORK FOR SOMEBODY? MS. BASSI-KELLETT.

I WILL ASK MR. LITTLEFAIR IF HE COULD SPEAK TO THE CHANGE OF USE FOR A PROPERTY, I'M ASSUMING THAT'S THE QUESTION THAT COUNCIL.

NOT JUST THE CHANGE OF USE, BUT ALSO LIKE I DON'T BELIEVE THAT THE CHANGE OF USE AUTOMATICALLY REFLECTS THE TAX CLASSIFICATION.

THANK YOU, I'LL ASK MR. LITTLEFAIR TO SPEAK TO THE USE AND THEN HOW WE DETERMINE WHICH LAND IS WHAT IF IT'S A FOR EXAMPLE, IF IT WERE A PIECE OF LAND IN KAM LAKE WHERE SOMEBODY DECIDED TO RENT OUT A PORTION OF THEIR LAND TO A FARMER TO BE ABLE TO GROW THINGS, HOW THAT WOULD CHANGE? WE NEED TO COME BACK WITH THAT I'LL SEE IF WE HAVE ANY THOUGHTS ON THAT.

BUT IN THE MEANTIME, I WILL SEE IF MR. LITTLEFAIR WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK TO THE USE.

WAS A PROPERTY BEING ASSESSED FOR TAX PURPOSES AS INDUSTRIAL OR COMMERCIAL, AND THEN IT GETS SOLD.

SOMEBODY ELSE IS NOW GOING TO USE IT FOR AGRICULTURE, HOW THEIR TAX RATE WOULD CHANGE FROM COMMERCIAL TO AGRICULTURE.

[01:15:01]

NO.

THE PROCESS ON HOW THAT ACTUALLY HAPPENS, LIKE WHAT DO YOU KNOW, KYLE, FOR EXAMPLE, KYLE BOUGHT PROPERTY, THAT PROPERTY, I KNOW FOR SURE, WAS INDUSTRIAL PROPERTY BEFORE KYLE BOUGHT IT.

THAT PROPERTY ACTUALLY HAD ABOUT FIVE THOUSAND SQUARE FEET OF GARDENS ON IT THAT I MEAN, FOR FULL DISCLOSURE, KYLE BOUGHT THAT PROPERTY OFF OF ME, I WAS RENTING FIVE THOUSAND SQUARE FEET OF THAT PROPERTY TO I'M HORRIBLE WITH NAMES.

YOU KNOW, I WENT TO THE CITY AND SAID, OK, IT'S A SMALL PORTION OF THE LAND, WHAT DO WE NEED TO DO? IT WAS DETERMINED THAT WE DIDN'T NEED TO DO ANYTHING.

IT WASN'T A BIG ENOUGH CHANGE.

BUT NOW, KYLE AND MARIE, THEY'RE GOING TO DO SOMETHING THAT'S MUCH BIGGER, SO WHAT PROCESS DO THEY ACTUALLY HAVE TO GO THROUGH? AN ETIENNE HE SAID HE'S LEASING FROM SOMEBODY.

WHAT PROCESS DO THE LANDOWNERS HAVE TO GO THROUGH TO GET THEIR PROPERTY CHANGED FROM INDUSTRIAL TO AGRICULTURE? BECAUSE IT'S A 50 PERCENT TAX BREAK? YEAH, JUST LOOKING FOR YOU'RE LOOKING FOR A TAX ASSESSMENT CHANGES.

YES.

I'LL ASK MS. WOODWARD IF SHE WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK TO THIS.

THANK YOU FOR THE QUESTION, THE ASSESSMENT REGULATIONS THAT WE OPERATE UNDER REQUIRE THE ASSESSOR TO DETERMINE PROPERTY COSTS FOR TAX PURPOSES BASED ON THE PRIMARY USE OF THAT PROPERTY.

NORMALLY, AS PART OF THE REGULAR ROUTINES, THE ASSESSOR WILL MONITOR LAND SALES PERMITTING, DO DRIVE AROUNDS JUST TO SEE WHAT IS HAPPENING WITH PROPERTIES, NOT ONLY FOR THE USE, BUT OTHER INDICATIONS.

SO HE TRIES TO BE PROACTIVE ON SOME OF THESE CHANGES.

OTHERWISE, IF THERE HAS BEEN A MAJOR CHANGE THAT ISN'T TRIGGERED THROUGH EITHER OF THESE FUNNELS OF INFORMATION, WE CAN CERTAINLY LOOK AT A PRIMARY USE CHANGE.

IF THE OWNER OF THE PROPERTY COMES FORWARD AND SAYS, HEY LOOK, I THINK WE MIGHT BE IN LOOKING AT SOME DIFFERENT USE HERE, AND THEN IT WOULD BE UP TO THE ASSESSOR TO LOOK AT THAT PRIMARY USE AND DETERMINE IF A NEW PROPERTY CLASS ASSIGNMENT IS REQUIRED.

SO DO WE HAVE ANY GUIDELINES FOR PEOPLE TO DETERMINE THEMSELVES WHETHER OR NOT THEY WILL QUALIFY LIKE.

DOES 50 PERCENT OF THE LAND NEED TO BE USED FOR AGRICULTURE? DOES 50 PERCENT OF THE BUILDING NEED TO BE USED FOR AGRICULTURE? IS 20 PERCENT ENOUGH? DO WE HAVE THOSE NUMBERS OR LIKE HOW IS THE ASSESSOR MAKING THESE DETERMINATIONS? MS. BASSI-KELLETT.

MS. WOODWARD.

THE REGULATIONS STATE THE MAJORITY OR MAIN USE.

SO 50 PERCENT OR OVER OF THE LAND SPACE, THAT UTILIZATION DETERMINES THE CLASSIFICATION FOR PROPERTY TAXATION PURPOSES.

OK, SO, I MEAN, I THINK, YOU KNOW, WHEN WE LOOK AT AND AGAIN, I'VE BEEN TRAVELING, SO I SPENT LIKE AN HOUR AND A HALF THIS MORNING READING OUR PACKAGE AND DIDN'T GET INTO IT AS DEEPLY AS WHAT I COULD HAVE OR SHOULD HAVE.

MY APOLOGIES SO SOME OF MY QUESTIONS MIGHT ACTUALLY HAVE ALREADY BEEN ANSWERED IN THE DOCUMENT.

BUT, YOU KNOW, WE'RE GOING TO.

LIKE THE TAX ONE, THAT'S REALLY AN INFORMATION PAMPHLET THAT NEEDS TO BE PUT OUT THERE, IF YOU ARE GOING TO START AN AGRICULTURAL BUSINESS, THESE ARE THE THINGS THAT YOU CAN DO, SHOULD KNOW OR WHATEVER.

AND I BELIEVE THAT IS OUR PLAN IS TO PUT MORE INFORMATION OUT THERE.

WILL THE TAX ASSESSMENT BE INCLUDED IN THAT INFORMATION PACKAGE TO POTENTIAL FARMERS? BUT ONE OF THE THINGS SO ONE OF THE ACTIONS IS TO INCENTIVIZE NEW FOOD AND AGRICULTURE BUSINESS AND THE RECOMMENDATION IS TO RESEARCH OTHER JURISDICTIONS AND PREPARE SOME OPTIONS.

SO IN REGARDS TO THE LAND ADMINISTRATION, IN REGARDS TO THE BUSINESS LICENSE, SO PERHAPS IT'LL SAY RESEARCH SHOWS THE CITY'S DONE GREAT WORK AND ALL YOU HAVE TO DO IS COMMUNICATE BETTER OR PERHAPS IT'LL SAY, YOU KNOW, X, Y AND ZED BEING PROPOSED FOR TAX OR FOR THE LAND ADMINISTRATION IN REGARDS TO LEASING.

SO IT'S NOT NECESSARILY SAYING THAT THERE SHOULD BE DISCOUNTS FOR TAXES OR ANYTHING LIKE THAT.

IT'S ABOUT RESEARCHING STUFF.

THANKS VERY MUCH, MADAM CHAIR.

WE'VE GOT A LOT OF WORK TO DO UNDER THE ENTIRE IMPLEMENTATION PLAN TO LOOK

[01:20:04]

AT THE WAYS THAT WE CAN WORK TO VIABLY INCENTIVIZE AGRICULTURE AND TO MAKE IT SOMETHING THAT'S MORE APPROACHABLE AND MORE VIABLE OVERALL.

AND THAT'S CERTAINLY A VERY IMPORTANT PART OF IT.

SO WE DO WANT TO LOOK AT AREAS THAT ARE PERHAPS A LITTLE BIT MORE ADVANCED THAN WE ARE.

I THINK AGRICULTURE IS SOMETHING THAT IS CERTAINLY BEEN BUILDING MOMENTUM IN YELLOWKNIFE OVER THE LAST FEW YEARS.

SO WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE CAN LEARN FROM WHAT'S HAPPENED ELSEWHERE AND APPLY THAT IN A WAY THAT'S GOING TO REALLY WORK FOR OURSELVES AND FOR THE PEOPLE THAT WANT TO EXPAND THEIR ROLE AS AGRICULTURAL PRODUCERS.

YEAH, I MEAN, I AGREE EVERYBODY HAS TO EAT.

I MEAN, THAT'S PRETTY IMPORTANT.

BUT THEN WE COME TO MY NEXT COMMENT, I GUESS, IS EVERYBODY NEEDS A ROOF OVER THEIR HEAD, TOO, SO.

YOU KNOW, HOW COME BUILDERS AREN'T GETTING A 50 PERCENT TAX SUBSIDATION AND A WHOLE SLEW OF INCENTIVES, BECAUSE THAT IS A QUESTION THAT IS GOING TO BE ASKED OF ME, ALMOST FOR SURE.

SO HOW YOU KNOW, HOW DO WE.

HOW DO WE ENSURE THAT THE SUPPORT FOR A VERY SPECIFIC INDUSTRY IS REASONABLE BECAUSE I'M HERE TO SAY THAT ANY BUSINESS IN ANY INDUSTRY REQUIRES A LOT OF TIME, FINANCIAL RESOURCES, STRESS, HEADACHES, EVERYTHING, TO BE IN BUSINESS FOR YOURSELF IS NOT EASY.

AND YOU KNOW, HERE WE'RE SAYING THAT THIS BUSINESS IS REALLY MORE IMPORTANT THAN ANY OTHER BUSINESSES BECAUSE WE'RE GOING TO SUBSIDIZE IT AND MAKE IT EASIER.

SO HOW DO WE AS A CITY SAY, OK, YOU KNOW, WHAT ARE OUR REASONS BEHIND DOING THIS? PHILOSOPHICAL DISCUSSION THAT COUNCIL NEEDS TO HAVE, AND SO ONE OF THE THINGS IS THE DEVELOPMENT INCENTIVE BYLAW.

SO WHAT ARE WE LOOKING TO INCENTIVIZE IN REGARDS TO RIGHT NOW OUR CURRENT PRIORITIES IS TO INCENTIVIZE RESIDENTIAL DEVELOPMENT DOWNTOWN, TRANSFERRING COMMERCIAL BUSINESSES FROM OLD AIRPORT ROAD TO THE ENGLE BUSINESS.

IF COUNCIL DETERMINES THAT AGRICULTURE IS AN IMPORTANT INDUSTRY TO SUBSIDIZE FOR X, Y AND ZED PRINCIPLES FROM AN ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT PERSPECTIVE OR A FOOD SECURITY PERSPECTIVE, THEY WOULD INCENTIVIZE.

SOME PEOPLE ARE OF THE PHILOSOPHY THAT, YOU KNOW, NO INCENTIVES, FREE MARKET SHOULD REIGN.

THEN THEY WOULD VOTE AGAINST ANY INCENTIVES.

BUT IT'S REALLY A PHILOSOPHICAL DISCUSSION I THINK THAT COUNCIL WILL NEED TO HAVE AFTER STAFF COMPLETES SOME RESEARCH ON ON SOME OPTIONS.

ANY OTHER WAYS TO ADDRESS THAT? THANK YOU VERY MUCH, MADAM CHAIR, ABSOLUTELY, AND I THINK WE THE ADMINISTRATION HAS CERTAINLY NOT BEEN SEEING AGRICULTURE AS MORE IMPORTANT THAN OTHER ASPECTS OF OUR ECONOMY.

BUT WHAT WE HAVE BEEN SEEING IS THAT THIS IS A NO PUN INTENDED, A GROWING AREA OF OUR ECONOMY THAT REALLY HAS COME FROM NOT MUCH.

THE SUPPORT THAT THE CITY HAS GIVEN TRULY HAS BEEN AROUND COMMUNITY GARDENS UP UNTIL VERY RECENTLY.

AND SO AS WE SEE A VIABLE ABILITY HERE TO BE ABLE TO PROVIDE SOME SUPPORT, WE DO SEE THAT IT'S WE'RE INCUBATING AND THAT WE'RE GETTING THINGS TO A POINT WHERE THERE THE AGRICULTURAL SECTOR WILL BE VIABLE AND THERE WILL BE EXPECTATIONS ON THAT SECTOR, JUST LIKE EVERY OTHER SECTOR.

WE'LL TRY TO PROVIDE AS MUCH SUPPORT ACROSS THE BOARD AS WE CAN AS IS VIABLE FOR THE CITY TO BE ABLE TO DO.

BUT WE HAVE SOME CATCHING UP TO DO FOR THE AGRICULTURAL SECTOR, AND WE DO NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE PROVIDING THE SUPPORT THERE.

WE THINK ABOUT THINGS LIKE, YOU KNOW, THAT THE CANNABIS GROWING FACILITY OUT IN ENGEL.

THAT'S SOMETHING THAT WE HAD TO DO A LOT OF CATCH UP AND FIGURE OUT TO MAKE THAT VIABLE.

WE SEE THAT THERE'S A LOT OF OTHER AREAS THAT WE'LL NEED TO DO TO BE ABLE TO SUPPORT COMMERCIAL AGRICULTURE AND FOOD PRODUCTION OVERALL.

SO IT'S CATCHING UP.

IT'S NOT TREATING ONE MORE AS BEING MORE SPECIAL THAN ANOTHER.

OK, THANKS FOR THAT.

IF WE APPROVE THIS COMES TO COUNCIL IT PROBABLY GETS APPROVED AT COUNCIL AS WELL.

EVERY ONE OF THESE ITEMS THAT IS IN THIS DOCUMENT, LIKE, I DON'T KNOW, LET ME PICK ONE.

YOU KNOW, IT'S A LOW PRIORITY, THE SUPPORT, SUSTAINABLE GROWTH OF SMALL LIVESTOCK, BEES AND INSECTS IN YELLOWKNIFE.

AFTER ADMINISTRATION SORTS OUT HOW WE'RE GOING TO DO THAT WILL THAT COME BACK TO COUNCIL OR ARE WE JUST GIVING A BLANKET WE LIKE WHAT WE SEE HERE.

[01:25:01]

AND GO AND DO IT AND ALL OF A SUDDEN BECOMES A THING.

A LOT OF THE STUFF IS GOING TO HAVE TO COME BACK TO COUNCIL BECAUSE ITS CHANGES TO THE BYLAWS AND THEREFORE COUNCIL WILL BE WEIGHING IN.

BUT OTHER STUFF, THAT WOULD BE PROCEDURAL STUFF.

SO THAT WOULD JUST BE ADMINISTRATION MAKING CHANGES.

SO WHEN WE HAVE AN IMPLEMENTATION PLAN LIKE THIS, WE ARE WORKING WITHIN THE RESOURCES WE HAVE WITHIN THE ADMINISTRATION TO PROVIDE A MORE REGULAR MEANS OF PROVIDING UPDATES TO COUNCIL.

SO CERTAINLY PARTS OF THIS AS MADAM MAYOR POINTED OUT, WILL NEED TO COME BACK FOR COUNCIL APPROVAL.

OTHER PIECES WE WOULD LIKE TO BE COMING BACK ANNUALLY TO PROVIDE AN INFORMATION ON WHAT THE STATUS IS AND WHAT WE'VE BEEN WORKING TOWARDS AND WHERE WE'RE GOING TO BE DIRECTING FUTURE WORK.

AS WELL OF COURSE, IF THERE'S ANYTHING THAT DOES REQUIRE ADDITIONAL RESOURCES, WE'LL BE PROPOSING THAT THROUGH THE BUDGET PROCESS.

YOU KNOW, I LIKE THE GROWTH STRATEGY WHEN IT CAME, I THINK THAT FOR THE MOST PART, I LIKE WHAT I HAVE READ TODAY ON THIS.

THANKS FOR THAT.

THERE'S CERTAINLY SOME AREAS THAT I THINK THAT YOU KNOW, THAT IT IS QUITE FAVORABLE.

FOR EXAMPLE, THE TAXES, I MEAN, IF YOU CAN GET A 50 PERCENT TAX DECREASE FOR HAVING THIS TYPE OF BUSINESS COMPARED TO OTHERS, THAT IS VERY FAVORABLE, IN MY OPINION.

THE WATER ONE ABSOLUTELY.

THE WAY WE CURRENTLY DO WATER IS RESTRICTIVE ON NOT JUST AGRICULTURE, BUT IT DEFINITELY WOULD BE FOR THEM SPECIFICALLY.

BUT I MEAN, THE BREWPUB HAD ISSUES OTHER BUSINESSES HAVE HAD, IT'S BEEN A HURDLE AND WE NEED TO FIND A WAY TO TO DO THAT A LITTLE BIT MORE REASONABLE.

AND I WILL SAY PART OF THAT IS PROBABLY THAT, YOU KNOW, I DON'T KNOW WHEN IT WAS, BUT AT SOME POINT IN TIME SOMEBODY SAID, YOU KNOW, WE'RE GOING TO CHARGE COMMERCIAL 50 PERCENT OR DOUBLE WHAT WE CHARGE RESIDENTIAL, AND THEN WE'RE GOING TO RAISE IT BY THREE PERCENT EVERY YEAR.

AND AFTER 10 YEARS, ALL OF A SUDDEN, YOU HAVE BUSINESSES PAYING THREE TIMES WHAT RESIDENTIAL PAYS FOR, SOMETHING WHERE SOMEBODY AT ONE POINT SAID IT SHOULD BE, YOU KNOW, A ONE TO TWO RATIO, BUT NOW IT'S A ONE TO THREE JUST BECAUSE OF HOW WE DO THINGS.

SO PERHAPS WE NEED TO DO A RESET ON SOME OF THAT STUFF, THAT KIND OF LET'S EVERYBODY KNOW WHAT I'M ALREADY THINKING FOR OUR [INAUDIBLE] DISCUSSION THAT WILL BE COMING IN THE FUTURE.

BUT I AM SUPPORTIVE OF WHAT WE SEE HERE TODAY.

WE'VE REACHED OUR 90 MINUTE MARK, SO WE WILL TAKE A 10 MINUTE BREAK AND COME BACK AT 1:43 .

JUST TURN YOUR CAMERAS ON THEN.

PERFECT.

OKAY BOOM QUORUM WE'RE HERE.

WITH THAT NEXT ON MY LIST, I HAVE COUNCILLOR WILLIAMS. THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR.

AS I STRUGGLE WITH MY SANDWICH, I JUST HAVE A FIRST QUESTION TO ADMINISTRATION HERE.

[LAUGHTER] IS THE PLAN SUPPORTED CURRENTLY BY THE GNWT? AND CAN YOU HELP ME JUST SORT OF UNDERSTAND WHAT TYPE OF BACK AND FORTH HAPPENED IN THE PREPARATION OF THIS PLAN SPECIFICALLY [INAUDIBLE].

FOR SURE.

I'LL ASK MS. THISTLE TO RESPOND TO THIS.

[INAUDIBLE].

AND WHEN WE ACTUALLY DEVELOPED GROW, WE HAD SOME FUNDING FROM ITI AND AS WELL HEALTH.

SO THEY WERE SUPPORTIVE OF THE CITY OF YELLOWKNIFE DOING THE STRATEGY FROM THE VERY BEGINNING, SPECIFICALLY WITH THE IMPLEMENTATION PLAN.

WE HAVEN'T HAD A DETAILED ENGAGEMENT ON JUST THE AGRICULTURE IMPLEMENTATION STRATEGY.

AS YOU CAN SEE, WE HAVE VARIOUS INITIATIVES GOING ON.

FOR EXAMPLE, THE FOOD HUB, COMMUNITY FOOD HUB, WEBINARS, THINGS OF THAT NATURE.

WE'RE IN CONSTANT CONTACT AND WE HAVE A WORKING GROUP WITH CHRIS JOHNSON FROM ITI WHERE WE TALKED ABOUT MANY DIFFERENT INITIATIVES, ONE OF WHICH IS THE AGRICULTURE STRATEGY, IMPLEMENTATION AND THINGS LIKE COMMUNITY FOOD HUB.

AS YOU CAN SEE IN THE IMPLEMENTATION PLAN, WE HAVE HAD DISCUSSIONS WITH ITI AND ARE WHERE THINGS THAT THEY WOULD LIKE TO DO WITH RESPECT TO FISHERIES.

SO THERE IS GENERALLY SUPPORT FROM THE GOVERNMENT TO THE NORTHWEST TERRITORIES DEPARTMENT OF ITI IN DIFFERENT WAYS WITH RESPECT TO OUR STRATEGY.

AND DEFINITELY WE WILL ENGAGE WITH THEM AS NECESSARY THROUGHOUT THE PROCESS.

SO AS HAS BEEN REFERENCED BY SOME OF THE COUPLE OF SPEAKERS THIS MORNING, THIS AFTERNOON, I GUESS KYLE AND ETIENNE, SOMETIMES THEY GET CAUGHT UP IN THAT QUAGMIRE OF MUNICIPAL AND TERRITORIAL LEGISLATION.

AND WE'VE HEARD KYLE SAY WE SHOULD MAKE SURE IT'S OK WITH ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH

[01:30:01]

OFFICER.

ALL THOSE THINGS HAVE BEEN FLAGGED INTERNALLY BY US.

SO THOSE KINDS OF DISCUSSIONS WILL ALSO HAPPEN THROUGHOUT THIS IMPLEMENTATION PLAN.

FOR EXAMPLE, RIGHT NOW, IF A KID SELLS LEMONADE AT THE END OF THEIR DRIVEWAY, TECHNICALLY THEY WOULD NEED A BUSINESS LICENSE BYLAW.

THOSE KINDS OF THINGS NEED TO BE REVIEWED AND AMENDED.

I CAN'T TELL YOU TODAY WHAT THE ANSWER IS TO THOSE KINDS OF AMENDMENTS.

AS PROBABLY EVERYONE HAS SEEN.

IF YOU'RE IN QUEBEC OR ONTARIO, OFTEN YOU SEE PEOPLE SELLING FRUIT OR BERRIES AT THE END OF THEIR DRIVEWAYS OR ON THE SIDE OF THE HIGHWAY, WHICH IS REALLY YOUR FARM GATE KIND OF SALES.

WE ALSO DON'T HAVE ANYWHERE IN OUR BYLAW THAT REALLY MAKES THAT AMENABLE OR EASY TO DO.

YOU'D HAVE TO GO THROUGH THE SAME BUSINESS LICENSE PROCESS AS A BIG BUSINESS SETTING UP IN DOWNTOWN YELLOWKNIFE.

SO WE NEED TO LOOK AT HOW WE CAN FACILITATE THOSE KINDS OF SALES BY STILL BEING FAIR TO ALL BUSINESSES IN THE CITY.

AND SOME OF THOSE DISCUSSIONS WILL NATURALLY INVOLVE THE GOVERNMENT TO THE NORTHWEST TERRITORIES, BECAUSE, AS HAS BEEN POINTED OUT, THEY REGULATE OTHER PARTS OF THESE TYPES OF SALES BECAUSE THEY ARE RELATED TO FOOD.

AND WE NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT EVERYTHING IS SAFE FOR RESIDENTS.

SO THAT'S WHY THERE IS QUITE A BIT OF OVERLAP.

AND THAT'S SOME OF THE REASON WHY THIS WILL TAKE QUITE A BIT OF TIME TO IMPLEMENT SOME OF THESE INITIATIVES, BECAUSE IT'S NOT AS SIMPLE AS JUST THE CITY MAKING A BYLAW CHANGE.

IT'S MAKING SURE ALL THE PROCESSES FLOW TOGETHER SO THAT PEOPLE AREN'T BUTTING UP AGAINST PROBLEMS THROUGHOUT THE ENTIRE PROCESS.

YEAH, I GUESS THAT WAS KIND OF MY POINT.

AND THANK YOU FOR THAT ANSWER THAT CAPTURES IT QUITE WELL.

IT'S THAT ASPECT OF ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH THAT I THINK IS NOTICEABLY ABSENT IN A LOT OF THESE CONVERSATIONS.

WE CERTAINLY ENGAGE WITH [INAUDIBLE] DISCUSSION OF ITI AND ITI IS THE RAH LET'S GO GET THEM DEPARTMENT.

BUT THEN THERE'S THE REALITY OF PUBLIC HEALTH AND SAFETY.

AND WHEN THAT'S NOT PART OF THIS EQUATION, WE COULD HAVE ALL THESE GREAT PLANS.

BUT AT THE END OF THE DAY, IF, YOU KNOW, GATE SALES ARE JUST SIMPLY NOT ALLOWED BECAUSE OF HEALTH REGULATIONS, THAT THERE'S THAT.

SO I GUESS I JUST NOTICED THAT THERE WAS A LACK OF, I GUESS, SPECIFIC CALLOUT FOR HEALTH AND SOCIAL WELL I GUESS HEALTH IN THAT ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH.

SO COULD YOU JUST SPEAK TO ME A LITTLE BIT MORE ABOUT THE ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH STRATEGY AND HOW, YOU KNOW, IF THIS GETS PROPOSED OR APPROVED, WHAT DOES IT LOOK LIKE WITH THE ADMINISTRATION ENGAGING AND INTERACTING WITH THIS PLAN IN HAND WITH ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH? MS. BASSI-KELLETT.

THEY'RE ABSOLUTELY A KEY PARTNER TO US AND THEY HAVE BEEN QUITE FOCUSED ON OTHER THINGS IN 2020, BUT CERTAINLY WE DO WANT TO BRING THEM TO THE TABLE ON THE RANGE OF THINGS WHERE THEY WOULD HAVE A ROLE TO PLAY IN OUR IMPLEMENTATION PLAN.

MS. THISTLE.

WE'LL DEFINITELY CONNECT ON IT AS AND WHEN REQUIRED BASIS WITH ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH.

WE DO RECOGNIZE THAT THEY'RE QUITE TIED UP WITH OTHER ISSUES AT THE MOMENT AND PROBABLY FOR THE NEAR FUTURE.

BUT THE FIRST STEP IS WHY WE'VE INDICATED RESEARCH AND WE REALLY NEED TO DO RESEARCH AND REVIEW OF WHAT WORKS AND HAPPENS IN OTHER PLACES SO THAT WHEN WE DO ENGAGE IN THOSE DISCUSSIONS, WE'RE WELL PREPARED SO WE CAN SPEAK TO THIS IS WHAT'S DONE IN OTHER CITIES.

THIS IS WHAT THEIR ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH REGULATIONS SAY OR DON'T SAY.

AND CAN WE WORK TOGETHER TO MAKE THINGS HAPPEN? IT MIGHT BE THAT WE DON'T COME UP WITH THE GREAT EASIEST SOLUTION OR THE SOLUTION PRODUCERS WANT TO HEAR.

BUT WE REALLY NEED TO START WITH THAT RESEARCH FIRST AND THEN ENGAGE IN THOSE DISCUSSIONS.

SO WE AREN'T JUST GOING INTO THEM BLIND AND THAT WE ACTUALLY HAVE SOME SOLUTIONS TO PROVIDE OR SUGGEST.

ANOTHER EXAMPLE IS THERE'S A RECOMMENDATION IN HERE WITH RESPECT TO BRANDING.

WELL, THE REASON WE'VE DELAYED SOME OF THAT WORK IS BECAUSE WE SAID, WELL, WE CAN'T REALLY DEVELOP A BRAND AND SAY HERE'S A BRAND IF YOU'RE PRODUCING, SAY, JAM IN YELLOWKNIFE, BECAUSE WE NEED TO START AT THE OTHER END, BECAUSE WHAT IF WE PRODUCE A BRAND? BUT PEOPLE CAN'T GET THROUGH THE ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH RULES AND CITY RULES TO EVEN LEGITIMATELY PUT A STICKER ON JAM THAT SAYS MADE IN YELLOWKNIFE.

SO SOMETHING THAT SOUNDS REALLY EASY AND EXCITING TO DO HAS A LOT OF STEPS BEFORE IT TO MAKE IT COME TO FRUITION.

SO WE'RE NOT READY TO DO THOSE STICKERS YET.

AND THAT'S WHY WE'RE GOING TO START AT THE REVIEW AND RESEARCH SIDE AND THEN PROCEED DOWN THE KIND OF CONTINUUM AS WE CAN.

AND THAT'S GOING TO INVOLVE DISCUSSIONS AT DIFFERENT TIMES WITH DIFFERENT DEPARTMENTS WITHIN THE CITY AND WITHIN DIFFERENT DEPARTMENTS OF THE GOVERNMENT TO THE NORTHWEST TERRITORIES.

GREAT.

THAT'S EXACTLY THE ANSWER I WAS HOPING TO HEAR.

YOU KNOW, I GUESS ONE OF THE HESITATIONS THAT I HAVE IS, IS THAT, YOU KNOW, WE'VE

[01:35:01]

HEARD A COUPLE OF TIMES THAT THEY ARE BUSY AND YES, I'M SURE THAT'S THE CASE.

YOU KNOW, I JUST DIDN'T WANT TO PUT A CART IN FRONT OF A HORSE OR ANYTHING ALONG THOSE LINES WHEN IT COMES TO THIS PARTICULAR STRATEGY.

AND SINCE THERE'S SO MUCH INFLUENCE BY HEALTH THERE THAT I KNOW THAT ZONING BYLAWS ARE GOING TO BE COMING UP AND SOME CERTAIN ZONING BYLAW CHANGES MAY HAPPEN BEFORE THE GNWT HAS THE ABILITY TO PUT THE CARE AND ATTENTION TO THIS.

SO I'M JUST GOING TO, I GUESS, HOPING THAT THERE'LL BE REASONABILITY AND THAT THERE'S NOT RESOURCES EXPENDED ON THINGS THAT DON'T HAVE A HIGH INDICATION OF SUCCESS FOR THE END USER.

SO NOW BUT THAT'S NOT REALLY A QUESTION.

I DO HAVE SOME SPECIFIC QUESTIONS ON THE NITTY GRITTY INDIVIDUAL ACTIONS.

AND I GUESS MAYBE THAT'S A QUESTION TO MADAM CHAIR IS HOW DO YOU WANT TO APPROACH THESE? ARE YOU HOPING MORE FOR A DEBATE ON SOME OF THE QUESTIONABLE ONES NOW AND THEN, MAYBE MOTIONS AS THEY COME WHEN IT COMES BEFORE COUNCIL? HOW WOULD YOU LIKE TO PROCEED THERE, MADAM CHAIR? IF THERE IS SOMETHING IN THE IMPLEMENTATION PLAN THAT YOU FEEL IS A BIG RED FLAG, I WOULDN'T SUPPORT THIS BECAUSE I'M NOT GOING TO SUPPORT IT WHEN IT COMES TO COUNCIL.

BY ALL MEANS, WE DON'T WANT TO STAFF PUTTING A BUNCH OF ENERGY IN IT AND THEN ALL OF COUNCIL VOTING THAT DOWN.

SO, YEAH, IF THERE'S SOMETHING IN HERE THAT'S A BIG RED FLAG.

A BIG RED FLAG IS A BIT EXTREME FROM WHERE I'M THINKING OF CERTAIN THINGS THAT THERE ARE A COUPLE OF AREAS THAT I THINK THAT ARE MAYBE A LITTLE NICE TO HAVES AND NOT NECESSARILY THE REQUIREMENTS.

BUT I'LL GO THROUGH A COUPLE OF THOSE AND JUST BRING THEM UP, YOU KNOW WHETHER OR NOT THEY TURN INTO SOME A MOTION WHEN IT COMES BEFORE COUNCIL THAT THAT NAME NEED HAPPEN.

MY FIRST COMMENT WAS KIND OF ABOUT 5.1 AND 5.2.

AND I GUESS MAYBE I'LL PHRASE THAT AS A QUESTION FIRST.

DO YOU SEE THIS GOING IN ORDER OR CAN THIS IMPLEMENTATION PLAN TAKE ANY FORM? AND CAN ANY INDIVIDUAL NUMBER GO BEFORE THE OTHER NUMBERS OR HOW IS THE ADMINISTRATION APPROACHING THE IMPLEMENTATION PLAN? YEAH, I THINK THE OBJECTIVE SO ONE TO FIVE ISN'T NECESSARILY AN ORDER.

THAT'S ABSOLUTELY CORRECT, AND THANKS FOR FLAGGING THAT, COUNCILLOR WILLIAMS. SO THE OBJECTIVES THAT ARE SHADED IN SORT OF A LIGHT BLUE [INAUDIBLE] IN RED, HIGH PRIORITY, MEDIUM OR LOW PRIORITY, THAT COMES DIRECTLY FROM GROW ITSELF, THOSE RATINGS.

AND SO AS WE'VE BEEN LOOKING AT THE ISSUES AND WITHIN OUR CONTEXT, HOW WE LOOK AT ROLLING THINGS OUT, WE'VE CERTAINLY SPENT TIME INTERNALLY WITHIN ADMINISTRATION AND WITH OUR PARTNERS IN LOOKING AT WHAT'S REALLY VIABLE AND FEASIBLE AND MOST PRACTICAL ON THE GROUND FOR US.

THE START DATE, OF COURSE, IS VERY IMPORTANT IN THAT TO INDICATE IF WE'RE ABLE TO GET TO SOMETHING RIGHT AWAY OR IF WE HAVE TO WAIT TILL, FOR EXAMPLE, IN THE BRANDING, WE'RE NOT GOING TO DO THAT UNTIL 2022.

BUT THERE'S MANY OTHER THINGS THAT WE HAVE STARTED ALREADY OR PROPOSED TO START IN 2021 THAT ARE OUTLINED THERE IN THE START DATE AREA.

MS. THISTLE ANYTHING TO ADD.

NO, THE NUMBERS DON'T INDICATE ANY ORDER OF PRIORITY, IT'S JUST FOR EASE OF LISTING.

AND REALLY 5.1 COMES FROM DON'T MAKE A WHOLE BUNCH OF DECISIONS ABOUT AGRICULTURE WITHOUT INVOLVING THE PEOPLE WHO ACTUALLY DEAL WITH AGRICULTURE.

AND SO THAT ONE IS IMPORTANT BECAUSE YOU OFTEN HEAR THAT, RIGHT? DON'T MAKE DECISIONS ABOUT US WITHOUT INFORMATION ABOUT WHAT WE ACTUALLY NEED OR WANT.

SO THAT'S WHY THAT ONE WAS A HIGH PRIORITY AND GROW AND STATED THE PRIORITY THROUGHOUT.

YEAH, THAT WAS ACTUALLY ONE OF MY THINGS WAS IS THAT I KIND OF ONCE I GOT TO FIVE, I WAS GETTING ALL OF THAT PARTNERSHIP STUFF THAT I WAS REALLY LOOKING FOR AND SORT OF ONE THROUGH FOUR AND THE ACTUAL GOVERNMENT TO GOVERNMENT RELATIONS THAT I THINK IT'S GOING TO NEED.

SO, YES, TOTAL SUPPORT IF I WOULD, I GUESS WHAT I'LL DO IS I'LL MAYBE GET DOWN TO TWO TOP OFFENDING UNITS THAT I'M NOT NECESSARILY SUPER RAH RAH ABOUT, BUT ALSO CERTAINLY NOT A HILL TO DIE ON WHEN IT COMES TO THIS PARTICULAR STRATEGY, WHICH I THINK IS QUITE EXCELLENT.

THE 1.2.4.

SORRY, I'M JUST TRYING TO KIND OF SCROLL TO IT RIGHT NOW, COLLABORATE WITH COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS TO BUILD CAPACITY AROUND URBAN.

SO I GUESS IT WAS THE SUB POINT, THE SUPPORT OPPORTUNITIES TO OFFER WORKSHOPS ON HEN AND BEEKEEPING, BUILDING APPROPRIATE SHELTERS AND BEST PRACTICES WITH, YOU

[01:40:03]

KNOW, AGAIN, THIS GETS TO SORT OF THE NUTS AND BOLTS OF A VERY SPECIFIC ASPECT OF A SINGLE LIKE BEEKEEPING IS HONEY, WHICH IS PART OF A VERY ONE ITEM IN ONE PART OF AGRICULTURE STRATEGY.

AND TO SPECIFICALLY CALL OUT WORKSHOPS FOR THOSE VERY NICHE KIND OF THINGS WAS, I GUESS TO ME, DETRACTED FROM THE HIGH LEVEL FOCUS THAT I BELIEVE THAT THE STRATEGY OF SUCH SHOULD HAVE.

SO I'M JUST SORT OF CURIOUS IN WHY MAYBE SOME OF THOSE POINTS WERE ADDED TO THE STRATEGY AND MAYBE IF THERE WAS AN EXAMPLE OF A PREVIOUS SUCCESSFUL INITIATIVE THAT'S SIMILAR TO THIS, THAT THE CITY HAS DONE, THAT HAS GROWN LEGS AND RAN BY ITSELF.

MS. BASSI-KELLETT WOULD THIS EXAMPLE BE LIKE HOW TO START TOMATO SEEDLINGS THAT WE OFFER IN OUR RECREATION PROGRAM THAT [INAUDIBLE] CAN SPEAK.

IF YOU CAN SPEAK A BIT MORE TO THAT, PLEASE.

SO WE'RE VERY EXCITED ABOUT THIS BECAUSE THERE ARE A NUMBER OF RESIDENTS AROUND THE CITY RIGHT NOW THAT ARE RAISING CHICKENS FOR EGGS AND MEAT AND BEEKEEPERS AS WELL.

THAT'S EXACTLY IT.

SO IF WE CAN PROVIDE SOME SUPPORT AND GUIDANCE AND IT DOES NOT NECESSARILY NEED TO BE THE CITY, IN SOME INSTANCES, IT MAY BE THAT WE PUT THIS ON THROUGH OUR PROGRAMMING.

BUT WE KNOW VERY WELL THAT WE'VE GOT SOME PARTNERS OUT THERE THAT HAVE ALREADY DONE SOME WORK AND TO DEVELOP SOME SUPPORTS AROUND THIS.

I BELIEVE [INAUDIBLE] NORTH DID A BUNCH OF WORK ON KEEPING CHICKENS.

AND SO WE KNOW THAT WE DO NOT EXPECT TO BE DOING ALL OF THIS OURSELVES, BUT CERTAINLY REACHING OUT TO OUR PARTNERS WHO WE'VE HAD GREAT RELATIONSHIPS WITH ON OTHER FILES.

SO LET'S MAKE SURE THAT WE REALLY ENRICH OUR WORKING RELATIONSHIP ON THINGS LIKE THIS.

SO THERE'S A LOT OF EXPERTISE OUT THERE.

WE'RE NOT THE ONES THAT CONTROL THAT.

WE JUST WANT TO SEE IF WE CAN FACILITATE PEOPLE COMING TOGETHER IN A WAY THAT'S GOING TO HELP OTHERS IN THE COMMUNITY WHO WANT TO DO THIS.

MS. THISTLE ANYTHING TO ADD.

I KNOW YOU BOTH SUMMED IT UP REALLY WELL, I GUESS THE ONLY THING I WOULD ADD IS IT COULD BE SOMETHING AS EASY AS IF THE COLLEGE-NORDIQUE IS OFFERING A BEEKEEPING WORKSHOP.

IS THERE AN OPPORTUNITY OR IS THERE A PLACE FOR THE CITY TO MAYBE ADVERTISE THAT? OR IS THERE A WAY WITHIN OUR OWN CITY PROGRAMING THAT WE OFFER TO OFFER TO SAY, HEY, CAN YOU RUN THAT THROUGH OUR PROGRAMING? AND WE ADVERTISE IT AND PEOPLE REGISTER THROUGH THE CITY LIKE IT'S TRYING TO CAPITALIZE ON OPPORTUNITIES LIKE THAT THAT EXIST OR MIGHT EXIST WITHIN THE CITY ALREADY.

FOR MY UNDERSTANDING, THE LAST TIME THEY WERE IN A BEEKEEPING COURSE IT SOLD OUT IN NO TIME AND PEOPLE COULDN'T GET SPOTS.

SO IT'S LIKE, OK, WELL, IF THAT'S THE CASE, IS THERE OPPORTUNITY FOR US TO SAY, HEY, CAN WE HELP YOU OFFER AN EXTRA ONE BECAUSE PEOPLE WERE ON THE WAITLIST KIND OF THING? IT WAS MORE ABOUT WHAT ARE ACTUAL ITEMS THAT WE CAN SEE OURSELVES BOOTS TO THE GROUND ACTUALLY GETTING GOING IN A FEASIBLE QUICK KIND OF WAY.

GREAT.

NO, THAT'S THAT'S A PERFECT ANSWER AND CERTAINLY HELPS ME BETTER UNDERSTAND HOW ADMINISTRATION IS SEEING EXECUTING THE PARTICULAR PLAN.

ALL RIGHT.

WELL, I'M JUST GOING TO PULL MY LAST ONE THAT I THOUGHT WAS A BIT OF OUT OF LEFT FIELD, 2.34 I JUST GOT TO GET DOWN THERE FOR A QUICK SECOND.

WHAT WAS I TALKING ABOUT ON THAT ONE? ALL RIGHT.

YEAH, IT'S STANDARD LANDSCAPING.

SO, AGAIN, I THINK THAT SOME OF THESE PLANS CAN SOMETIMES GET DILUTED BY SORT OF LOFTY AMBITIONS AND THINGS LIKE THAT.

AND I SEE THAT IT'S A LOW PRIORITY.

BUT AGAIN, IT WAS ONE OF THOSE ONES THAT I JUST [INAUDIBLE] WHAT VALUE DOES THIS HAVE? PEOPLE WALKING AROUND EATING PLANTS.

BUT ANYWAY THAT'S JUST A THOUGHT.

I DON'T EVEN NEED AN ANSWER ON THAT ONE FROM ADMINISTRATION.

BUT EATING OUR GRASS AS WE'RE LIKE COWS MILLING AROUND OUR TOWN, I'M NOT QUITE SURE I WAS THAT INTO THAT PARTICULAR PIECE, BUT GREAT ANYWAY, OVERALL, VERY MUCH INTO IT.

ALTHOUGH I BELIEVE THAT AS A COUNCILLOR THAT THIS STRATEGY IS ONLY GOING TO HAVE SUCCESS WITH PARTNERSHIP.

AND US AS A CITY TRYING TO TAKE IT ALL ON OUR SHOULDERS I THINK THAT IT'S GREAT, US BEING A GREAT FACILITATOR AND SETTING A GREAT EXAMPLE FOR THE TERRITORY, BUT HOPING THAT WE'RE NOT GOING TO BE STUCK HANDLING ALL THE LITTLE NUTS AND BOLTS AND NITTY GRITTINESS.

AND REALLY, GNWT IS A GREAT PARTNER ON THIS ONE.

YEAH, FOR THAT ONE I THINK NOT THESE CRAZY EDIBLE ALMOST LIKE FRUIT TRAYS THAT YOU WOULD SEE AT A BUFFET, BUT THE WHOLE SWITCH FROM GRASS TO CLOVER, THAT AND THEN THE CLOVER IS USED FOR BEEKEEPING AND THEN USING NATIVE PLANTS LIKE RASPBERRY BUSHES INSTEAD OF GETTING A BUSH FROM DOWN SOUTH THAT DOESN'T EVEN PRODUCE A PLANT.

SO, YEAH.

I WAS JUST THINKING AS I WAS WALKING AROUND THE FRAME LAKE TRAIL, I COULD JUST

[01:45:03]

STOP AND START GRAZING WITH MY DAUGHTER AT ANY MOMENT, YOU KNOW SO? SO YEAH, YEAH.

WE'LL STICK TO STUFF THAT DOESN'T THAT DOESN'T HAVE TO BE TENDED TO.

I JUST WANT TO ADD, I'M VERY, VERY PROUD OF OUR COMMUNITY SERVICES OUTDOOR FACILITIES GROUP.

THEY TOOK THIS ON LAST YEAR AROUND CITY HALL, WHERE TYPICALLY THERE ARE ALWAYS BEAUTIFUL FLOWERS.

YOU WILL HAVE NOTICED THERE WERE STILL BEAUTIFUL FLOWERS, BUT THEY'RE WERE RASPBERRY BUSHES.

WE'RE LOOKING AT RHUBARB.

WE'RE LOOKING AT VARIOUS THINGS THAT ARE PERENNIAL IN NATURE, LOW MAINTENANCE AND THAT PEOPLE CAN ENJOY AS THEY'RE WALKING PAST.

SO DEFINITELY LOOKING AT EXPANDING THAT AND MAKING SURE THAT WE'VE GOT MORE OF THAT AVAILABLE SO THAT IT CAN BE USED AND ENJOYED AND MAKES THE PROPERTY LOOK GREAT.

BUT IT'S ALSO SOMETHING THAT PEOPLE CAN AVAIL THEMSELVES OF.

NEXT UP, COUNCILLOR MORGAN.

THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR.

SO I'LL JUST START WITH A QUESTION.

FOCUSED ON.

SO THE SUGGESTIONS TOWARDS REGULATING LIVESTOCK AND BEES SPECIFICALLY, CAN I JUST GET CLARIFICATION? SO CURRENTLY PEOPLE MIGHT HAVE, YOU KNOW, A FEW CHICKENS OR SOMETHING ON THEIR PROPERTIES AROUND TOWN.

DO WE HAVE ANY REGULATIONS CURRENTLY THAT GOVERN PEOPLE WHO WANT TO HAVE A FEW CHICKENS OR WHATEVER IN THEIR BACKYARD? NOT FROM MY UNDERSTANDING.

WE REGULATE DOGS AND YOU CANNOT HAVE A LION IN TOWN AS WE ALL KNOW, BUT OTHER THAN THAT, BEES AND CHICKENS, OF COURSE, ARE NOT REGULATED RIGHT NOW.

AND OUR INTEREST IN THIS IS WE KNOW THERE ARE A NUMBER OF PEOPLE THAT HAVE THEM AND ARE REALLY ENJOYING THEM.

AND THEY'RE IN DIFFERENT POCKETS OF NEIGHBORHOODS ALL ACROSS OUR CITY.

AND WHAT WE'RE VERY INTERESTED IN IS BEING ABLE TO ENSURE THAT WE'VE GOT A FRAMEWORK IN PLACE BECAUSE WE DON'T WANT TO HAVE TO REACT IF SOMETHING BECOMES PROBLEMATIC.

WE DO NOT WANT THAT TO BE THE REALITY.

OH, SOMEONE HAS CHICKENS.

BUT THEN THEY INTRODUCED A ROOSTER AND HE WON'T SHUT UP.

IF THAT BECOMES AN ISSUE, THEN OK, THEN WE'VE GOT NEIGHBORHOODS THAT ARE PITTED AGAINST EACH OTHER.

AND WHAT WE WOULD FAR PREFER TO SEE IS THAT WE LAY OUT SOME THINGS IN ADVANCE.

WE GET THE INPUT FROM PEOPLE THAT ARE DOING THIS ALREADY AND WE SEE WHAT IT IS THAT WE CAN DO TO MAKE THESE AS VIABLE AS POSSIBLE.

SO DEFINITELY A PRIORITY FOR US TO LOOK AT.

WE WANT TO KNOW WHERE THIS IS GOING ON BECAUSE WE DON'T WANT TO HAVE ANY NEIGHBORHOOD DISRUPTION THAT HAPPENS THAT THEN CAUSES PEOPLE TO FEEL VERY, VERY HESITANT TO SUPPORT URBAN AGRICULTURE.

MS. THISTLE ANYTHING TO ADD? WE DON'T HAVE ANY BYLAWS THAT SPECIFICALLY REGULATE HENS AND BEES, ESPECIALLY WITH RESPECT TO THEIR STRUCTURES.

THE ONLY BYLAWS WHERE WE WOULD BE ABLE TO ENFORCE NOW WOULD BE UNDER THE NOISE BYLAW, THE UNSIGHTLY LANDS BYLAW, THINGS OF THAT NATURE.

SO IT CAN GET A LITTLE COMPLICATED, TAKE A LONG TIME.

IT'S ALSO ABOUT MAKING ENABLING THESE TYPES OF INITIATIVES.

AND APPARENTLY I'VE LEARNED A LOT ABOUT BEEKEEPING OVER THE LAST COUPLE OF YEARS.

THERE CAN ALSO BE ISSUES IF YOU HAVE A WHOLE BUNCH OF BEES ESCAPE.

SO IT'S GOOD TO HAVE RULES AND REGULATIONS IN PLACE TO ENABLE AND ALSO MAKE THESE THINGS SEAMLESS IN NEIGHBORHOODS, AS MS. BASSI-KELLETT IS REFERRED TO.

SO VERY IMPORTANT, BUT WILL BE A TIMELY PROCESS AND INVOLVE QUITE A BIT OF ENGAGEMENT WITH RESIDENTS AND STAKEHOLDERS.

OK, AND I MEAN, I KNOW THAT CERTAINLY PEOPLE HAVE BEEN HAVING CHICKENS ON AND OFF FOR MANY DECADES NOW, BEES MIGHT BE A NEWER THING, BUT.

HAVE WE DONE ANY RISK ANALYSIS OF WHAT WOULD HAPPEN IF WE JUST DIDN'T DO ANYTHING, IF YOU KNOW, I KNOW THAT SOMETIMES THERE ARE URGES WE NEED TO REGULATE AND CONTROL EVERYTHING JUST IN CASE.

BUT THERE'S ALSO A DANGER OF FIXING PROBLEMS THAT DON'T ACTUALLY EXIST AND GETTING OURSELVES INTO NEW PROBLEMS, THE MORE WE TRY TO CONTROL AND REGULATE THINGS.

IS THERE ANY INTENTION OR HAS THERE BEEN ANY RISK ANALYSIS DONE OF THE OPTION OF JUST WHAT IF WE JUST DON'T REGULATE IT? WHAT IF WE DON'T DO ANYTHING? IS THAT OPTION BEING INVESTIGATED? THAT WOULD BE PART OF THE REVIEW.

THIS IS THIS IMPLEMENTATION PLAN IS.

THE BEGINNING, IT'S REALLY COUNCIL DIRECTING STAFF TO FOCUS A BIT MORE TIME ON FOOD AND AGRICULTURE AND LOOK AT ALL THE THE NUTS AND BOLTS THAT THE COUNCILLORS ARE

[01:50:01]

INTERESTED IN.

SO, YOU KNOW, WE DON'T HAVE ANYTHING ON ANIMAL CONTROL YET.

AND BUT THE GROWTH STRATEGY THAT DID FLAG, YOU KNOW, YOU CAN LEAVE IT OR YOU COULD BE PROACTIVE IN DEVELOPING SOMETHING.

SO THAT'LL BE WHAT THE RESEARCH THAT IS BEING RECOMMENDED IN THIS IMPLEMENTATION PLAN WILL BE.

YOU KNOW COUNCIL CAN CHOOSE TO BE PROACTIVE AND REGULATE BEFORE THERE'S ISSUES OR YOU CAN KEEP GOING STATUS QUO AND DEAL WITH IT WHEN AN ISSUE ARISES.

MS. BASSI-KELLETT ANYTHING TO ADD.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH MADAM CHAIR.

THAT'S ABSOLUTELY IT.

WE REALLY WANT TO TAKE A LOOK AT WHAT THE BEST PRACTICES ARE AND TO SET UP A FRAMEWORK SO THAT WE WOULD NOT BE IN A SITUATION WHERE WE'RE REACTING TO PERHAPS ONE SEMI BOTHERSOME INCIDENT OR THAT THERE'S A ROOSTER THAT'S CROWING ALL MORNING AND WON'T SHUT UP OR OH, MY GOSH, I SAW THESE BEES AND THEY SWARMED YOU KNOW IN ONE TIME.

THAT'S DANGEROUS.

WE MUST STOP THEM.

I THINK IF WE'VE GOT SOME PARAMETERS AROUND THAT TO SUPPORT HOW URBAN AGRICULTURE FITS WITHIN OUR CONTEXT, THEN WE CAN SUPPORT EVERYBODY TO COHABIT PEACEFULLY AND RESPECTFULLY TOGETHER.

MS. THISTLE ANYTHING TO ADD.

YEAH AND THE IMPLEMENTATION PLAN SPECIFICALLY LOOKS AT THAT ON PAGE TWO, IT SAYS, CONSIDER THE DEVELOPMENT OF AN ANIMAL CONTROL BYLAW.

AND THEN FOR 2021, WE JUST SAY RESEARCH BEST PRACTICES.

AND WE'RE ESTIMATING BY THE END OF 2022 TO BRING FORWARD ANY RECOMMENDATIONS TO COUNCIL THAT WE MIGHT NEED CONSIDERED OUT OF THAT RESEARCH.

SO IT'S DEFINITELY NOT [INAUDIBLE] DEVELOP BYLAW.

IT'S CONSIDERED THE DEVELOPMENT OF THAT WHICH WOULD INCLUDE SOME OF THAT REVIEW OF IS WHAT'S THE BEST PRACTICE.

I WOULD JUST STRONGLY ADVISED AND I'LL GO INTO MORE OF A STATEMENT HERE THAT I HAD PREPARED.

BUT I MEAN, IF YOU'RE RESEARCHING BEST PRACTICES, PROBABLY THERE'S NOTHING IS GOING TO COME UP THAT SAYS DON'T DO ANYTHING, BECAUSE THAT WOULDN'T BE A DOCUMENTED BEST PRACTICE PROBABLY.

BUT I ALSO JUST WHEN I STARTED TO THINK ABOUT HOW THIS WOULD ROLL OUT AND THE SUGGESTIONS AROUND, OK, ONCE YOU START.

SPECIFYING IN DETAIL HOW MANY ANIMALS, WHICH KINDS OF ANIMALS ARE ALLOWED WHERE AND HOW THEY'RE HOUSED IN ANIMAL WELFARE KIND OF GUIDELINES LIKE THE RABBIT HOLE THAT YOU COULD GO DOWN ONCE YOU'VE STATED THAT YOU'RE GOING TO TRY TO CONTROL THIS AND MAKE SURE EVERYTHING'S OK AND MONITOR IT, EVEN MONITORING NUMBERS OF ANIMALS ON AN ONGOING BASIS, WHICH OBVIOUSLY CHANGES OFTEN AND THAT WE MIGHT BE SETTING OURSELVES UP FOR AN EXERCISE IN FUTILITY THAT WE MIGHT NOT BE ABLE TO DO VERY WELL OR ELSE IT MIGHT TAKE HUGE AMOUNTS OF RESOURCES.

AND I KNOW IT'S TO TRY TO BE PROACTIVE AND AVOID A PROBLEM.

BUT IF THINGS HAVE BEEN KIND OF GOING OK FOR SEVERAL DECADES WITH CHICKENS, MAYBE WE JUST DECIDE IT'S GOING OK AND FOCUS OUR EFFORTS ON OTHER THINGS.

I JUST WANT US TO CONSIDER THAT AS AN OPTION.

OBVIOUSLY, YOU HAVE TO CONSIDER WHAT THE RISKS WOULD BE OF DOING THAT, BUT NOT JUST TO ASSUME THAT EVERYTHING NEEDS TO BE MONITORED AND CONTROLLED.

YOU KNOW, THERE'S RISK IN EVERYTHING AND THERE'S RISKS OF DEVOTING A SIGNIFICANT AMOUNT OF RESOURCES TO THIS AND TAKING THAT THEREFORE AWAY FROM OTHER THINGS THAT WE COULD BE MONITORING OR REGULATING INSTEAD WITH OUR LIMITED RESOURCES.

SO I THOUGHT A LOT ABOUT LOCAL AGRICULTURE IN GENERAL AND THE STRATEGY AND MY THOUGHTS HERE MIGHT BE A BIT CONTROVERSIAL, BUT I WANT US TO TRY TO STEP BACK AND LOOK AT OUR OVERALL PRIORITIES IN THE CITY, HOW WE CAN DO THE MOST GOOD WITH OBVIOUSLY LIMITED STAFF AND RESOURCES AND HOW WE CAN FOCUS ON DOING WHAT WE HAVE THE EXPERTISE TO DO AND NOT OVERREACH OR OVERREGULATE.

I THINK PART OF THE PROBLEM THAT I'VE STRUGGLED WITH A LOT IN THIS DISCUSSION HAS BEEN THAT TWO GOALS GET CONFLATED.

THE GOAL OF FOOD SECURITY FOR PEOPLE IN OUR CITY AND SUPPORTING LOCAL BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT AND HELPING TO INCUBATE AN EMERGING INDUSTRY.

OFTEN THOSE TWO ARE JUST SEEN AS OVERLAPPING, SORT OF ONE, THE SAME EVERYTHING GETS ACHIEVED BY SUPPORTING ALL SORT OF LOCAL AGRICULTURE IN GENERAL, BUT I WOULD

[01:55:06]

CHALLENGE THAT, I MEAN, ON THE ISSUE OF FOOD SECURITY.

MY IDEA OF FOOD SECURITY OR MY PRIORITY WOULD BE, OK, ARE THERE WAYS WE CAN HELP GET NUTRITIOUS, AFFORDABLE FOOD TO LOWER INCOME PEOPLE? WHAT ARE THE BARRIERS TO STOPPING LOWER INCOME PEOPLE FROM BEING ABLE TO EAT WELL AND SPECIFICALLY FOR INDIGENOUS RESIDENTS, HOW CAN THEY HAVE BETTER ACCESS TO CULTURALLY APPROPRIATE AND NUTRITIOUS FOODS? AND IF OUR PRIORITY IS, IS FOOD SECURITY, THEN IN MY MIND, THE DIFFERENT ACTIONS IN OUR IMPLEMENTATION PLAN SHOULD BE PUT THROUGH A LENS LIKE THAT, LIKE IS THIS ACTION ACTUALLY HELPING US LEAD US TOWARDS THIS GOAL? FOR EXAMPLE, DOES OFFERING A WORKSHOP ON BEEKEEPING, HOWEVER GREAT THAT MIGHT BE AND HOWEVER MUCH PEOPLE MIGHT LIKE IT, DOES IT LEAD US TOWARDS THE GOAL OF FOOD SECURITY? YOU KNOW, A SECOND, AND I THINK SOMEWHAT SEPARATE GOAL.

OK, WE HAVE AN EMERGING INDUSTRY.

WE HAVE LOCAL ENTREPRENEURS.

TO ME, THE PRIORITY THERE IS HOW DO WE GET OUT OF THE WAY OF PEOPLE WHO ARE TRYING TO INNOVATE, PROVIDE VALUE, ADDED LOCAL PRODUCTS AND MAYBE ADDRESS VARIOUS BARRIERS THAT THEY'RE EXPERIENCING, TRYING TO, YOU KNOW, ESTABLISH JUST ENOUGH INFRASTRUCTURE OR WHATEVER TO BE ABLE TO THEN TAKE OFF AND GO FROM THERE.

AND THEN, I MEAN, MY THIRD CONCERN WOULD BE THAT I WANT US TO ALWAYS THINK AND MAKE SURE WE'RE NOT OVERREGULATING, KEEPING IN MIND WE DON'T HAVE UNLIMITED RESOURCES FOR MONITORING AND REGULATION.

AND SO WHAT? DO WE REALISTICALLY NEED TO ENFORCE AND WHAT CAN WE ENFORCE WELL.

I SHOULD SAY FIRST, I DO SUPPORT THE VARIOUS ACTIONS IN THE PLAN AROUND ZONING AND PLANNING AND SHARING THEIR SPACES AVAILABLE IN THE CITY FOR PEOPLE TO DO VARIOUS FORMS OF AGRICULTURE IF THEY CHOOSE.

CERTAINLY THAT'S WITHIN OUR CORE MANDATE.

WE NEED TO GET OUR DUCKS IN A ROW INTERNALLY, MAKE SURE WE HAVE FRAMEWORKS AND REGULATIONS IN PLACE THAT ALLOW PEOPLE TO DO THOSE KINDS OF THINGS AND THAT WE'RE REGULATING OUR SPACE IN THE CITY IN WAYS THAT MAKE SENSE.

BUT FOR EXAMPLE.

I WOULD SUGGEST MANY OF THE ACTIONS UNDER OBJECTIVE THREE, SO GENERAL COMMUNITY LEARNING OPPORTUNITIES.

BECAUSE TO ME THAT I WOULD SUGGEST THAT EITHER MANY OF THEM JUST GET TAKEN OUT OR MOVED TO LOW PRIORITY, AND I KNOW THAT SOME MAY BE YOU KNOW PRETTY EASY TO DO, BUT, YOU KNOW, WORKSHOPS, AWARENESS, EDUCATION FOR THE GENERAL PUBLIC, ALL OF THOSE THINGS.

YOU KNOW, TAKE SOMEBODY'S TIME OR RESOURCES, THEIR ATTENTION, AND I'M JUST NOT SURE WHO EXACTLY OUR TARGET AUDIENCE IS OR HOW WE'RE ACTUALLY IMPROVING FOOD SECURITY THROUGH THOSE ACTIONS.

AND, YOU KNOW, MAYBE THOSE ARE GREAT THINGS, BUT OTHER ORGANIZATIONS COULD DO THEM.

AND TO ME, IT'S NOT ACTUALLY HELPING US MOVE TOWARDS OUR GOALS.

SO I WOULD SUGGEST WE EITHER TAKE THEM OUT OR MAKE THEM LOWER PRIORITY.

AND I WILL FOLLOW UP SENDING AN EMAIL THAT GOES THROUGH SOME OF THE ACTIONS IN MORE DETAIL WITH MORE SPECIFIC SUGGESTIONS.

BUT THAT'S JUST MY BROAD BRUSHSTROKE FEELING ABOUT IT AT THIS POINT.

IN TERMS OF BUSINESS, LOCAL BUSINESS SUPPORT AND DEVELOPMENT.

I DO CERTAINLY SYMPATHIZE WITH COUNCILLOR KONGE'S SENTIMENTS AROUND, YOU KNOW, WE NEED TO BE CAREFUL THAT WE DON'T TIP, THE BALANCES SO MUCH THAT WE'RE SUPPORTING THESE KINDS OF BUSINESSES AROUND AGRICULTURE AND IGNORING OTHER TYPES OF SMALL LOCAL BUSINESSES.

SO I THINK WE DO NEED TO FIND SOME RULES AND FRAMEWORKS THAT ARE FAIR AND WE'LL SEEM BALANCED IN TERMS OF OUR SUPPORT FOR JUST GENERAL LOCAL BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT, BUT ALSO RECOGNIZING THAT THIS PARTICULAR INDUSTRY HAS SOME PARTICULAR CHALLENGES AND NEEDS THAT MIGHT NEED TO BE ADDRESSED IN A DIFFERENT WAY.

BUT I MEAN, IN TERMS OF INCENTIVES.

I WAS JUST STARTING THINK IT WILL BE AT TIMES TRICKY TO CLASSIFY OR DRAW LINES AND

[02:00:01]

THRESHOLDS AROUND THE KINDS OF BUSINESSES, FOR EXAMPLE, THAT WOULD QUALIFY.

SO THE GROWTH STRATEGY TALKS ABOUT INCENTIVES FOR NOT JUST AGRICULTURE BUSINESSES, BUT BUSINESSES THAT INCORPORATE LAKE PRODUCTS, FOREST PRODUCTS.

SO IF SOMEONE'S GOING OUT AND FORAGING THINGS OR PRODUCING LOCAL PRODUCTS, WHAT PERCENTAGE OF THE PRODUCT HAS TO BE LOCALLY FORAGED FOR IT TO COUNT FOR VARIOUS INCENTIVES OR SUBSIDIES? WHAT ABOUT, YOU KNOW, A BUSINESS LIKE THE BREWPUB? I MEAN, A LOT OF THEIR PRODUCT IS USING THE LAKE WATER.

DOES THAT COUNT EVEN IF IT'S NOT GROWN HERE, PER SAY, IS IT ANYTHING MADE FROM LOCAL MATERIALS THAT WERE SUPPORTING ANYTHING BUILT FROM WOOD? LIKE, WHERE'S THE THRESHOLD AND WHAT ACTUALLY IS THE GOAL? IS IT JUST THAT WE'RE TRYING TO SUPPORT LOCAL PRODUCTS? DOES IT HAVE TO BE SOMETHING YOU CAN EAT? I JUST THINK IT GETS REALLY MUDDY.

AND I THINK, THEREFORE, WE NEED TO CONSIDER THIS IN THE BROADER CONTEXT OF HOW CAN WE FAIRLY SUPPORT ALL LOCAL BUSINESSES AND STARTUPS AND AS OPPOSED TO GETTING REALLY DEEP INTO TRYING TO DEFINE OR SINGLE OUT AGRICULTURE PER SAY, AND THEN I REALLY AM SKEPTICAL OR CONCERNED ABOUT WHEN WE START TO GO DOWN THIS PATH OF REGULATING LIVESTOCK, HOW COMPLEX THAT COULD GET IN TERMS OF MONITORING AND ENFORCEMENT AND WHETHER WE WOULD REALISTICALLY HAVE THE EXPERTISE WITHIN THE CITY TO BE ABLE TO TRACK ALL THE LIVESTOCK AND BEES IN THE CITY, LOOKING AT HOW SHELTERS ARE BUILT AND ANIMAL WELFARE CONDITIONS AND HOW SPACED OUT THEY ARE.

LIKE, I JUST THINK WE COULD TAKE OURSELVES DOWN A RABBIT HOLE THERE THAT WE'RE NOT FULLY PREPARED TO SEE TO THE END, OR IT COULD JUST END UP SWALLOWING UP ENDLESS RESOURCES.

SO I DO THINK WE NEED TO SERIOUSLY CONSIDER THE OPTION OF JUST NOT GOING DOWN THAT RABBIT HOLE AND THEN CONSIDERING WHAT RISKS WE WOULD BE ACCEPTING IF WE CHOOSE TO TAKE THAT ROUTE.

IN TERMS OF FOOD SECURITY, I MEAN, IT DID OCCUR TO ME THAT WHILE THE GROWTH STRATEGY DOES CLAIM TO BE FOCUSING MORE BROADLY NOT JUST ON AGRICULTURE, BUT ON OTHER LOCAL PRODUCTS, FISHING, HUNTING, FORAGING, THERE'S REALLY NOT VERY MANY ACTIONS OR SUGGESTIONS IN THERE AROUND THOSE THINGS.

WHEREAS IN TERMS OF THE PERCENTAGE OF CALORIES OR PROTEIN THAT MIGHT GO INTO SOMEONE'S DIET LIKE THAT MIGHT ACTUALLY HAVE A WAY BIGGER IMPACT IF THERE WERE ACTIONS THAT THE CITY COULD TAKE TO HELP DISTRIBUTE, YOU KNOW, FISH THAT PEOPLE ARE HARVESTING AND MAYBE THERE'S EXTRA COMING OUT OF PEOPLE'S NETS OR THINGS THAT PEOPLE ARE HUNTING AND OBVIOUSLY THERE'S ALWAYS HUGE AMOUNTS OF MEAT AND OBVIOUSLY PEOPLE INFORMALLY WILL DISTRIBUTE THOSE KINDS OF THINGS, BUT AND MAYBE THERE ISN'T MUCH SPECIFICALLY THAT THE CITY CAN DO IN THOSE AREAS OF DISTRIBUTING FOOD TO PEOPLE WHO ARE IN NEED OR NOT ABLE TO ACCESS IT OTHERWISE.

BUT TO ME, IN TERMS OF FOOD SECURITY, THOSE ASPECTS HAVE THE POTENTIAL, I THINK, TO MAKE A MUCH BIGGER DIFFERENCE IN THE LIVES OF LOW INCOME PEOPLE IN THE CITY.

BUT THE REALITY IS THAT FOOD INSECURITY IS OFTEN JUST BASICALLY A RESULT OF POVERTY, LOWER INCOME, INSECURE HOUSING, ALL THESE FACTORS, THAT TAKES US FOCUSING OUR EFFORTS ON CITY RESOURCES, ON SOME OTHER ISSUES, BESIDES JUST FOCUSING EXCLUSIVELY ON HOW CAN PEOPLE, YOU KNOW, GROW MORE LETTUCE OR SOMETHING.

SO THOSE ARE MY OVERALL COMMENTS.

AND I DON'T WANT TO SOUND TOO NEGATIVE, BUT I JUST WANT US TO FOCUS ON WHAT IS OUR GOAL HERE? WHAT ARE WE HOPING TO ACHIEVE? ARE EACH OF THESE ACTIONS ACTUALLY LEADING US TOWARDS THAT END, AND IF NOT, WHAT SHOULD BE LOWER PRIORITIES OR SEEN AS MAYBE GOOD THINGS TO DO, BUT NOT SOMETHING THE CITY SPECIFICALLY NEEDS TO DO AT THIS POINT.

COUNCILLOR MORSE DID YOU STILL HAVE QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS.

I HAD A FEW, BUT I'M REALLY FEELING [INAUDIBLE] QUITE A BIT OF TIME, MY COLLEAGUES HAVE COVERED MOST OF WHAT I HAVE TO SAY.

I DID HAVE ONE SPECIFIC QUESTION THAT I WAS JUST GOING TO ASK, AND IT WAS KIND OF IT

[02:05:01]

RAISED A BIT OF A CONCERN WITH THINGS.

I'M KIND OF COUNTERACTING ARGUMENTS I'VE HEARD FROM DIFFERENT DEPARTMENTS AND THAT WAS JUST ON THE SOIL AND COMPOST AND THE SOLID WASTE FACILITY.

PUBLIC WORKS WAS VERY CLEAR WITH US THAT IT'S EXTREMELY DIFFICULT FOR THEM TO GET KIND OF CONSUMER GRADE COMPOST OUT OF THE FACILITY AND WE'RE RECOMMENDING AGAINST US TRYING TO MEET THAT GOAL IN OUR WASTE STRATEGY.

AND NOW I HEAR KIND OF THE AGRICULTURE STRATEGY SAYING, WELL, WE NEED TO INCREASE THAT.

I'M JUST WONDERING IF I COULD GET KIND OF A THOUGHT FROM ADMINISTRATION ABOUT THAT JUXTAPOSITION AND WHERE WE'RE ACTUALLY LANDING ON THIS, BECAUSE I THINK WE NEED TO MAKE SURE THOSE TWO DEPARTMENTS ARE JIVING IN TERMS OF WHAT THEY'RE RECOMMENDING.

YEAH, THE CONSULTANTS THAT DRAFTED THE FOOD AND AGRICULTURE RECOMMENDED THE CONTINUING TO PROMOTE THE CITY COMPOSTING PROGRAM, BUT ADMIN'S FEEDBACK IS ABOUT WORKING WITH COMMUNITY GARDENERS TO EXPLORE OTHER OPTIONS.

ANY OTHER COMMENTS? YEAH, ABSOLUTELY, THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

SO, AGAIN, THE AGRICULTURE STRATEGY GROW WAS DEVELOPED AND ADOPTED BY COUNCIL IN MAY OF 2019.

AND OUR EFFORTS AROUND, AS WE KNOW, LAST YEAR WAS A BIG YEAR FOR WASTE, BIG YEAR WHERE WE SPENT A LOT OF TIME LOOKING AT A LOT OF WHAT IS VIABLE AND WHAT IS ACHIEVABLE AT OUR SOLID WASTE FACILITY.

OUR COMPOST PROGRAM IS EXCEPTIONALLY GREAT FOR ENSURING THAT WE ARE DIVERTING ORGANIC WASTE OUT OF THE LANDFILL.

AND IT'S VERY GOOD BECAUSE WHAT WE WERE ABLE TO DO, THOUGH, IS PROVIDE AND DEVELOP IN BULK A LOT OF GROUND COVER THAT'S USEFUL FOR OTHER PURPOSES, BUT NOT NECESSARILY THE BLACK GOLD THAT WE USED TO PUT A LOT OF RESOURCES INTO DEVELOPING A LITTLE BIT OF.

SO WE ARE MOVING AWAY FROM THAT.

BUT WE ARE ALSO AT THE SAME TIME EXPLORING MEANS FOR THOSE GARDENERS AND POSSIBLY EVEN AT A MULTIFAMILY BUILDINGS AND ON A COMMERCIAL LEVEL.

ARE THERE OPPORTUNITIES AND OPTIONS OUT FOR COMPOST? THERE'S A TOWN OF HAY RIVER IS DOING SOMETHING VERY INNOVATIVE THAT WE'VE BEEN TAKING A LOOK AT VERY CLOSELY IN TERMS OF SMALL, COMPACT COMPOSTERS THAT ARE AVAILABLE TO HAVE AT YOUR OWN HOME THAT CAN MAKE COMPOST VERY QUICKLY FOR THOSE PEOPLE THAT DO WANT TO PURSUE BLACK GOLD WE'RE LOOKING AT THAT AT VERY, VERY EARLY DAYS OF LOOKING AT WHAT HAY RIVER IS DOING AND LOOKING AT MODELING SOME OPPORTUNITIES HERE FOR OURSELVES.

SO AT THIS POINT, WE REALLY ARE FOCUSING ON DIVERSION OF THE SOLID WASTE FACILITY.

WE HAVE LOTS OF THINGS TO DO WITH ORGANICS, BUT WE DO RECOGNIZE THAT COMPOST IS A VERY IMPORTANT PART OF GARDENING.

AND SO WE DO WANT TO LOOK AT OPTIONS TO ENSURE THAT WE CAN ALSO FIND THAT LEVEL OF COMPOST, THAT GRADE OF COMPOST FOR PEOPLE SHOULD THEY WANT.

SO LOTS OF WORK AND LOTS OF EXPLORATORY THINGS UNDERWAY THAT WE'RE QUITE EXCITED ABOUT.

I'M GOING TO DO MY ABSOLUTE BEST TO KEEP MY COMMENTS TO A MINIMUM.

OK, THANKS.

I THINK MY FEELINGS WERE SIMILAR TO A FEW OF MY COLLEAGUES.

I PARTICULARLY APPRECIATED COUNCILLOR MORGAN'S COMMENTS.

I THINK THAT, YOU KNOW, I OVERALL WANT TO BE SUPPORTIVE OF AGRICULTURE GROWING IN OUR COMMUNITY.

I DO THINK THAT WE NEED TO BE A BIT CAREFUL ABOUT WHERE WE PUT OUR FOCUS IN TERMS OF HOW MUCH EFFORT THE CITY PUTS INTO IT.

CERTAINLY, I DON'T WANT US TO BE CREATING UNNECESSARY BARRIERS, BUT I THINK THAT THERE ARE SOME SOME THINGS THAT NEED TO BE TAKEN SERIOUSLY.

THERE'S A FEW OF THEM WERE KIND OF MENTIONED BY COLLEAGUES, BUT ONE ONE IS PUBLIC HEALTH CONSIDERATIONS.

I KNOW THAT WITH THE INCREASE IN BACKYARD CHICKEN COOPS AND ALL THAT STUFF THAT OTHER JURISDICTIONS ARE STARTING TO SEE, INCREASES IN HEALTH ISSUES, SALMONELLA OUTBREAKS, THINGS LIKE THAT.

AND THAT, YOU KNOW, THE OTHER ONE, OF COURSE, WHEN IT COMES TO DISEASE TRANSMISSION, IS ACTUALLY LIVESTOCK RELATED DISEASES GETTING INTO WILDLIFE, WHICH IS SOMETHING THAT WE DON'T HAVE MUCH OF A PROBLEM HERE IN THE NORTHWEST TERRITORIES, BUT OF COURSE, DOWN SOUTH IT'S UBIQUITOUS THROUGHOUT WILDLIFE.

AND WE HAVE A PRETTY PRISTINE ENVIRONMENT HERE.

AND I THINK WE DO NEED TO BE A LITTLE BIT CAREFUL ABOUT KIND OF BALANCING OUR DESIRE TO TO PRODUCE FOOD AT HOME AND DO THESE THINGS THAT ARE GREAT, BUT ALSO THE FACT THAT THAT CAN ACTUALLY POSE A SIGNIFICANT RISK TO WILDLIFE POPULATIONS WHEN DISEASES SPREAD INTO THEIR POPULATIONS.

AND THAT'S SOMETHING WE REALLY DON'T WANT TO SEE HAPPENING IN THE NORTHWEST TERRITORIES BECAUSE WE'RE ONE OF THE FEW JURISDICTIONS IN THE WORLD WHERE THAT'S ACTUALLY NOT JUST A UBIQUITOUS ISSUE.

SO I THINK WE NEED TO TAKE THAT SERIOUSLY.

SO I THINK WHERE I KIND OF SEE THINGS GOING IN TERMS OF WHAT I'VE HEARD COLLEAGUES SAYING IS THAT THERE'S SOME HESITANCY TO APPROVE THIS AS IS, I THOUGHT THAT COUNCILLOR MORGAN'S SUGGESTION OF KIND OF PARING THINGS DOWN A LITTLE BIT MIGHT BE A GOOD WAY TO GO FORWARD

[02:10:01]

AND THEN WE BRING THIS BACK ONCE WE'VE KIND OF HAD A BIT OF A SOBER SECOND THOUGHT ABOUT IT.

BUT, YEAH, I MEAN, IT'S BEEN INTERESTING TO ME WATCHING THIS KIND OF BASED ON MY COMMENTS LAST WEEK ON THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT STRATEGY, LIKE I'M JUST TRYING TO THINK LIKE, DO I SUPPORT ADMINISTRATION PUTTING WHAT I SEE IS LIKE A HUGE AMOUNT OF EFFORT TOWARDS THIS INITIATIVE WHEN I FEEL THAT WE'RE NOT PUTTING A HUGE AMOUNT OF EFFORT, SIMILARLY LARGE AMOUNT OF EFFORT TOWARDS KIND OF OTHER SECTORS IN THE ECONOMY.

AND IT'S JUST KIND OF HIGHLIGHTING FOR ME THAT THE WAY THAT YOU DO THINGS IN GOVERNMENT HAS A TENDENCY TO PRODUCE DIFFERENT RESULTS.

AND IN THIS CASE, WE HAVE THIS STRATEGY.

AND SO IT'S EASY TO CREATE A BIG ACTION PLAN OUT OF IT.

AND WITH KNOWLEDGE ECONOMY, WE CAN DO THE SAME THING.

WE KIND OF FOCUSED ON THE UNIVERSITY.

AND SO WE'RE KIND OF WE'VE NOW ENDED UP WITH SUPPORTING THE UNIVERSITY IS THE ACTION THAT WE'RE DOING.

AND, YOU KNOW, I JUST IT'S INTERESTING FOR ME TO KIND OF VIEW THAT AND SEE HOW THE RESULTS END UP PANNING OUT, DEPENDING ON WHAT KIND OF DOCUMENT YOU GET PRODUCED IN THE FIRST PLACE.

SO I THINK I'M JUST GONNA LEAVE MY COMMENTS AT THAT BECAUSE WE HAVE USED UP QUITE A BIT OF TIME.

BUT I WOULD BE SUPPORTIVE OF US KIND OF REVISITING THIS A LITTLE BIT BEFORE WE BRING IT FORWARD TO COUNCIL FOR APPROVAL.

I WASN'T HEARING THAT WE WANT TO SEND THIS BACK TO ADMIN FOR FURTHER REFINEMENTS.

COUNCILLOR WILLIAMS, KONGE, ARE YOU SUPPORTIVE OF BRINGING IT FORWARD TO THE NEXT COUNCIL MEETING FOR REVIEW AND APPROVAL, OR ARE YOU LOOKING TO HAVE IT REVISED AND BROUGHT BACK? I'D BE VERY MUCH IN SUPPORT OF HAVING A SIMPLIFIED VERSION WITH SOME OF THOSE SMALLER POINTS CUT OFF.

YEAH, I MEAN, I YOU KNOW.

ADMINISTRATION IS NEVER GOING TO BRING SOMETHING TO ME THAT I ONE HUNDRED PERCENT AGREE WITH.

IT JUST WON'T HAPPEN.

YOU KNOW, THEY'RE TRYING TO GET EVERYBODY WITH THESE DOCUMENTS ARE NOT SPECIFICALLY FOR COUNCILLOR KONGE.

THEY'RE FOR COUNCIL AS A WHOLE.

SO ARE THERE THINGS THAT I DON'T AGREE WITH.

ABSOLUTELY THERE IS.

BUT AS A WHOLE, I DO AGREE WITH THIS DOCUMENT.

AND I DON'T THINK THAT WE NEED TO SEND THIS BACK THE ADMINISTRATION AT THIS TIME.

THIS CAN BE DONE AT COUNCIL.

IF COUNCIL WANTS ADMIN TO REFINE THIS FURTHER, I THINK WE'VE GOT TO BRING IT BACK TO ANOTHER GPC TO GIVE DIRECTION ON WHERE WE WANT THAT REFINEMENT.

FOR ME, THIS IS IN REVIEWING IT'S A LOT OF IT'S UPDATING THE ZONING BYLAW AND IT'S ABOUT DOING RESEARCH ON SOME INCENTIVES.

IT'S WORKING WITH COMMUNITY PARTNERS.

AND IT WAS IDENTIFIED IN OUR ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT STRATEGY AS ONE OF THE FIVE SECTORS THAT WE WANTED TO WORK ON, AND SO I AM COMFORTABLE WITH WHAT'S BROUGHT FORWARD, I THINK THERE'S GOING TO BE VERY FULSOME DISCUSSIONS WHEN ADMIN BRINGS FORWARD THESE ACTIONS FOR REVIEW AND APPROVAL.

SO STUFF LIKE AN ANIMAL CONTROL BYLAW I'VE HEARD VARYING DIFFERENT OPINIONS ON TODAY.

SO I KNOW THAT'LL BE A JUICY DISCUSSION WHEN IT COMES FORWARD.

INCENTIVES, I THINK, WILL BE A VERY INTERESTING DISCUSSION BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, WE GIVE CHURCHES ONE HUNDRED PERCENT TAX BREAK.

AND SO YOU TALK OF PROVIDING NO INCENTIVE TO AGRICULTURE WHEN IT'S ONE OF OUR FIVE IDENTIFIED ECONOMIC SECTORS.

OK, SO I THINK, AGAIN, THERE'LL BE SOME PRETTY HEARTY DISCUSSIONS FOR EACH ACTION ITEM THAT'S BROUGHT FORWARD.

BUT FOR ME, I'M COMFORTABLE WITH WHAT IT ADMINS RECOMMENDING AN WORKING ON OVER THE NEXT COUPLE OF YEARS.

IF COUNCILLORS IF THE DIRECTION IS THEY WANT THIS TO BE SIMPLIFIED MORE, WE'LL JUST NEED TO I THINK I HAVE TO COME BACK TO GPC AND PROVIDE FURTHER ACTUAL DIRECTION ON THAT COUNCILLOR WILLIAMS. YES, SORRY TO FLIP FLOP HERE, I'M NOT NECESSARILY WANTING IT TO GO BACK FOR A LOT OF EXTRA WORK, SO THAT'S NOT I GUESS, THAT'S I JUST FIND THAT THESE OUTCOMES IS THAT IT JUST CREATES MORE WORK WHEN I WANT SOMETHING THAT'S A LITTLE BIT MORE SIMPLIFIED.

SO THAT ISN'T WHAT MY INTENTION WAS WITH THIS.

LIKE YOU SAID, THE MAJORITY OF IT IS ZONING CONSIDERATIONS.

AND I ACTUALLY THINK WITH ZONING BYLAW BEING TOP OF MIND FOR ADMINISTRATION,

[02:15:02]

THAT TO NOT HAVE THIS COMPONENT BE PART OF THAT OR AT LEAST WE'RE DISRUPTING A WORK PLAN THAT SHEILA HAD ALREADY DETERMINED.

AND I WOULD LIKE TO RESPECT THAT.

I'D BE VERY MUCH ON THE OTHER SIDE OF IT, VERY OPEN TO SUPPORTING ANY AMENDMENTS THAT MY OTHER COUNCILLORS OR MY COLLEAGUES WOULD LIKE TO PROPOSE.

AND I THINK WE'VE GOT A WEEK'S TIME ON THE EMAIL AND THROUGH SOME POLITICS TO DISCUSS SOME OF THOSE THINGS.

AND IF THERE ARE SOME PROPOSED AMENDMENTS, LIKE I SAID, I HAD A COUPLE OF PREPEND UP AND WE CAN CIRCULATE THOSE AND SEE WHERE IT TAKES US ON COUNCIL ON THE DAY.

BUT YEAH, I CERTAINLY AT GPC DON'T WANT TO BE THE VOTE THAT HALTS THE BRAKES ON THIS THING AND SENDS IT BACK TO ADMINISTRATION FOR A BUNCH MORE RESOURCES.

AND BECAUSE THE END OF THE DAY, WHAT I'M TRYING TO DO IS TO HAVE AN AGRICULTURAL STRATEGY, HAVE THAT THE FRAMEWORK BE IN PLACE WITHOUT SOME OF THESE EXTRA COSTS AND INCENTIVES AND THINGS ALONG THOSE LINES.

SO, NO, NO, NOT WANTING TO HALT IT.

SO I WOULD BE IN SUPPORT OF BOTH NIELS AND REBECCA'S MOVING IT.

PERFECT.

AND JUST TO NOTE, THE COUNCIL, THE NEXT COUNCIL MEETING IS MONDAY, APRIL 12TH.

SO BETWEEN NOW AND THEN, IF COUNCILLORS ARE GOING TO BE BRINGING FORWARD AMENDMENTS, JUST CIRCULATE THEM IN AN EMAIL, NOT OPEN FOR DISCUSSION.

YOU JUST PUT IT IN EMAIL AND WE'LL HAVE THE DEBATE AT THE MEETING ON APRIL 12TH.

BUT, YEAH, TAKE SOME MORE TIME TO REVIEW IT AND CONSIDER WHAT ACTION IS ALREADY UNDERWAY.

WHEN I LOOK AT THE ZONING BYLAW, WE'RE KILLING SO MANY BIRDS WITH ONE STONE ON THAT.

THE ZONING BYLAW IS GOING TO ADDRESS AGRICULTURE.

IT'S GOING TO ADDRESS SHORT TERM RENTALS.

IT'S GOING TO ADDRESS CANNABIS.

IT'S GOING TO ADDRESS HOUSING DENSITY.

FOLLOWING THAT IS THE DEVELOPMENT INCENTIVE BYLAW, WHICH IS ABOUT INCENTIVIZING OUR POLICIES AND PRINCIPLES THAT WE WANT TO ACHIEVE THROUGH THE COMMUNITY PLAN.

SO IN REVIEWING THE DEVELOPMENT INCENTIVE BYLAW, PERHAPS THERE'S SOMETHING IN REGARDS TO THE AGRICULTURE OR AND POST-SECONDARY AND HOUSING.

AND SO JUST REMEMBER ALL OF THE CURRENT WORK THAT IS UNDERWAY AND HOW IT'S ALL GOING TO BE FITTING TO TOGETHER TO ADDRESS MULTIPLE OF OUR PRIORITIES AT ONCE.

SO WITH AT LEAST THREE IN FAVOR OF BRINGING FORWARD TO COUNCIL, WE'LL BRING IT FORWARD OR AS AS PRESENTED ON APRIL 12TH.

BUT IF COUNCILLORS DO WANT TO MAKE AMENDMENTS, BY ALL MEANS, CIRCULATE YOUR PROPOSED AMENDMENTS.

WITH THAT, WE WILL MOVE TO ITEM.

SO DO WE STILL HAVE CARLY? YES, WE DO A DISCUSSION REGARDING A REQUEST FROM FOLKS ON THE ROCKS TO

[6. A discussion regarding a request from Folk on the Rocks to declare a half‐day Civic Holiday]

DECLARE A HALF-DAY CIVIC HOLIDAY.

CARLY, IF YOU'D LIKE TO SAY A FEW COMMENTS AND THEN MS. BASSI-KELLETT I'LL GET YOU TO DO OPENING COMMENTS AND THEN WE'LL OPEN IT UP FOR QUESTIONS AND DISCUSSION FROM COUNCIL.

CARLY OVER TO YOU.

I'LL KEEP IT SHORT AND SWEET, I KNOW SOME PEOPLE ARE PRESSED FOR TIME AND I THINK OUR LETTER WAS PRETTY MUCH ALL ENCOMPASSING OF OUR POINTS.

BUT ANYWAY, THANK YOU ALL SO MUCH FOR HAVING ME AND FOR CONSIDERING OUR REQUEST.

AND ALSO THANK YOU FOR ALL THE SUPPORT THAT WE HAVE RECEIVED FROM THE CITY OVER THE LAST 40 YEARS, AND ESPECIALLY WITHIN THE LAST FIVE WITH THE MANY UNIQUE CHALLENGES THAT WE HAVE FACED.

LIKE I SAID, I THINK OUR LETTER REALLY DOES SPEAK WELL TO OUR REQUEST, BUT I JUST WANTED TO HIGHLIGHT A FEW ITEMS. SO AS MENTIONED, OUR FESTIVAL IS AT OVER 40 YEARS OF TRADITION IN THE COMMUNITY OR A TRADITION IN THE COMMUNITY WITH MULTIPLE GENERATIONS TAKING PART IN THIS AND MAKING IT A PART OF OUR ANNUAL SUMMER CELEBRATION.

SO BY MAKING THIS A HOLIDAY, IT WILL ENCOURAGE MORE FOLKS TO BRING THEIR FAMILIES OUT AND JOIN IN ON THIS SPECIAL NORTHERN EVENT.

WE ALSO THINK THAT IT WILL ALLOW MORE PEOPLE TO EASILY VOLUNTEER ON FRIDAY ACTIVITIES, WHICH IS, OF COURSE, DIRECTLY BENEFICIAL TO US AS WE STRUGGLE WITH OUR AFTERNOON PROGRAMING AND HAVING ENOUGH VOLUNTEERS.

BUT WE DO ALSO THINK THAT THIS IS ANOTHER WAY FOR A LOT OF PEOPLE TO OBTAIN A FREE FESTIVAL PASS, WHICH IS IMPORTANT TO A LOT OF FOLKS, AND ADDITIONALLY MAKE VOLUNTEERING WITH FOLK ON THE ROCKS PART OF THEIR OWN TRADITIONS.

A LOT OF TIMES ENTIRE FAMILIES VOLUNTEER WITH US FOR YEARS AND YEARS.

SO OPENING UP THE FRIDAY COULD HELP IMPROVE VOLUNTEER ACTIVITY ON THE [INAUDIBLE].

[02:20:08]

AND LASTLY, OR NOT LASTLY BUT GETTING CLOSE.

WE'VE HAD A TOUGH YEAR, ALL OF US, AS A COMMUNITY, BOTH IN YELLOWKNIFE AND GLOBALLY.

WE KNOW HOW MANY PEOPLE ARE LOOKING FORWARD TO THE FESTIVAL.

AND I THINK MY HEADPHONES ARE DYING [INAUDIBLE].

YEAH NO WE CAN'T HEAR YOU.

A LITTLE BIT THERE.

OH, SORRY, CARLY.

OK, SO CARLY'S HEADPHONES DIED.

OH WE CAN HEAR YOU NOW.

OK, GREAT.

I'M REALLY SORRY MY HEADPHONES DIED.

YEAH, I'VE BEEN WEARING THEM ALL DAY, SO I SHOULD HAVE ANTICIPATED THAT WAS GOING TO HAPPEN.

MY APOLOGIES ANYWAY.

SO IT'S BEEN A REALLY TOUGH YEAR.

YOU KNOW A LOT OF PEOPLE ARE LOOKING FORWARD TO THE FESTIVAL AND WE THINK THAT THIS YEAR, ESPECIALLY MAKING IT A HOLIDAY COULD BE AN ADDITIONAL BOOST TO OUR COMMUNITY, MAKE PEOPLE FEEL GOOD AND ESPECIALLY A BOOST TO THE ARTS AND CULTURE COMMUNITY, WHICH IS REALLY HURTING AND COULD USE A LITTLE EXTRA LOVE RIGHT NOW.

AND WE KNOW THAT YELLOWKNIFE IS A WINTER CITY, BUT WE FEEL THAT WE'RE SORT OF THE SUMMER COUNTERPART TO THE LONG JOHN JAMBOREE AND THAT THEIR FRIDAY HOLIDAY IS KIND OF LIKE A SEASONAL MIRROR FOR US OR THAT WE FEEL IT WOULD BE FAIR FOR US TO BE A SEASONAL MIRROR TO THEIR FRIDAY HOLIDAY AND THAT IT WOULD SHOW THE VALUE THAT THE CITY PLACES ON EVENTS LIKE THIS THROUGHOUT THE YEAR.

AND JUST AS THE JAMBOREE SORT OF HIGHLIGHTS THE END OF WINTER AND THE TURN TO SPRING, WE SORT OF WE FEEL THAT WE MARK THE START OF A SHORT AND INTENSE SUMMER THAT A LOT OF NORTHERNERS PUT ON THEIR CALENDAR AS JUST THAT.

YEAH, THAT IS BASICALLY IT I GUESS, WHICH IS MOSTLY IN THE LETTER, BUT JUST WANTED TO HIGHLIGHT THOSE POINTS.

ANY QUESTIONS FOR THE PRESENTER? SEEING NONE, THANK YOU AGAIN, CARLY.

OH COUNCILLOR MORSE.

WELL, ACTUALLY, SORRY, MY QUESTIONS AREN'T FOR THE PRESENTERS IT'S FOR ADMINISTRATION.

OKAY PERFECT.

THANKS CARLY.

IF YOU'D LIKE TO INTRODUCE OR HAVE A FEW POINTS FOR ADMIN.

ABSOLUTELY, AND THANK YOU CARLY FOR BEING HERE, FOR WAITING AS LONG AS YOU HAVE TO SPEAK.

SO IT'S NOT NEWS TO ANYBODY THAT FOLK, OF COURSE, IS AN ABSOLUTELY ICONIC YELLOWKNIFE EVENT THAT IS MUCH LOVED BY EVERYBODY.

AND THE BOARD HAS COME FORWARD PROPOSING THAT COUNCIL CONSIDER MAKING THE FRIDAY BEFORE THE ANNUAL FESTIVAL INTO A CIVIC HOLIDAY.

SO A LITTLE BIT OF INFORMATION IN TERMS OF WHAT THE PARAMETERS ARE THAT WE FACE.

THE CITIES, TOWNS AND VILLAGES ACT DOES NOT HAVE A PROVISION RIGHT NOW THAT GIVES US THE ABILITY BY BYLAW TO DECLARE ONE DAY OR TO BE A CIVIC HOLIDAY.

IT'S OPENED UP.

SO IT'S NOT AS PRESCRIPTIVE AS IT USED TO BE.

SO COUNCIL DOES HAVE THE ABILITY THROUGH GENERAL POWERS TO BE ABLE TO DO THINGS LIKE THIS.

WHAT WE DO SEE IS THAT THE GOVERNMENT OF THE NORTHWEST TERRITORIES COMMITS TO SUPPORTING ONE HALF DAY CIVIC HOLIDAY PER COMMUNITY PER YEAR THAT THEY WILL GIVE THUMBS UP TO AND THAT THEY WILL CONFIRM THAT THEIR STAFF IN THAT COMMUNITY CAN HAVE THE TIME OFF TO PARTICIPATE IN THOSE EVENTS.

SO ONE HALF DAY PER YEAR FROM GNWT.

AND SO HISTORICALLY, COUNCIL HAD DECIDED TO IMPLEMENT THE LONG JOHN JAMBOREE BYLAW, WHICH PROVIDES FOR A HALF DAY CIVIC HOLIDAY WHENEVER THE LONG JOHN JAMBOREE IS TAKING PLACE.

AND THAT BYLAW WAS DEVELOPED, I IMAGINE, IN RESPONSE TO THE FACT THAT HERETOFORE, IF COUNCIL WANTED THAT CARNIVAL THAT WINTER CARNIVAL AFTER A CIVIC HOLIDAY EVERY YEAR, A BYLAW HAD TO BE PRODUCED.

THE LONG JOHN WAS ESTABLISHED.

COUNCIL'S DIRECTION AT THAT TIME WAS LET'S DO IT ONCE SO WE DON'T HAVE TO KEEP REVISITING IN THIS YEAR AFTER YEAR.

SO JUST HAVING SAID THAT, THEN, I JUST WANT TO FLAG THAT, ADDING CIVIC HOLIDAYS RELATED TO IMPORTANT LOCAL EVENTS AND FESTIVALS CERTAINLY DOES ADD A PRECEDENT, AND THAT'S SOMETHING FOR COUNCIL TO BE AWARE OF.

SO WHILE THERE ISN'T A LONG JOHN JAMBOREE THIS YEAR, IF THERE IS ONE IN THE FUTURE, AND YET A PRECEDENT HAS BEEN SET FOR HAVING A CIVIC HOLIDAY FOR OTHER FESTIVALS, COUNCIL WILL NEED TO THINK ABOUT THAT AND NEED TO THINK ABOUT THE IMPLICATIONS OF THAT.

CERTAINLY RECOGNIZING THAT GNWT STAFF WILL ONLY GET ONE OF THOSE HALF DAYS OFF PER YEAR.

AND THE WINTER CARNIVALS ARE A GREAT THING TO BE ABLE TO DO.

[02:25:01]

IT'S A VERY TYPICAL NORTHERN THING.

THAT'S CERTAINLY BEEN THAT'S WHERE OUR HISTORY AND CULTURE COMES FROM, IS THE RETURN OF THE SUN.

WE ALSO SEE THE FOLK AS A VERY IMPORTANT PART OF THE COMMUNITY, BUT WE DO SEE THAT THERE IS A PRECEDENT THAT WOULD BE SET BY OPENING THIS UP FOR TO HAVE A HALF DAY CIVIC HOLIDAY FOR FOLK AS WELL.

THERE ARE A LOT OF REALLY IMPORTANT EVENTS THAT HAPPEN THAT WE COULD CERTAINLY SEE COUNCIL BEING ASKED TO CONSIDER CIVIC HOLIDAYS FOR THOSE OTHER EVENTS AS WELL.

COUNCILLOR MORSE I GUESS YOU HAD A QUESTION.

YEAH, WELL, ADMINISTRATION KIND OF ANSWERED IT, I MEAN, I WAS JUST GOING TO ASK ADMINISTRATION TO COMMENT ON THE VIABILITY OF THIS AND WHETHER.

SO I GUESS I'LL GO TO COMMENTS.

I THINK THIS IS A NICE IDEA FOR THE UPCOMING SUMMER.

I THINK THAT THE FACT THAT WE DIDN'T END UP HAVING A HOLIDAY, I DON'T THINK WE'RE HAVING A HOLIDAY IN RELATION TO LONG JOHN JAMBOREE THIS YEAR BECAUSE IT IS NOT GOING FORWARD.

RIGHT.

SO MAYBE WHAT I MIGHT PROPOSE IS THAT WE TRY IT THIS SUMMER FOR FOLK, SEE HOW IT WORKS OUT, NOT NECESSARILY MAKE IT A BYLAW THAT'S THAT'S ONGOING YEAR AFTER YEAR AFTER YEAR.

AND CIRCUMSTANCES MAY CHANGE NEXT YEAR.

SO IF COUNCILLORS WOULD BE OK WITH THAT.

AND IF ADMINISTRATION THINKS THAT'S OK, THEN I THINK THAT WOULD BE A REASONABLE WAY TO GIVE FOLK A LITTLE BIT OF A BOOST IN A DIFFICULT YEAR.

AND WE'RE NOT USING UP MORE HOLIDAYS THAN AS ADMINISTRATION NOTED IT ALLOWS FOR.

AND THEN WE'LL JUST KIND OF REVISIT THIS NEXT YEAR IF WE NEED TO.

IS THAT A REASONABLE SUGGESTION? YES, SO THIS HAS BEEN BROUGHT FORWARD BECAUSE IT'S REALLY THE POLITICAL WILL OF COUNCIL.

SO IF COUNCILLORS ARE IN SUPPORT, THEN WHAT WOULD HAPPEN WOULD BE WE WOULD DIRECT ADMINISTRATION TO COME BACK WITH A BYLAW AND THEN WE WOULD APPROVE IT AT THAT TIME.

REALLY, FROM AN ADMINISTRATIVE PERSPECTIVE, IT'S JUST DRAFTING THE BYLAW AND GIVING STAFF TIME OFF, WHICH PERHAPS MS. BASSI-KELLETT WOULD WANT TO SPEAK TO.

IF IT'S A CIVIC HOLIDAY IS IT JUST CITY HALL STAFF THAT GETS THE TIME OFF AND EVERYBODY ELSE GETS PAID TIME AND A HALF FROM A CITY PERSPECTIVE? THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

YES, THAT'S CORRECT.

PEOPLE THAT ARE WORKING SHIFTS THAT DON'T HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO SHUT DOWN AND NOT PERFORM THEIR DUTIES NEED TO CONTINUE TO WORK.

THAT'S OVER HALF OF OUR STAFF WITHIN THE CITY ITSELF.

SO PEOPLE WOULD NEED TO CONTINUE.

THANK YOU, COUNCILLOR WILLIAMS. THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR, AND THANK YOU FOR THE SUGGESTION, COUNCILLOR MORSE I WOULD AGREE WITH JUST MAYBE ONE SMALL, SLIGHT ADJUSTMENT, YOU KNOW, IN RECOGNITION OF MS. BASSI-KELLETT CONCERN ABOUT SETTING A PRECEDENT YOU KNOW MAYBE FOR THIS YEAR, BECAUSE WE HAVE THE LUXURY OF KNOWING THAT THE LONG JOHN JAMBOREE ISN'T GOING AHEAD, MAYBE FOR 2021.

IN LIEU OF LONG JOHN JAMBOREE, WE COULD HAVE THE CIVIC HOLIDAY AS OPPOSED TO HAVING IT THEN BE A BYLAW AND A REOCCURRING EVENT.

I THINK THAT ALSO THAT THE FOLK ON THE ROCKS THIS YEAR WILL BE TARGETED A BIT MORE AT A LOCAL PERFORMERS AND MAYBE HAVE MORE CHALLENGES ATTRACTING VOLUNTEERS.

AND MAYBE FOR THIS YEAR, IT MAKES A LOT OF SENSE FOR US TO DO THIS.

SO I WOULD CERTAINLY BE IN SUPPORT OF WORDING IT IN SUCH A WAY THAT IN LIEU OF LONG JOHN JAMBOREE FOR 2021 SEASON, SOMETHING ALONG THOSE LINES.

AND THEN IF THERE WAS A DESIRE FOR COUNCIL TO THEN READDRESS IT AND MAYBE MAKE IT PERMANENT, THEN THAT WOULD BE THE CASE.

BUT YEAH I'D CERTAINLY BE IN SUPPORT FOR 2021.

I DON'T SEE ANY PROBLEM AND I THINK THAT IT WOULD BE GREAT IF EVERYBODY DIDN'T GET THEIR HALF DAY OFF IN MARCH.

SO I THINK THEY'D BE LOOKING FORWARD TO THEIR HALF DAY OFF IN JULY.

YEAH, YEAH, SO ADMIN CAN DRAFTED A BYLAW THAT MAKES IT VALID FOR JUST ONE YEAR, WHAT WE USED TO DO FOR OUR CARIBOU CARNIVAL AND LONG JOHN JAMBOREE WAS EVERY YEAR IT WOULD COME TO COUNCIL AND WE'D DEBATE IT.

SO FROM A PROCESS PERSPECTIVE, IT'S LIKE, WELL, INSTEAD OF DOING THIS, WE'LL JUST MAKE IT WHATEVER A LONG JOHN'S HELD.

SO, YES, THE RECOMMENDATION OF MAKING IT A ONE YEAR TERM BYLAW CAN BE DONE.

COUNCILLOR MORGAN.

THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR.

SO JUST TO CLARIFY, RIGHT NOW WITH LONG JOHN JAMBOREE IT'S JUST AN ONGOING THING THAT THE HOLIDAY HAPPENS AS LONG AS LONG JOHN JAMBOREE IS HAPPENING, WE DON'T DEBATE

[02:30:02]

IT EVERY YEAR.

SO IF WE DID THIS NEW HALF DAY CIVIC HOLIDAY THIS SUMMER.

BUT WE CAN MAKE IT SO THAT IT DIDN'T NECESSARILY RECUR EVERY YEAR, IT WAS JUST A ONE TIME THING.

OK? I'M SEEING NODDING HEADS.

SO CAN YOU JUST CLARIFY THE PROCESS, TOO? IT SEEMED IN THE MEMO THAT IF WE DECLARE CIVIC HOLIDAY WE COULD THEN REQUEST THAT THE GNWT I DON'T KNOW WHAT IF YOU ENDORSE IT OR SOMETHING SO THAT THEY GIVE THEIR EMPLOYEES THE HOLIDAY AS WELL.

SEEING NODDING HEADS.

AND THE PRACTICE HAS BEEN TO ONLY ALLOW THAT FOR ONE HALF DAY PER YEAR PER COMMUNITY.

SO IF WE DID, FOR EXAMPLE, LET THIS CONTINUE NEXT YEAR AND WE DECLARED LONG JOHN JAMBOREE AND FOLK ON THE ROCKS EACH TO BE A HALF DAY CIVIC HOLIDAY.

AND ONLY ONE OF THEM GOT SUPPORTED BY THE GNWT IS THE IMPLICATION THAT OK CITY HOLIDAYS GET THE DAY OFF, BUT NOT GNWT LIKE, IS THE GNWT GOING TO PUSH BACK OR CARE IF WE'RE DECLARING A HOLIDAY, BUT THEY'RE NOT ENDORSING IT? LIKE, WHAT ARE THE IMPLICATIONS THERE IF WE END UP BY CHANCE NEXT YEAR WITH TWO 1/2 DAY CIVIC HOLIDAYS IN TERMS OF THE GNWT.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR THE QUESTION.

SO THE GNWT HAS MADE IT CLEAR THEY WILL SUPPORT ONE HALF DAY OFF FOR A CIVIC EVENT FOR A COMMUNITY, THAT THEY WILL HAVE THEIR STAFF IN THAT COMMUNITY ABLE TO TAKE THE AFTERNOON OFF.

AND WHETHER IT'S THE KAMBA CARNIVAL ON THE KATLÂODEECHE RESERVE OR LONG JOHN OR WHATEVER THE FESTIVAL IS OR THE EVENT IS ONE HALF DAY PER YEAR.

SO THERE ARE IMPLICATIONS FOR EMPLOYERS FOR THIS, FOR GIVING STAFF THE TIME OFF.

SO I THINK THAT'S PART OF THEIR THINKING OF LIMITING THIS.

SO THERE WASN'T A COMMUNITY OR A COUNCIL SUMMER THAT SAID LET'S MAKE A CIVIC HOLIDAY EVERY FRIDAY AFTERNOON.

WOULDN'T THAT BE JOLLY? CERTAINLY THERE'S IMPLICATIONS AROUND THAT.

SO THEY ARE WILLING TO ENDORSE ONE PER COMMUNITY PER YEAR.

ARE THERE ANY IMPLICATIONS TO THE CITY IF WE ENDED UP WITH MORE THAN ONE CIVIC HOLIDAY IN THE GWNT ONLY SUPPORTED ONE? IS THAT A RISK OR A DANGER FOR THE CITY OR IT'S JUST LIKE, OH, WELL, THE GNWT EMPLOYEES DIDN'T GET THE TIME OFF, IT MAY BE IT JUST MAKES THE HOLIDAY LESS MEANINGFUL IF WE DON'T GET THE GNWT ON BOARD BECAUSE LESS PEOPLE ARE ABLE TO ATTEND.

OK, I MEAN, I'M WILLING TO SUPPORT DOING THIS, THIS SUMMER FOR FOLK ON THE ROCKS SINCE PEOPLE DIDN'T GET THEIR HALF DAY FOR LONG JOHN JAMBOREE.

AND WE'LL HAVE TO MAKE A NOTE TO REVISIT NEXT YEAR.

I KNOW THERE WAS CONCERN ABOUT SETTING A PRECEDENT, BUT WE DON'T NECESSARILY HAVE TO JUST LET IT GO ON OR CONTINUE EVERY YEAR.

AND I THINK IT WOULD BE AN APPROPRIATE THING TO DO THIS YEAR BECAUSE THE CIRCUMSTANCES ARE SO DIFFERENT WITH COVID.

MY EIGHT YEARS, I THINK WE'VE SEEN THIS STUFF LIKE THIS COME TO COUNCIL I DON'T KNOW TWO OR THREE TIMES.

AND, YOU KNOW, I ALWAYS ASK, WHAT IS THE COST TO, YOU KNOW, WHAT DOES IT COST FOR THE CITY TO LET ALL THERE EMPLOYEES GO ON, HAVE A HALF A DAY OFF? AND REALLY WHAT I HEAR CARLY IS SAYING IS THEY NEED VOLUNTEERS.

SO YOU KNOW, AND I BELIEVE I SAID THIS BEFORE, TOO, LIKE, YOU KNOW, I WOULD BE SUPPORTIVE OF THE CITY SAYING IF ANY CITY STAFF WANTS TO VOLUNTEER ON THAT FRIDAY AFTERNOON THEY CAN GO TO FOLK ON THE ROCKS, THEY CAN REGISTER TO BE A VOLUNTEER, THEY CAN GO OUT AND DO THEIR VOLUNTEERISM, AND THEN THE CITY PAYS THEM BASICALLY TO BE AT FOLK ON THE ROCK.

BUT I DON'T SUPPORT HAVING JUST A CIVIC HOLIDAY BECAUSE I DON'T THINK HAVING A CIVIC HOLIDAY SUPPORTS FOLK ON THE ROCK'S, GETTING MORE VOLUNTEERS AT ALL.

I THINK THE VAST MAJORITY OF PEOPLE ARE GOING TO GO, YAY, WE GET A FRIDAY AFTERNOON OFF TO GO TO WHATEVER AND DO WHATEVER WE WANT.

THE KIDS ARE IN SCHOOL, ACTUALLY IT'S IN THE SUMMER, SO THE KIDS AREN'T IN SCHOOL.

HOPEFULLY THEY SPEND TIME WITH THEIR KIDS.

BUT, YOU KNOW, LIKE, I DON'T SUPPORT THE CIVIC HOLIDAYS IS WHAT IT BASICALLY BOILS DOWN TO.

BUT THE ADMINISTRATION WAS WILLING TO DO SOMETHING WITH OUR EMPLOYEES THAT SAID THAT IF THEY VOLUNTEER ON THAT FRIDAY, THAT THEY COULD GET THE AFTERNOON OFF TO VOLUNTEER AND THEY GET PAID FOR THE DAY THAT I WOULD SUPPORT BUT HAVING A CIVIC HOLIDAY, I DO NOT.

MS. BASSI-KELLETT ANY COMMENT FROM ADMINISTRATION ON THE IDEA.

YES, THIS IS A BIG CONCERN FOR ME WHAT COUNCILLOR KONGE HAS PROPOSED, CERTAINLY WE

[02:35:09]

DON'T HAVE ENOUGH STAFF TO DO WHAT WE NEED TO DO ALL THE TIME.

AND CERTAINLY THIS IS GETTING INTO THE PARAMETERS OF EMPLOYMENT IN TERMS OF EMPLOYMENT, WHICH WE DO NEGOTIATE WITH THE BARGAINING AGENTS FOR THE DIFFERENT EMPLOYEES THAT WE HAVE IN DIFFERENT BARGAINING GROUPS.

SO CERTAINLY THIS IS SOMETHING THAT HAS BEEN DISCUSSED IN BARGAINING AND WAS NOT ADOPTED BY ANY OF THE UNIONS THAT WE DEAL WITH THE CONCEPT OF A DAY OFF TO VOLUNTEER FOR A CHARITY OR NGO OF AN EMPLOYEE'S CHOICE.

WE CERTAINLY WOULD LIKE TO SEE THAT IN THE FUTURE IF THAT WAS SOMETHING.

BUT AGAIN, THERE'S QUITE A PRECEDENT THAT WOULD BE SET BY SOMETHING LIKE THIS.

AND THERE I GET VERY CONCERNED WITH OUR CAPACITY TO DO OUR DAY JOB.

THEN HEARING THAT I WOULDN'T EVEN SUPPORT THAT, IT'S IMPORTANT TO YOU KNOW, THE COLLECTIVE BARGAINING FOLKS, WHEN THEY'RE BARGAINING TO DO THAT, THEN THEY CAN BRING IT FORWARD.

SO UNFORTUNATELY, THIS IS NOT SOMETHING THAT I SUPPORT.

FOR MYSELF TO THE CIVIC DAYS ARE ALWAYS TOUGH, EVEN FOR OUR WORKFORCE, IT'S NOT FAIRLY IT'S NOT WELL RECEIVED BY EVERYBODY BECAUSE CITY HALL GETS IT OFF, BUT ALL OF OUR OTHER EMPLOYEES STILL HAVE TO WORK AND KEEP SERVICES GOING.

AND I KNOW BUSINESSES, TOO.

IT'S I THINK IT SHOULD BE LEFT UP TO THEM TO GIVE HALF DAYS TO THEIR EMPLOYEES WHEN THEY WANT.

SO ONCE THE CITY AND THE GNWT ARE GIVING DAYS OFF, SOME EMPLOYERS FOLLOW, OTHERS DON'T.

AND IT'S A BIT UNEQUAL OR IT'S KIND OF VIEWED AS ANOTHER BONUS, I GUESS, OF WORKING FOR GOVERNMENT, WHICH IS GREAT.

WE DO WANT TO BE AN EMPLOYER OF CHOICE, BUT SO I'M NOT SUPPORTIVE OF THE CIVIC HOLIDAY, I'M JUST NOT REALLY SUPPORTIVE OF CIVIC HOLIDAYS.

I THINK I'M MORE ON THE STATUTORY PUBLIC STATUTORY HOLIDAYS ARE ALREADY SET AND YEAH, SO THAT'S MY STANCE.

BUT THERE'S THREE IN FAVOR.

SO WE WILL I GUESS MS. BASSI-KELLETT BRING THIS FORWARD ON APRIL 12TH.

ADMINISTRATION WOULD LIKE THE MOTION TO DIRECT THE ADMINISTRATION TO DRAFT A BYLAW.

WE'LL BRING THAT FORWARD AT OUR NEXT COUNCIL MEETING, WHICH WILL BE MONDAY, APRIL 12TH, WHICH WILL BE A MOTION TO DIRECT ADMINISTRATION TO DRAFT A BYLAW FOR 1/2 DAY CIVIC HOLIDAY FOR FOLK ON THE ROCKS FOR 2021.

AND THEN FOLLOWING THAT, THE BYLAW WILL BE DRAFTED AND THEN BROUGHT FORWARD TO COUNCIL FOR REVIEW AND APPROVAL.

COUNCILLOR MORSE.

I'M SORRY, CAN I JUST ASK ONE QUESTION TO THE PRESENTER? YES.

CARLY.

YEAH, I JUST WANTED TO ASK, WHAT WAS IT THE FOLK WAS ENVISIONING ON DOING WITH THE HALF-DAY, LIKE IS THERE GOING TO BE KIND OF AN EXPANDED OFFERING? IS THE FESTIVAL GOING TO BE EXTENDED? THERE'S GOING TO BE LIKE SHOWS WITHIN TOWN, LIKE WHAT WAS FOLK KIND OF ENVISIONING THE HOLIDAY WOULD BE USED FOR? YEAH, SO WE ACTUALLY ALREADY HAVE PROGRAMMING IN TOWN ON THE FRIDAY AFTERNOON, IT STARTS AT NOON IN [INAUDIBLE] OF THE PLAZA, SO RIGHT BESIDE CITY HALL AND THAT'S FREE, FAMILY FRIENDLY PROGRAMING SO IT'S ACTUALLY A COMPONENT OF OUR PROGRAMMING THAT WE DON'T CHARGE FOR.

SO ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE'D LIKE TO DO IS BE ABLE TO ENCOURAGE MORE FOLKS TO COME OUT, ESPECIALLY WITH THEIR FAMILIES.

WE OFTEN PUT ON CHILDREN'S PERFORMERS OR PERFORMERS THAT ARE LIKE I SAID SUPER FAMILY FRIENDLY.

IF THE HOLIDAY WAS GRANTED THEN I WOULD SEE US EXTENDING PROGRAMING THROUGH THE AFTERNOON.

NORMALLY WE TAKE A LUNCH BREAK.

WELL IT'S MORE LIKE IT STARTS AT 2 A BREAK FROM TWO TO FOUR AND WE START AGAIN.

BUT WE DO HAVE SOME PLANS TO EXTEND PROGRAMING, INCLUDE SOME MORE ACTIVITY BASED PROGRAMING IN THE AFTERNOON IF THE HOLIDAY WAS TO GO FORWARD.

OK, THANKS.

SEEING NOTHING FURTHER, WE WILL BRING THAT MOTION TO COUNCIL ON APRIL 12TH.

YEAH, APRIL 12TH PERFECT.

THANK YOU CARLY FOR COMING AND YEAH, IT'LL BE COMING FORWARD AGAIN FOR DISCUSSION APRIL 12TH AT 7:00 P.M.. AWESOME.

THANK YOU SO MUCH HAVE A GREAT DAY.

THANKS, YOU, TOO.

NEXT, WE HAVE A MEMORANDUM REGARDING WHETHER TO REVIEW AND REVISE COMMITTEES OF

[5. A memorandum regarding whether to review and revise Committees of Council and their Terms of Reference and whether to draft a Framework for Public Engagement.]

COUNCIL AND THEIR TERMS OF REFERENCE AND WHETHER TO DRAFT A FRAMEWORK FOR PUBLIC

[02:40:03]

ENGAGEMENTS.

MS. BASSI-KELLETT IF YOU'D LIKE TO INTRODUCE THE ITEM.