Louis Sebert

If the lease, again, is assigned to a new lessee, then that lessee takes over the terms of that equity lease. There may be circumstances, and this would depend on the terms of the lease, where a portion of the equity could be returned. I looked today at a lease where there was a partial refunded equity. There may be, in some cases, partial refunds of equity, but generally speaking, what happens is that, if the equity lease is assigned to a lessee, the new lessee takes over the terms of the equity lease.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The equity leases are contracts that the department is managing and administering in accordance with the lease terms and conditions. If an existing equity lease expires, the department places the lessee in what is known as an overholding tenancy, and so, if the equity portion is paid, the annual lease would be $1 per year. The department is bound by the terms of the lease, and we are allowing the lessee to go into an overholding position. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I'd like to recognize my wife Anne who is in the gallery with family friend Jim Umpherson.

Mr. Speaker, I wish to table the following two documents entitled "Follow-Up Letter for Oral Question 570-18(3): Supreme Court of Canada Redwater Decision" and "Follow-Up Letter for Oral Question 651-18(3): Equity Leases." Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Masi. Oral questions. Member for Yellowknife Centre.

Mr. Speaker, I move, seconded by the honourable Member for Hay River South, that Bill 46, Public Land Act, be read for the second time. This bill repeals the Commissioner's Land Act and the Northwest Territories Lands Act and replaces them with a consolidated statute that comprehensively governs all public land within the Northwest Territories. Mr. Speaker, I request a recorded vote. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Mr. Speaker, in recognition of global Open Government Week, I would like to take this opportunity to update this House on our government's progress in advancing our mandate commitments for increasing government transparency and accountability.

One year ago, Mr. Speaker, I stood on this floor and announced the release of our government's Open Government Policy. The policy represented an important step towards fulfilling our government's pledge to greater openness and transparency.

Mr. Speaker, the Open Government Policy committed our government to develop directives and guidelines to improve the...

Mr. Speaker, I move, seconded by the honourable Member for Hay River South, that Bill 46, Public Land Act, be read for the first time. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I move, seconded by the honourable Member for Hay River South, that Bill 45, Corrections Act, be read for the second time. This act repeals and replaces the former act. The new act focuses less on punishment and more on rehabilitation and community reintegration of offenders. Operational improvements are made, including with respect to risk management and security, quality assurance and monitoring, case management and programming, and staff training. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Mr. Speaker, I wish to table the following two documents entitled "Letter from President and CEO, Canadian Life and Health Insurance Association to Assistant Deputy Minister, Justice regarding Genetics and Insurance, dated March 5, 2019"; and "Follow-up Letter for Oral Question 619-18(3): National Energy Board Regulatory Authority in the Northwest Territories." Thank you, Mr. Speaker.