Louis Sebert

A letter was sent to standing committee in August of 2016, indicating that we were thinking about changing these fees that had been in effect for a very long period of time. The changes were proposed in the 2016-2017 business plans, and discussed with committee, and also discussed during the Lands mains estimates in February 2017, in accordance with our established protocols. In July 2017 we informed SCOPP that the consultation period had closed, and that we were proceeding with amending regulations, and that the pre-gazette period was about to start. The period was for 90 days, and ended on...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I would like to recognize Kevin Smith, Deputy Mayor of Fort Smith and recently very active in the Arctic Winter Games. Thank you.

Mr. Speaker, I give notice that on Monday, May 28, 2018, I will move that Bill 14, Miscellaneous Statute Law Amendment Act 2018, be read for the first time. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Mr. Speaker, I wish to table the following two documents entitled "Follow-up Letter for Oral Question 121-18(3): TerraX Ptarmigan Mine," and "Follow-up Letter for Oral Question 165-18(3): Land Tenure Engagement Sessions." Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

As I mentioned earlier, there was a consultation period that closed on October 1st, 2017, and, of course, this matter was before the public. As I mentioned, it was in the media, it was discussed in the House, so people were certainly aware of these changes that were coming. So I think there was sufficient consultation with the public on this issue. We certainly did hear from Members opposite, and I'm sure Members opposite will recall that we did make amendments to certain of the proposed amendments, in the sense that we lowered from 10 to 5 per cent of the assessed value of certain residential...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The new leases' amounts, of course, came into effect on April 1st, and the media was briefed on the changes we were making the week prior to that. These changes had been discussed in the business plans during the winter session, and the media announcement went forward as part of a formal notification to the residents of the Northwest Territories of the changes. Letters were also sent out to each of the lessees on March 19, 2018. The press, the media had been aware of these changes; I see a story as long ago as February 2017, when these very changes were discussed. So...

What is most important and should be paramount in our minds is resolving this situation of longstanding equity leases, which has been a thorn in the side of the residents and the Minister for some time. We sought to resolve it in the most efficient way possible. We have agreed, however, that to speed things up, there will be more employees. At least, I hope that will be the result of having more employees, but the real point of this is to resolve the matter, and that is what we are proposing to do. I think the proposal as we have changed it, from three to five and the placement of those...

This proposal for these five positions was thought out over a period of time, and, as I say, I do not think it's necessary that the employees, these five employees, be in the same communities as the leases are located. It's more important that they have surrounding them the correct support, both from current employees and perhaps retired employees, to finally resolve this matter of these long-standing equity leases.

I don't know whether we would be able to identify candidates and resources by May 24th. That is the issue, so I cannot make that commitment. Thank you.

As I mentioned earlier, there are trained people in Fort Smith. Plus, those who are currently working and those who are retired can assist in training the five candidates for these positions. As proposed, we are going to have two positions remaining in Fort Smith. Two of the positions will be in Fort Smith. One will be in Inuvik, one in Yellowknife, and one in either Fort Simpson or Fort Providence. Now, there are many considerations that will have to go into the placement of those positions, whether in Fort Simpson or Fort Providence; the availability of candidates, office space, and support.