Louis Sebert

Yes, that certainly is a problem in some communities. We do recognize that. It seems to me that what is needed perhaps is a zoning change, so that could be dealt with through MACA, but I will let Mr. Hagen add to that if he wishes to assist.

I think the contents of the opinion, we have shared in a general sense, which has led to the position we have taken. The actual opinion itself, we can't share because it is privileged.

Mr. Chair, the promise, as I understand it, was made specifically to those holders of property at Cassidy Point; it wasn't made to the general public. I also understand that, after that promise was made, if I have the dates right, the land-lease-only policy came into effect for those properties in unsettled areas. So I don't see it as a precedent. I did refer to the honour of the Crown, and I realize that's a term of art that often refers to government relations with Aboriginal groups; but it also, in my view, applies to our situation. A promise was made. People doubtless relied upon it at...

The department, of course, and we have responsibility for the lands, we're looking at our approach for land tenures and the availability of land for agricultural purposes. The problem, which is somewhat related to some of the matters I spoke of earlier, is that land availability in the unsettled land claim areas is constrained, if I can put it that way, by existing land withdrawals. So we do want to go ahead. This is in the interest of the government as a whole, mainly driven by the Department of Industry, Tourism and Investment and their agricultural strategy. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Yes, I do, Mr. Chair.

I felt, Mr. Chair, that cutting it in half was very reasonable. I don't know whether Mr. Hagen wants to add anything to that. I think it is important to remember that, overall, the department is not turning a profit on leases. We are administering an area double the size of most European countries. It is an expensive, complicated process. This isn't making money for us, as I understand it. I will let Mr. Hagen add to that if he wishes.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. We are going around in circles a bit here, but, as I say, they did meet all security requirements. They might see a sudden change as arbitrary, but I will look into this. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. This issue of equity leases has been a long-standing problem. There are approximately 245 equity leases throughout the Northwest Territories. Only about a quarter, or 64, are in the settled regions, and 181 are within the unsettled areas. When I first heard about this issue, I think it might have been prior to my being elected; I might have heard it from clients; certainly, I heard from Members of my profession after I was elected, I had assumed that this would be fairly simple to straighten out, thinking that all of these leases would be at least similar. They are not...

Thank you, Mr. Chair. Well, to state the obvious, an unauthorized occupant is someone who puts up a permanent structure and occupies land without a lease or without a legal right to occupy the land. That has been an issue in the Northwest Territories for some time. Our estimate is that there are about 715 structures on public land that do not have any tenure, that is to say, no lease or other legal right, and about two thirds to three quarters of those are in the Yellowknife area. Thank you.

I have not contemplated that to this point, but certainly would be willing to look into it. Thank you.