Thebacha

Statements in Debates

Debates of , 18th Assembly, 3rd Session (day 14)

Thank you, Mr. Chair. Certainly, both inside this House and outside this House, I did hear loud and clear that people felt that the 10 per cent was too much. I agree with that. Therefore, the amount that we are looking at is half of that, which is 5 per cent of the assessed value. That is the value of the land. If there are improvements on it, that won't affect the lease for the land. Thank you.

Debates of , 18th Assembly, 3rd Session (day 14)

As I mentioned previously, Canadian Zinc has met all current security requirements under the permits, licences, and authorizations, and we are holding slightly over $2 million in securities. I am not certain, but I could look into it to see whether an overholding lease would allow us to increase the security. It seems to me that it might be unlikely that we would have the ability to do that. That might be seen as being in bad faith, but we could get back to you with an answer. Mr. Hagen tells me he could give a better answer.

Debates of , 18th Assembly, 3rd Session (day 14)

Yes, I understand that is the case. Thank you.

Debates of , 18th Assembly, 3rd Session (day 14)

Yes, as the Member pointed out, people are cross-appointed, and, prior to devolution, basically, these functions were carried out by a single department. It would seem to make some sense to have them combined, but maybe I will let Mr. Hagen take it from there. I understand what the Member is talking about. I know that different inspectors do work closely together and some are cross-appointed, so hopefully the system is not rendered inefficient by the fact that there are two departments, but I do understand the point.

Debates of , 18th Assembly, 3rd Session (day 14)

Yes. We are engaging and have been engaging with various communities and governments with respect to this legislation, and I hope to be bringing forward legislation this year.

Debates of , 18th Assembly, 3rd Session (day 14)

I certainly feel that that would be the most satisfactory resolution on this matter. I simply want Committee of the Whole to know that, in the unsettled areas, there is that additional complication. We are hoping to do that, and I am pretty sure that virtually all of those holding these leases, although I think there might be a few exceptions, will want fee simple. Assuming they want fee simple, in the settled areas, I think that is going to be fairly straight forward. It is more complicated in the unsettled areas. Perhaps I could let Mr. Hagen add to that.

Debates of , 18th Assembly, 3rd Session (day 14)

The Department of Lands led the GNWT's participation in the current proposed amendments to the MVRMA and also the proposed Federal Impact Assessment Act. Members will recall that there was some litigation that led to the change in the federal government's process or procedures in this whole matter. I think, ultimately, we would like to bring this piece of legislation home, but that may be sometime in the future.

We have participated in the federal review of environmental and regulatory processes. I don't know if Mr. Hagen wants to add anything to that.

Debates of , 18th Assembly, 3rd Session (day 13)

Yes, Mr. Speaker, I can commit to asking the rental officer to do that.

Debates of , 18th Assembly, 3rd Session (day 13)

I don't actually have those figures, but I will undertake to provide them to the Member opposite.

Debates of , 18th Assembly, 3rd Session (day 13)

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. In the period of 2016-2017, there were actually fewer applications, but there were more complex issues involved in those applications. Also, too, the long-standing rental officer retired, so that left one rental officer working there. Those two issues led to delays, which we fully acknowledge. Now, I have noticed that the numbers for the period from April 1, 2017, to January 31, 2018, do represent an improvement. So we are committed to improving those numbers further, Mr. Speaker. We knew there were also pressures on the office administrator's workload, and those...