Tom Beaulieu

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I would like to ask the Minister if there has been any sort of evaluation on where the first projects will be rolling out on the aging-in-place. Thank you.

Can the Minister tell me if there have been any discussions with the possible impacts on the need for a long-term care as a result of the upcoming work that would be anticipated by the Housing Corporation on the aging-in-place project?

Thank you, Mr. Chair. Just getting to the single-window service centres, the GSOs are really important to all the communities that have them. I know they are part-time but hopefully we could look at possibly -- communities that have a huge workload, for example, whether it's Fort McPherson or Aklavik, larger centres like this, maybe we could go full-time, that would be great.

As you know, having this service for the communities is very important. They help a lot of our elders and people in the community fill out any forms. As you may know, every year the elders have to fill in their home...

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, is Lands working with Aboriginal governments involved with the issue around the land titles moving forward with settlement of land rights and all of the other things that are involved in the negotiation? Currently, it appears as though, if you do not have a negotiation position, then it is just 10 per cent.

I guess I am kind of wondering if it is different for the areas where the land rights are settled. Can the Minister tell me how his department can work with the Aboriginal governments to look at this policy? Because it is a very unfair policy to have 10 per...

Can the Minister explain what's involved in determining that rate?

Marci cho, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, [English translation not provided]. Today I wish to speak about the land lease policy of our government's Department of Lands. Mr. Speaker, it is absolutely unbelievable that the Minister of Lands can say with a straight face that it is a fair policy. An elder tells me that she cannot afford a small second-hand car due to her high cost of living and low income, yet the lease payment for her lot is over $2,000.

Elders who are making under $25,000 per year are being asked to pay over $2,000 per year for their property lease or lot rental. This is actually a...

Thank you, Mr. Chair. I move that committee defer for further conversation of the estimates for Department of Finance at this time.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Mr. Chairman, committee would like to consider Tabled Document 261-18(2), Northwest Territories Main Estimates 2017-2018 with the Departments of Executive and Indigenous Affairs and Finance. Energy levels and time permitting, Legislative Assembly. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Earlier I spoke of this being akin to a 10 per cent mill rate. So can the department look at ways to make the lease rates more in line with what are in other parts of the territory? By that, I mean, Mr. Speaker, we don't pay 10 per cent of the value of the property that we live on here in Yellowknife or in some of the larger centres, so I'm not understanding what the Minister means by applications similar across the territory. Can the Minister tell me how that could be brought more in line with other parts of the territory?

Marci cho, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, today I made a Member's statement on the cost of land leases, rental. I would like to ask the Minister of Lands questions. Can the Minister explain why the lease costs or lease rates are so high? Thank you.