Denny Rodgers

Yes, and I appreciate that. And I appreciate it's different in every region. I appreciate some areas have settled land claims, some don't. Allocations have been made and some -- most in some areas, and some areas they haven't. So I know there are other complications but certainly happy to hear that they're working towards it. And, again, for the larger municipalities, to me it seems there should be a much easier process to at least get that portion done and focused then on the smaller ones as well. But no further -- no question there, Madam Chair, no further comments on the section. Thank you...

Thank you for that. Yeah, I mean, obviously it's difficult. Land is -- you know, in the smaller communities, and specifically in the coastal communities, you know, there's not a lot of lots there, and as we're aware of, the Indigenous governments, certainly in my region, have received a significant amount of funding to put housing in these communities, as well as the larger centres of course, but in the smaller communities as well. So it's so important that they get as streamlined as possible working with the department to ensure that they can get -- acquire some of that land that obviously is...

Thank you. Yeah, and I appreciate that, and I know the department does follow the business incentive policy; however, the business has to be here and be able to do this kind of work in order for them to qualify for that and if we don't have that expertise in our territory, obviously are we going outside to get it, and if we are, how much of that money we're spending outside. So I appreciate the Minister's response and look forward to getting that update at a later date. Other than that, Madam Chair, I have no further questions in this section. Thank you.

Thank you. And the total $8.3 million climate change accumulative impacts and knowledge, is that also, then, the entire budget is GNWT funding?

Thank you, Madam Chair. Madam Chair, the committee wishes to consider Tabled Document 275-20(1), 2025-2026 Main Estimates, the Department of Environment and Climate Change. Thank you, Madam Chair.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, you know, we must commit to respecting the IFA, certainly in the Inuvialuit settlement area, and our obligations under this implementation. Mr. Speaker, can the Minister speak to any specific legislation that would have to be changed to make this happen? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, in June 2023, the Member from Inuvik Twin Lakes provided a Member's statement which was following up on a motion she brought forward to the House in relation to Indigenous peoples having cabins for rights-based purposes and how they should be exempt from lease payments for those rates-based camps and cabins, Mr. Speaker.

Mr. Speaker, in the NWT Lands Act in section 19(d), it states: To set apart and appropriate such areas or territorial lands as may be necessary to enable the GNWT to fulfill its obligations under land claim agreements in the Northwest...

Thank you, Madam Chair. Madam Chair, I move the chair rise and report progress.

Yeah, and, you know, even the larger ones. And the challenge, obviously, in the larger ones may not be as much the cost. Again, if we could do this as a -- if you look at doing it as a bulk transfer rather than look at having to take specific portions and survey it out or section it out. I mean, again, you can easily identify what is in the municipal boundaries and can be done. It can be done as one massive survey. And I think if the department would at least commit to looking at that option, and maybe providing some assistance to the municipalities to kind of help them -- help them along to...

Thank you, Madam Chair. Madam Chair, and I'm assuming I can -- this is the proper activity to bring this up in. My questions are around some transfer of lands in the -- specifically for this one in the Inuvialuit settlement region.

I note that in the information items there is obviously the land claim implementation funding of $5.4 million, and I'm wondering if as part of that, you know, what the department is doing to make it less difficult, I guess, for Indigenous organizations, specifically in the Inuvialuit settlement region, for IRC to access lots in the communities that they can then use...