Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Good progress has been made towards preventing trespass in the Yellowknife area and on sustainable use of the resources of the Yellowknife block land transfer area. The Department of Municipal and Community Affairs is making good progress both in controlling unauthorized use and developing a plan and I want to recognize that.
A freeze on new leases was announced in December 2009, and legal and administrative action is underway to deal with squatters. Of 16 unauthorized occupancies in the Prosperous-Walsh Lake area, four sites have been voluntarily vacated, five sites have been legitimized, legal action is proceeding on three trespassers, and legal action is pending on four more. Perhaps best of all, the department’s actions in advertising, media relations and gazetting of legal actions is sending a clear message that squatting in the block land transfer is not on.
Work is also underway on development of the recreational land leasing plan. The block land transfer area is the critical watershed of this city’s water supply. It is a precious recreational and wildlife habitat resource and obviously there is a limit to the use this area can support. Analysis of that capacity has been taking place through a study, which I’m told is addressing the factors of water quality, occupation density, habitat, passive use and the like. Area residents and their organizations have been consulted thus far. I’m told that the City and Yellowknives Dene First Nation are being kept informed and involved.
This is good work and I thank the Minister of MACA and his staff for the leadership and action they’ve shown. I met with him recently and pressed my case for the next and essential stage in developing the recreational land use framework, the full involvement of citizens through a public consultation process. We may have been slow off the mark, Mr. Speaker, but MACA is now on track with this issue and my constituents and I appreciate it. Mahsi.
Thank you, Mr. Bromley. The honourable Member for Frame Lake, Ms. Bisaro.
