Debates of May 17, 2007 (day 9)

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, in my statement today, I spoke about the issue of recreational land availability around Yellowknife, in particular the Ingraham Trail. The issue, as I see it, needs to move forward and it’s an important issue. I would like to direct my questions to the Premier because it involves multi levels of government.

Mr. Speaker, is the Premier aware of any interim agreement or negotiations going on between DIAND, the Akaitcho, the GNWT to resolve the issue of squatters in and around Yellowknife because there is little enforcement and, further, is there any commitment he can make today to ensure that a process starts to engage the stakeholders with this problem? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Hawkins. Honourable Premier, Mr. Handley.

Return To Question 106-15(6): Recreational Land Availability Around Yellowknife

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I can’t speak for DIAND, for the federal government, but from our government’s perspective, in 2004 we tried to come to an agreement with the Akaitcho at the negotiating table to have a policy that deals with unauthorized use of land. Mr. Speaker, at that time, the proposal we put forward was rejected and we have not taken it back to the table again.

Mr. Speaker, in the meantime, through Municipal and Community Affairs, we continue to work towards a policy for use of land and, as Members may have noticed, there have been ads in the papers this week warning people are they breaking the law. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Handley. Supplementary, Mr. Hawkins.

Supplementary To Question 106-15(6): Recreational Land Availability Around Yellowknife

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I see this issue clearly around the word respect. This is respect for First Nations land. This is respect for our environment. This is respect about the law. So if we don’t deal with the trespassers, it’s a serious issue. I have spoken to one of the local chiefs and he’s concerned. I have spoken to some of the DIAND folks here and they are concerned. Would the Premier be willing to initiate this, I think he called it a tabled situation. I’m sorry; I missed how he said it. Anyway, would he be willing to reinitiate this process to get this discussion out there with the stakeholders so we can deal with it? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Hawkins. Honourable Premier, Mr. Handley.

Further Return To Question 106-15(6): Recreational Land Availability Around Yellowknife

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I was referring to trying to work with the Akaitcho negotiators, Akaitcho people, at the negotiation table. We tried that in 2004. It didn’t go anywhere. So, Mr. Speaker, I am certainly open to having our negotiator consider raising this again when there is next a meeting at the table.

Mr. Speaker, beyond that, what we are prepared to do right now is put out enforcement procedures that we have worked out, give people warnings and give people notice that they have to show us that they have the right to be occupying the land they have. If they don’t, then they are violating the law and will be dealt with accordingly. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Handley. Supplementary, Mr. Hawkins.

Supplementary To Question 106-15(6): Recreational Land Availability Around Yellowknife

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I appreciate the Premier further outlining this process, but I would like to encourage him to not wait until the next table. We can probably deal with this as a side table issue because we have cottage country within reach of Yellowknife that we could get lawful people out there enjoying summer, enjoying winter, whatever the case may be. Mr. Speaker, can the Premier explain what enforcement means, because he just hinted that there would be some enforcement, and how will it be monitored. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Hawkins. Mr. Handley.

Further Return To Question 106-15(6): Recreational Land Availability Around Yellowknife

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. As Members have noticed, we have put out notices in the newspapers. It’s also on the community channel, on the green...(inaudible)…we want people to know that if they are building something or they have something out there, they are going to have to show us that they have the right to be there. Mr. Speaker, we have started that.

Mr. Speaker, we will be posting notices on property where we are not able to identify someone with a lease or a title. We have to follow a process in there giving proper notice. Of course, it varies whether we find out who the owner or the occupant is. We will follow through with that. Where it is abandoned, again there is a process we have to follow to deal with structures that have been abandoned and there is need for clean up of those. Mr. Speaker, I won’t go into all the steps, but there is a procedure laid out that is very clear and we have developed that in cooperation with the Department of Justice.

Mr. Speaker, let me just say in closing, that we do want and hope to have the cooperation of the Akaitcho people as well as we begin the procedures of managing this. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Handley. Final, short supplementary, Mr. Hawkins.

Supplementary To Question 106-15(6): Recreational Land Availability Around Yellowknife

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, just for clarity here, I am going to go back, although I have asked for it, I just want to be sure that we are on the same page. Would the Premier be willing to go out and speak to the Akaitcho folks and even place a phone call to the DIAND folks who are in charge of this area and strike up this meeting? The talks I have had with these individuals, they are ready and very interested in dealing with this problem. Would the Premier agree to do that today? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Hawkins. Mr. Handley.

Further Return To Question 106-15(6): Recreational Land Availability Around Yellowknife

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I don’t know if I will have a chance to do it today…

---Laughter

…but, Mr. Speaker, I will and we have committed to consulting with the Akaitcho and letting them know what we are doing in terms of the enforcement procedures. Hopefully we will have cooperation there.

Mr. Speaker, I also hope that DIAND will also follow a similar process as we are on their land because, Members know, we can only develop procedures and apply our legislation on Commissioner’s land. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.