Debates of October 13, 2005 (day 9)

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. As I promised earlier, I do have my thought-provoking questions for the Minister of Municipal and Community Affairs. Mr. Speaker, status quo has truly become the norm. The one-year land lease-only policy is probably up to 16 years of life. The roadblocks for the City of Yellowknife are still being put in front of them because they need land to develop in a reasonable way. They try to work with the Yellowknives. Will the Minister provide an update on the status of discussions between himself and the Yellowknives Dene on how the City’s land requests are coming through and being transferred? This logjam must end. Can the Minister tell us how? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Hawkins. The honourable Minister of Municipal and Community Affairs, Mr. McLeod.

Return To Question 100-15(4): Requests For Development Lands In Yellowknife

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I thank the Member for his thought-provoking question.

---Laughter

Mr. Speaker, it is quite simple how the logjam, as the Member refers to the land issue in and around Yellowknife, would end once the municipality has control over the lands that are turned over to it by this government and once the Akaitcho Dene have their land selection all settled. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. McLeod. Supplementary, Mr. Hawkins.

Supplementary To Question 100-15(4): Requests For Development Lands In Yellowknife

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. That wasn’t quite the thought-provoking answer I was looking for.

---Laughter

I will certainly take any answer. He said once the land is turned over to the city by this government. Does he mean that it is the intention of his department to turn over all of the remaining lands in this term of this government to the City of Yellowknife? I just want to get some clarity on that. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Hawkins. Mr. McLeod.

Further Return To Question 100-15(4): Requests For Development Lands In Yellowknife

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Yes, Mr. Speaker, it is the goal of this government to turn over lands in the city limit boundaries to the municipality as it is to turn over all lands in the different municipalities. Whether that can happen in the term of this government, I can’t guarantee that, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. McLeod. Supplementary, Mr. Hawkins.

Supplementary To Question 100-15(4): Requests For Development Lands In Yellowknife

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Will we still have a piecemeal process going on? I compliment the Minister on allowing a transfer to go through just in September that gave the city access to three parcels of land. We further pushed back the rest of the lands for a decision to be made in January. Regardless of what is going to happen in January, is the Minister prepared to act on the remaining outstanding applications that the City of Yellowknife has for lands and stop holding the city hostage? They need to continue to develop lands for houses and businesses, et cetera. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Hawkins. Mr. McLeod.

Further Return To Question 100-15(4): Requests For Development Lands In Yellowknife

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, it is important to recognize the needs that Yellowknife has and the pressures they are facing in terms of land, but it is also important to recognize that the Akaitcho Dene have a process that is recognized by the highest law of the land: the federal Crown and the treaties that were signed with them. We have to respect that. I will do my best to ensure that Yellowknife has lands that they can use for some of their needs in the area, but I also have to do my best to ensure that the Yellowknives’ rights are looked after. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. McLeod. Final supplementary, Mr. Hawkins.

Supplementary To Question 100-15(4): Requests For Development Lands In Yellowknife

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. No one wants to circumvent the process for the Yellowknives Dene in the land that is rightly theirs. But, Mr. Speaker, consultation needs to come to a close eventually. So if there is still a process that has reached no further results due to the negotiations on land selection, what is the Minister going to do? Is he going to finally agree to turn over those lands in January that the city has had out on request for quite a long time? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Hawkins. Mr. McLeod.

Further Return To Question 100-15(4): Requests For Development Lands In Yellowknife

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, a side table on lands around the Yellowknife area in the Akaitcho traditional area is something that we supported for some time. We have not been able to reach that level until recently. Discussions have taken place. All issues involving lands around Yellowknife and the Akaitcho area are going to be put on the table for discussion. I welcome that. The department welcomes that. The government supports that. We are hoping that it will be resolved. All the identification will be resolved by January. Failing that, it would need more time. It depends where we are. The land issue is something that we have done a lot of consultation on. The issues are basically all in front of us. I am assuming that we will be able to make those decisions come January. Thank you.