Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I just want to follow up on my Member’s statement. It’s about agricultural lands and the application process. I would like to ask the Minister of Lands again about what role the Lands department is playing in ITI’s Agriculture Strategy.
I would like to know how the two departments are coordinating their efforts so that this strategy actually works and makes agricultural lands easier for our residents to apply for. Thank you.
Thank you, Mr. Menicoche. Minister of Lands, Mr. McLeod.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Lands role in that would be to take the applications and go through the process with them. My understanding is that we distribute the application for comments from the local First Nations governments and other people who are involved and we take those comments and decide what next steps we have to do and whether to proceed with the application or not, or if there are other requirements that the applicant has to fill out. Thank you.
What help is available for residents who want to access land for farming and are struggling with the rules and red tape? It seems that the application process is cumbersome with the guidelines and procedures.
What kind of help does the department have with an applicant working through the application process? Thank you.
This is where they would work with the local lands office. If they go in there and seek help we’d be able to assist them in trying to guide them through some of the requirements and the processes of filling out the applications. Thank you.
I’d just like to know, how does the Department of Lands work with the affected First Nations to process potential leases for agricultural lands? Is there a separate process when somebody applies for agricultural land when working with the First Nations as opposed to say industrial development or different development? Is there a separate process when the application is for agricultural land? Thank you.
My understanding is all applications are vetted through a pretty similar process where we do our consultations with the local First Nation government to gather comments and concerns on the project proposal and it usually takes about 45 days to go through this process. So again, my understanding is the application process is pretty well the same. Thank you.
Thank you, Mr. McLeod. Final, short supplementary, Mr. Menicoche.
Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. I’d like to ask the Minister if the current application process is something that we inherited as a result of devolution, because it seems so cumbersome and it’s a whole different process when constituents throughout the North are applying for agricultural lands. Is that something that can be reviewed as well? Thank you.
I will commit to the Member that I will review with the officials the application process and whether it’s part of our process or if it’s one we inherited and if there are opportunities to review it and make some necessary changes so we’ll be able to assist people out there with their applications. Again, there is always the option of, if they have some questions, to come quietly to our lands office and get some assistance from them. But I will commit to the Member that we will review it and I will report back to committee.
Thank you, Mr. McLeod. The Member for the Sahtu, Mr. Yakeleya.
