Thank you, Mr. Speaker. In the June sitting, I asked some questions for the Minister of Lands. Today, I wish to follow up on these questions. Can the Minister please provide the title of the official who made the commitment to move ahead with the fee simple transaction at Cassidy Point? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Masi. Minister of Lands.
Mr. Speaker, the commitment to Cassidy Point leaseholders was made by the then assistant deputy minister of MACA in 1992. Thank you.
1992, that's a long time to follow through on a commitment. I appreciate the government's ability to do that. Could the Minister please provide this House, is there a tabled document that they can show, or was this a verbal commitment, a written commit? Can we table that document?
Mr. Speaker, I'm not able to table the 1992 letter to the Cassidy Point leaseholders. It's correspondence between a government official and private individuals about lease arrangements and contains information that is not appropriate for the public domain. However, I would be happy to share with the Member the exact wording made to the leaseholders at Cassidy Point. I'm quoting now: "The intention of Municipal and Community Affairs, MACA, is to grant title to the existing leaseholders on Cassidy Point by September 1993.
In order to accomplish this, a legal survey will be required to define the properties. The legal survey should be completed by September 1992 as a first step in the transfer of ownership. Title to only the Cassidy Point cottage leases are being offered at this time because of its long-term status as a cottage subdivision, its year-round access, and due to the absence of subdivision plans for other cottage areas on Commissioner's lands.
I thank the Minister for his answer. Can the Minister please explain to this House what arrangements were made with the Yellowknife Dene First Nation to allow this land to be sold instead of the common practice of returning the lease in the areas where land claims are not settled? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
The Department of Lands, under formal consultations with the Akaitcho Dene First Nation between December 2014 and February 2015 about offering existing leaseholders at Cassidy Point the opportunity to pursue fee simple title. This letter was also copied to the Yellowknives Dene First Nation chiefs. No concerns were raised during the consultation period. It is also important to note, Mr. Speaker, that Cassidy Point is not located within the Akaitcho Interim Withdrawal Area, which is an area temporarily protected from disposition in support of concluding a final agreement with the Akaitcho.
Masi. Oral questions. Member for Nahendeh.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker, and I thank the Minister, again, for his answer. I guess I'm a little concerned, if it's not part of that territory, then did they work with Yellowknife? But that would be further on, I'll be asking some questions on that. Will the Minister please explain if the arrangement made with the Yellowknives Dene or the Akaitcho First Nation or Regional Organization can be used in other unsettled areas? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
It is not GNWT policy to offer fee simple title in unsettled areas of the Northwest Territories. In certain circumstances, exceptions are possible, but it is important that we do not create a patchwork of exceptions and one-offs in our approach.
In the case of Cassidy Point, an exception was made to honour a long-standing commitment to leaseholders over two decades ago. Going forward, we want to rely on a systemic approach. Decisions will be based on broader policy goals of sustainable land management for the benefit of all Northerners, now a commitment to finalization of land claim agreements in all areas.
I suggest also, Mr. Speaker, that it is particularly important that the Government of the Northwest Territories honour its commitments no matter how old they are. It comes with the honour of the Crown. Thank you.
Masi. Oral questions. Member for Kam Lake.
