Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Earlier on today, the honourable Member from the Deh Cho was asking the Minister of Lands some questions in regard to support for elders, and I would like to follow up on some of those questions. In some of the communities, the tax fees, elders don't have to pay taxes; their taxes are waived. Has the department looked at something similar for elders? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Masi. Minister of Lands.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The Member opposite is quite correct. In certain communities, homeowners who have reached 65 do have their taxes or a portion of their taxes waived, but that is taxation, and I think it is a program that is just about unique in Canada. No, we haven't been contemplating something similar for land lease fees, but we have of course contemplated lowering those fees and also giving our seniors a 50 per cent break on them.
I thank the Minister for your answer. I know we are unique, with the high cost of living here in the Northwest Territories. I know the Minister and the lands department is looking at reducing to 5 per cent. Will the Minister look at 3 per cent, which then, if they give 50 per cent, it is only 1.5 per cent for an elder?
Of course, lease fees are fees for the exclusive use of the land, and they are based on the assessed value of the land. Of course, there are certain costs that are borne by the department. This is not a cash grab in any way. We think the reduction from 10 to 5 per cent is quite reasonable.
I appreciate the Minister's viewpoint, but I don't agree with it. I think it seems to me we are taking money the residents, especially our elders, who are our foundation. Even if he is not going go to 3 per cent for across the Territories for land leases, will he get the department to look to see what the cost will be if we waive the land fees for our elders?
The fees, in my view, when the contemplated reduction from 10 to 5 per cent goes through, are very reasonable. Again, they are fees that are assessed on the land value. If your property had a value of $40,000, which would be a very large lot, the 5 per cent of that would be $2,000. If you are a senior, it would be reduced to $1,000. I think those fees are reasonable. The government does have to collect revenue from some sources to fund all of our programs.
Masi. Oral Question. Member for Nahendeh.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I appreciate the Minister's answering that. Previously on this floor here, he said 10 per cent was reasonable in his opinion. Now we are going to 5 per cent. We are getting closer. Can the Minister get the department to look to see what it is going to cost the Government of the Northwest Territories if we waive the fee? That, to me, is reasonable for our elders, who have done a lot for us. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Ten per cent was, on reflection, thought to be a little on the high side. Therefore, we are contemplating reducing it to 5 per cent, which I think is really very reasonable, as I say. In the example of the property that had the value of $40,000, 5 per cent of that would be $2,000. The seniors, in addition, could apply for a rebate. As I also mentioned earlier in response to another question, there is possible support through the Income Assistance Policy Manual. I don't think we are contemplating lowering it below 5 per cent, which is a reduction of 50 per cent from what it was. Thank you.
