Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My initial question is for the Minister of ECC. Proposed traditional cabins. Earlier this week, Mr. Speaker, the Minister and the Member of Inuvik Boot Lake had an exchange on leases, rents, for Indigenous users of the land. Can the Minister just clarify why the GNWT charges lease rents fees to Indigenous users? Mahsi.
From the Sahtu. Minister of Environment and Climate Change.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. And thank you to the Member for the question. As the manager of public lands, the GNWT is required legally required to charge rents and fees for use of public lands. However, as I mentioned previously in this House, the GNWT would like to collaborate with the Indigenous governments and find a way to change the administration and management processes on traditional lands and cabins on public lands. But until that work is complete, Mr. Speaker, the Government of the Northwest Territories will have to continue to charge fees on those cabins as is outlined in our legislation and our regulation. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. And thanks to the Minister for that clarification here. My next question is in that same exchange, the Minister confirmed that his department will pause collections onto the lease rents arrears from the Indigenous recreational leaseholders. Can the Minister confirm what this means? Mahsi.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, as of August 28th, 2023, the department committed to not sending any arrears for Indigenous leaseholders that qualify to collections. And they would also go so far as to suspend any of the collection actions that were previously started against Indigenous leaseholders from that while we work on a collaborative process to address the concerns regarding the traditional lease. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Minister of Environment and Climate Change. Final supplementary. Member from the Sahtu.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. And thanks for that clarification. It's comforting to know that these collections for additional costs will be paused on the leaseholders.
The Minister mentioned collaboration with Indigenous governments on a new process to address traditional cabins. Can the Minister confirm this work is just about lease rents, or is this engagement broader? Mahsi.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, the department is looking to work collaboratively with the Indigenous governments across the Northwest Territories to develop a new approach to administration and management for camps and cabins on public lands that support traditional use. We are hoping to talk about the administration and management of these structures in a more broad way than has been done in the past. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Minister of Environment and Climate Change. Oral questions. Member from Monfwi.
