Mr. Speaker, land is life. There's nothing quite like living out on the land, especially up here in the North's pristine, rugged environment. It should be no surprise that the demand for recreational land leases in the Northwest Territories is relentless. Some Northerners build cabins so they can pursue their traditional lifestyles of hunting and trapping. Others come to the North to build a vacation spot where they can experience a land that's much different from the cities and suburbs they call home. I know in my riding, there are plenty of folks who look to obtain these leases so they can provide a weekend getaway from their busy lives for their friend and family. I've spoken to many of those cabinseeking constituents during my campaign last fall, and they are all dealing with the same frustrating circumstances. They follow the rules and applied for a recreational land lease, and then heard nothing. Months would turn into years without hearing back anything from the department regarding the status of their leases. Eager to build a cabin of their own and optimistic in the green light they had initially received, they bought essential construction supplies that now sit rotting and warping in their backyards. Meanwhile, cabins have sprung up in the lots next to them as those leases for those neighboring plots of land sailed through the department's processes.
Mr. Speaker, we know there are complex circumstances behind recreational land leasing in the Northwest Territories. There are still land claims to be signed and impacts from development to be studied; however, the politics are for us to debate and the policies are for the government to work out. Regular folks just want a cabin to call their own. They should not have to go through a political process when applying for a recreational land lease. They should not need the advocacy of their MLA to get updates on the leases they applied for. The GNWT needs to get its House in order when it comes to the leasing process so there's a set of rules to play by and a transparent reasonable process that follows. Let's get the work done here so our constituents can get out there and enjoy the land we call home. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Member from Range Lake. Members' statements. Member from Great Slave.
