Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I’ve got some questions today for the Minister of Municipal and Community Affairs. I just wanted to get a better understanding of how it’s possible that the Government of the Northwest Territories sold 36,000 acres of land to the Norman Wells Land Corporation without Regular Members of the House being informed in any way, shape, or fashion. That’s the first question I’ve got for the Minister.
Thank you, Mr. Ramsay. The honourable Minister responsible for Municipal and Community Affairs, Mr. Robert McLeod.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The Commissioner’s land just outside the boundary of Norman Wells was... The Norman Wells Land Corporation had come forward with a proposal to purchase the land from the Commissioner and we entered into talks with them and an agreement was put in place.
I’d like to ask the Minister: is there not a policy or protocol that would have the Minister, the department and/or Cabinet inform Regular Members of such a land acquisition or deal like the one in Norman Wells?
The land in question, all the proper process was followed in disposing of the land. We normally would communicate to the local MLA that the land is being in question, but all the proper processes, as far as the Norman Wells Land Corporation and the Department of Municipal and Community Affairs, was followed to a T.
Given the fact that it was a sizable tract of land, 36,000 acres, I’m just wondering whether or not the Minister and Cabinet would have an obligation to advise Regular Members of this transaction, especially considering we have constituents that would ask (a) if we know about the deal, and (b) what the selling price was. That piqued my interest, in that what exactly the government is getting in return for the 36,000 acres of land outside of Norman Wells.
As far as I know, we don’t normally. I’m not sure what the process is for letting the Members know, if it was an oversight on our part. I’ll follow up on that and see if it’s something that we would normally do.
The price of the land would be about $1.6 million for this particular piece and the Norman Wells Land Corporation are looking to better its economic base for the constituents that they represent. Thank you.
Thank you, Mr. McLeod. Your final supplementary, Mr. Ramsay.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My issue is not with the Norman Wells Land Corporation acquiring the land; I guess it’s the precedent this sets. I’d like to ask the Minister: are there currently any other negotiations going on around the Territory to sell any additional Commissioner’s land? Thank you.
Mr. Speaker, the same process would be used if anyone else would have an interest in acquiring Commissioner’s land. They would approach the department and then we will work with them and the community to see if it’s feasible to sell this Commissioner’s land. But all the proper process would be followed. Again, I say, if part of the process is informing Members of fairly substantial land sales, Cabinet was informed, but if informing Members is part of the process, then I apologize if this wasn’t done in the particular case. I will ensure that in the future any substantial purchases, besides the local Member, it would be good protocol to let all Members know. Thank you.
Thank you, Mr. McLeod. The honourable Member for Yellowknife Centre, Mr. Hawkins.
