Debates of March 14, 2007 (day 2)

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, in follow-up to my Member’s statement about the Territorial Farmers' Association, I will direct my question to the Minister for Municipal and Community Affairs. Mr. Speaker, in 2005, I asked the Minister of MACA about reviewing the Property Assessment and Taxation Act and including the assessment of agricultural land in that review. The Minister replied that MACA received several requests from communities to do a comprehensive review of the data. MACA was going to look at the issue of exemption to land where land is granted through a land use permit and also look at some technical amendments., but MACA had been unable to commit to when they would do a comprehensive evaluation or review on the whole act itself. Mr. Speaker, I would like to ask the Minister, two years later, for an update on changes to the PATA as they relate to the agricultural industry. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mrs. Groenewegen. The honourable Minister responsible for Municipal and Community Affairs, Mr. McLeod.

Return To Question 28-15(6): Agricultural Land Taxation Policies

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I seem to recall that the Member raised it in 2004, 2005 and 2006. It seems that this issue, I agree, has been on the table…The Member has been very vocal about having the PATA reviewed. There have been other organizations and other Members of this House, including community governments, that have asked that we review the act. We have not been able to do so; we haven’t been able to dedicate the resources. So we don’t believe we’ll be able to review the act within the life of this government. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. McLeod. Supplementary, Mrs. Groenewegen.

Supplementary To Question 28-15(6): Agricultural Land Taxation Policies

Mr. Speaker, at this point I’d be happy if it was in my lifetime, but anyway, Mr. Speaker, does the Minister have any other vehicle available to him by way of ministerial directive or any other interim measure that he could have the authority to an act that would look at pulling agricultural land out for a separate assessment process? Thank you.

Thank you, Mrs. Groenewegen. Mr. McLeod.

Further Return To Question 28-15(6): Agricultural Land Taxation Policies

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, we can certainly take a look to see if there’s any other method of doing what the Member’s asking. We have not received, I don’t believe we received, a request. We had made the offer to the Territorial Farmers' Association to do a presentation on the situation with lands. We must realize that this area -- this is being referenced by the Territorial Farmer’s Association -- is also further complicated because there are two outstanding land claims in that area. The Dehcho First Nations have a land claim in that area, and the NWT Metis Nation has also indicated that they are interested in that area. We have offered to the Farmers' Association to go in and do a presentation on land how the land is allocated and the process. We have not received a request from them to do so and we’ll follow it up to see if there’s any desire to do that at this annual meeting. I certainly will commit to talking to our staff to see if there’s another process that we can use to deal with the farmers and their ask, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. McLeod. Supplementary, Mrs. Groenewegen.

Supplementary To Question 28-15(6): Agricultural Land Taxation Policies

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, that was going to be my next question. That was one of the things I had asked about previously, that a commitment had been made to putting out a consultation paper and perhaps holding a workshop in Hay River for the Territorial Farmers' Association. I don’t think that’s been done and I didn’t realize that MACA was waiting for us to do something to initiate that, but I will certainly communicate that back to the Territorial Farmers' Association and we would look forward to such an opportunity. Absolutely, we respect and understand the land use processes that are underway and I would like to ask the Minister if there’s…I’m sorry I’ve lost my train of thought here. I want to ask the Minister if it would be a convenient time. The Farmers' Association is having a major gathering in Hay River on March 16th and if that would be too short a notice for his department to respond? Thank you.

Thank you, Mrs. Groenewegen. Mr. McLeod.

Further Return To Question 28-15(6): Agricultural Land Taxation Policies

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I will commit to the Member that we will have somebody attend and we will make the offer again right away to do the presentation. We were ready some time ago and we’ll go out and contact the Farmers' Association and offer to do a presentation and have a discussion on some of the issues that they have concerns about. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. McLeod. Final supplementary, Mrs. Groenewegen.

Supplementary To Question 28-15(6): Agricultural Land Taxation Policies

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. There was also a specific recommendation with regard to the assistance for the agricultural sector by identifying arable land to ensure that it’s not used for other activities and establish an agricultural land reserve designation. I know that recently MACA has hired new land officers and I’d like to ask the Minister if there’s been any follow-up of this nature as per the TFA’s recommendation to have someone actually assist them in identifying arable lands in their region? Thank you.

Thank you, Mrs. Groenewegen. Mr. McLeod.

Further Return To Question 28-15(6): Agricultural Land Taxation Policies

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I can’t confirm whether we’ve done that yet. We’ll need to talk a little more with ITI, who has had some contact with the Farmers' Association. However, I certainly will commit to getting back to the Member on this issue. Thank you.