Debates of October 15, 2018 (day 37)

Date
October
15
2018
Session
18th Assembly, 3rd Session
Day
37
Members Present
Hon. Glen Abernethy, Mr. Beaulieu, Mr. Blake, Hon. Caroline Cochrane, Ms. Green, Hon. Jackson Lafferty, Hon. Bob McLeod, Hon. Robert McLeod, Mr. McNeely, Hon. Alfred Moses, Mr. Nadli, Mr. Nakimayak, Mr. O'Reilly, Hon. Louis Sebert, Mr. Simpson, Mr. Testart, Mr. Thompson, Mr. Vanthuyne
Topics
Statements

Question 389-18(3): Lands Rights for Traditional Cabins

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My questions again are for the Minister of Lands, here. As you can see, it's a very important issue, especially when it comes to IGOs. I am assuming that's Indigenous government organizations and, depending on another department, it's designated authorities, so can the Minister advise if the department is contacting the municipal governments or the designated authorities or the regional organizations? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Speaker: MR. SPEAKER

Masi. Minister of Lands.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I can advise that, on September 5, 2018, a large number of letters were sent out dealing with this very important issue of the untenured occupancy of public land. As I say, it's absolutely necessary that we resolve this issue to determine which cabins and camps are rights-based and which are not. It went out to many organizations, and I know that at least several of them are at or in or near the Member opposite's riding. So we have engaged by sending out letters with a large number of IGOs.

I thank the Minister for that answer. My understanding is he is going to get a list to us, to myself, anyway, to show me whom he has been talking to in the Nahendeh riding. I must apologize to the Minister; the information sheet. Well, I guess it's the information. So will the Minister be willing to provide that information to us so we can share it with the residents of the Northwest Territories?

The Member opposite has referred several times to an information sheet. I am not sure, as I mentioned earlier, that such a sheet actually exists. Certainly, I would be willing to share additional information with the Member opposite and perhaps could have a conversation later today with respect to what information he actually needs.

I corrected myself, and I said that I said "information sheet" but you said "information." That is exactly what it was. What I am asking you for is, when you share that information with us, can we share it out to the residents of the Northwest Territories? Because, when we share stuff, sometimes it's confidential, and I don't want to get myself into trouble. So will the Minister provide us with clarity that we can actually share this information that we asked for?

I certainly would not want the Member opposite to get into any trouble over this. I will go back to the department and see what information we can share and will share that information with the Member opposite.

Speaker: MR. SPEAKER

Oral questions. Member for Nahendeh.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker, and I appreciate the Minister taking my well-being into account, and I appreciate that. I thank him very much. So, when we talk about unauthorized occupancy, traditional cabins are not unauthorized occupancy. That is a right. So is the government looking at asking them to actually get leases after it's all said and done?

The first step in this matter is, of course, to determine which of these cabins and camps are rights-based and which are not, because we are not sure at this time. So that is the first step, and then we will be engaging, as we are already, with IGOs with respect to the whole matter of rights-based cabins. Thank you.