Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, today my questions are for the Minister of Lands. Some time ago, the Department of Lands started some really good work and some consultation with regard to the Yellowknife area recreational land use framework, I suppose. It went great guns for the first couple of years, and now, it seems as though it's been put on pause. It might have gone back into the archives or onto the shelf. I would like to ask the Minister if he can let us know what is underway with regard to the recreational land use planning and maybe even explain for folks what a recreational land use plan consists of? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Masi. Minister of Lands.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Of course, several years ago, we looked into this matter and have our recreational leasing management framework to guide us in this area. With respect to the Yellowknife periphery area, much of the work has been done. It is of course a commitment of this government to advance this process. We did recognize in the framework that there would be certain areas that are of priority, and, clearly, the Yellowknife area is a priority because of the heavy recreational use. I can advise that we are continuing to attempt to engage with our Aboriginal partners in that matter.
Thank you to the Minister for his reply. Can the Minister maybe elaborate a little bit more on what is the reasoning for a recreational land use plan? My understanding is that they're not very well-used throughout the territory, if at all, that this version might be a pilot to some degree. Why a recreational land use plan? Why can't we just have recreational land use included in the comprehensive land use plans?
Of course, we are attempting to make progress in land use planning generally, but, if looked at from another point of view, recreational land use planning is kind of a subset of the larger issue of dealing with land management. We thought that, because of the heavy pressure in the Yellowknife area in particular, we would attempt to move forward on that project, which is a mandate commitment.
I appreciate the Minister's answer. It seems to be a little bit lacking in some detail, but he did refer earlier to the recreational lease management framework, which, I guess, supports the recreational land use plan. I would like to ask the Minister: can the Minister provide maybe a little bit more insight on what the recreational lease management framework consists of?
The framework deals with many issues, such as application of the framework, the development of the framework, and also identifying priority areas. As I mentioned earlier, a priority area is clearly that area around Yellowknife. The point of the framework was to encourage compliance, strengthen, enforcement and to give residents of the Northwest Territories certainty, or as much certainty as we could, in this area.
Member for Yellowknife North.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I appreciate the Minister's reply, and, yes, definitely as it relates to those who have leases, in particular on the Ingraham Trail around Yellowknife, I would like to ask the Minister, under the forthcoming recreational lease management framework, will there be an opportunity at some point in time where leaseholders will actually have the opportunity to have ownership of this land, fee simple title?
That is an interesting question, and I can see I can get some help from my fellow Cabinet Ministers on this issue. However, Members will recall the difficulties that we have been facing with the issue of equity leases, which is a much smaller issue than this. I certainly will take the question seriously, and it seems to me that we are not yet ready to make the kind of commitment requested by the Member opposite. Thank you.
Masi. Oral questions. Member for Deh Cho.
