Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I have not asked this question in about a year. So I hope the Minister will have a different answer for me.
Has the Minister found a way to reduce the 460 percent increase in minimum land lease rent costs for territorial land leaseholders? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Member for Thebacha. Minister responsible for Lands.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. And I thank the Member for the question. I can tell you right now she's probably not going to like the answer, but I'm going to tell you what it is. As we developed the regulations, lease costs are part of that process. It's been taking us longer because we're going through a new process called working through the intergovernmental council land and resource management legislation development process. So we need to be working with our Indigenous governments, and we're going back and forth. Lease fees and I can tell you right now, lease fees were the top issue that were identified in the public engagement on the Public Land Act, and the department will seek public review on proposed regulations once they are developed.
Mr. Speaker, I'm looking forward to sharing this information with committee, and I'm looking forward to their comments as we move forward. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Mr. Speaker, the Minister of Lands has previously stated that the government only increased lease rent fees was to create more revenue for the government. Well, can the Minister share with us how much more revenue the Government of the Northwest Territories has made since these fees were increased compared to the revenues before that? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. In the 18th Assembly, this may have been said. I can guarantee you I have not said that; it wasn't part of what I believe. And as the Member said, I asked 83 questions 72 times I stood up in this House to ask these questions, so. So just so everybody's aware, lease rental reviews are conducted every five years, depending on the start date of the lease. Since the lease increase in 2018, the Department of Lands lease revenue has increased by approximately $1.034 million. This does not include the 20222023 fiscal year and the COVID relief when we did that for that year, for the COVID relief there. And, again, some of this revenue is with new increases with new leases. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Mr. Speaker, will the Minister recommit to visit Fort Smith for a public meeting to discuss the issue of land lease rent fees and all related issues before the end of the 19th Assembly?
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Yes, I'll commit that. I've already committed to the Member. We'll get in there to have a meeting before the 19th Assembly. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
At least I got one yes from him. Mr. Speaker, can the Minister give me a date for when he will visit Fort Smith for the public meeting? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I can't make that commitment here today; I don't have my calendar. I don't have what the Member's calendar is. But our staff my staff and her staff can work together, and I'll work with the Member to get this done. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Minister. Oral questions. Member for Yellowknife North.
