Thank you, Mr. Speaker. In order for my dream to come true I actually got to get ahold of a piece of land, which is not an easy task. You know, there was a cabin lottery, after decades, in 2015 and it was a real long shot whether you could actually win one.
So my first question for the Minister of Lands, does he have any update to this House on whether there will be another cabin lottery? Thank you.
Thank you, Member for Yellowknife North. Minister responsible for Lands.
It's Friday, and I feel like I'm crushing dreams here, so I apologize to the Member. I'm aware of strong interests for new recreational lease opportunities. The Member has brought this up to the House a number of times. Now opportunities need to be carefully planned and that's what we're going through. We also have to reach out to our Indigenous governments, and that's what we're doing. We're working with our Indigenous governments, doing section 35, to be able to do this. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I hope there can be buyin from our Indigenous governments and we can all find a path to move forward on this. I think there are a number of options.
My next question is, you know, even if you get one of those leases you can't live in them; you can't get a real mortgage. There's a lot of kind of limitations. I think the easiest solution here is that for longterm leaseholders that we create some sort of policy that allows them to get title in appropriate circumstances. Is there any path forward for longterm leaseholders to get fee simple title? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. As the Member is aware, we are wrapping up the review of the land leaseonly policy, and I committed to providing the results prior to the end of this sitting. However, we are aware that land resources and selfgovernment agreements are under negotiations, and we continue to work to ensure that land is managed appropriately under these agreements that are under negotiations. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Yeah, thank you, Mr. Speaker. The current process of new leases seems to be recreational leases, and I'm not really sure where that stems from. I know many people live illegally in their recreational leases. They use them as residential leases. Is there any path forward to if we're not going to get title and we're not going to have new leases, allowing a mechanism where a recreational lease can become a residential lease? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, the Department of Lands recognized there may be lessees who have utilized their cabin or dwelling as a residence. There has been longstanding discussion with recreational lessees regarding what restrictions may be in place regarding their occupancy. Issues related to increased waste and fuel storage when people occupy these dwellings on an increased or fulltime basis needs to be considered. The department is working to address lease conditions that allow for permanent residency within certain leases under the Public Lands Act and regulations. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Minister. Oral questions. Final supplementary. Member for Yellowknife North.
Yeah, thank you, Mr. Speaker. One of the other frustrations I've heard is from the people who aren't allowed to live in their leases is they're also not allowed to run any sort of business activity out of them; you know, whether that's as simple as making wood stoves or doing wood haul or it's something like renting out your cabin from time to time. I know there's kind of an insatiable demand for cabin rentals but it's not currently legal under the leases. Is there any path to allow some sort of homebased or commercial business activity in leases? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. And I thank the Member for the question. Current provisions for recreational or residential leases does not allow for commercial activities such as an Airbnb. Having a home business or a B and B is considered a commercial endeavour. In most jurisdictions, it requires a commercial lease as well as business license. Commercial leases are available to the public now in appropriate zoned areas. If this is a desire, lessees should reach out to the department to discuss the parameters for changing the use of their lease and potential issues that may need to be considered regarding regulations to address this. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
