Thank you, Madam Chair. The Member is raising some good issues, but what he is raising has nothing to do with the bill before the Committee. MACA does not set or collect taxes in general taxation areas.
These provisions do not apply to anyone who is on the IAB land or federal land. What we are trying to do is that this bill would provide a more streamlined process for collecting outstanding property taxes. The NWT Association of Municipalities has requested these amendments because the current process which requires taxing authorities to go to court, is often long, complicated and expensive. In some cases the legal costs are so high, it is not worth it for them to use this process at all.
We are just trying to streamline the process for collecting outstanding property taxes. As I said before, these amendments would not allow municipal taxing authorities or the Department of Finance to sell Indian Affairs Branch or band lands or any land that is exempt from taxation or cannot be sold under a land claims agreement. This is just to streamline the process. Thank you, Madam Chair.