In the Legislative Assembly on September 8th, 1999. See this topic in context.

Question 14-13(8): Property Values In Mackenzie Delta
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 27

David Krutko

David Krutko Mackenzie Delta

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, my question is for the Minister of MACA. It is in regard to increased values of property in my riding. A lot of people feel that they have basically been over-assessed on their property values and that there is no real mechanism that was followed for consultation or how they came up with that number. I asked the department and the Minister to look at this and was told that the municipalities were the ones that set the value of those properties. I was unable to find any motions by the municipal councils or anything in public records stating they did come up with the price and value of those properties. I would like to ask the Minister about the problem the people are facing with the increased property taxes and also the purchase of land at a fair market value.

In the place of Aklavik, Mr. Speaker, there are a lot of insurance companies that will not ensure any properties in Aklavik because it sits in a flood plain. Also, in order to develop any properties in Aklavik, you have to spend a lot of your own money to develop the pads and whatnot and driveways for those properties yourself. That is left to the individual to bear that cost. I would like to ask the Minister exactly what he is doing to ensure that consultation on this matter has been followed and people are being informed and allowed to state how they can deal with this problem and go through it with his department? Thank you.

Question 14-13(8): Property Values In Mackenzie Delta
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 27

The Speaker Samuel Gargan

The Minister of Community and Municipal Affairs, Mr. Steen.

Return To Question 14-13(8): Property Values In Mackenzie Delta
Question 14-13(8): Property Values In Mackenzie Delta
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 27

Vince Steen

Vince Steen Nunakput

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I just finished signing off a letter to the Member on this particular issue. The price of lots, in particular to the community of Aklavik, was based on the price of developing that particular lot in 1997. I believe in 1997, the price of developing a lot in Aklavik was estimated at $13,000. However, the way the system works, is that you work backwards from that number. If your lot is say at ten years previous, you would have been assessed at the price of developing that land ten years previously, so you would not pay $13,000. What the price of the lot is, is that any time after 1997 if you wish to purchase a lot, that would be the price you would pay, $13,000. If you had it previous to 1997, you would then also have an opportunity of having your lease applied to the cost of the lots. That would bring the price down further. Mr. Speaker, the department is also, at this time, writing and informing the communities that they are prepared to send staff into the community to put up on a workshop and explain the process to the people in the communities. This applies to the other communities in the Beaufort Delta region as well. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Return To Question 14-13(8): Property Values In Mackenzie Delta
Question 14-13(8): Property Values In Mackenzie Delta
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 27

The Speaker Samuel Gargan

Oral questions. Supplementary, Mr. Krutko.

Supplementary To Question 14-13(8): Property Values In Mackenzie Delta
Question 14-13(8): Property Values In Mackenzie Delta
Item 6: Oral Questions

September 7th, 1999

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David Krutko

David Krutko Mackenzie Delta

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. In regard to how they came up with the value of the property, a lot of the concerns I hear from my constituents is that they have made a personal investment themselves by developing that property. The municipality did not assist on the purchase of the gravel or even development of the site itself. I would like to ask the Minister, if he is willing to also consider the cost to individuals to develop their own property and take that off the purchase price of that property that they are presently occupying?

Supplementary To Question 14-13(8): Property Values In Mackenzie Delta
Question 14-13(8): Property Values In Mackenzie Delta
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 27

The Speaker Samuel Gargan

Mr. Steen.

Further Return To Question 14-13(8): Property Values In Mackenzie Delta
Question 14-13(8): Property Values In Mackenzie Delta
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 27

Vince Steen

Vince Steen Nunakput

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, at this point in time, I am not sure if the $13,000 includes the price of for instance, hauling gravel and putting it on the lot, or whether it is just the development of the lot which would include construction of the road, putting in power, that sort of cost. I am not sure if it includes the cost of actually placing gravel on the lot. I am sure that within the workshop, and the time the

workshop is being held, all these questions would be addressed by the department. Thank you.

Further Return To Question 14-13(8): Property Values In Mackenzie Delta
Question 14-13(8): Property Values In Mackenzie Delta
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 28

The Speaker Samuel Gargan

Oral questions. Supplementary, Mr. Krutko.

Supplementary To Question 14-13(8): Property Values In Mackenzie Delta
Question 14-13(8): Property Values In Mackenzie Delta
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 28

David Krutko

David Krutko Mackenzie Delta

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. In regard to the area of how the assessment took place and what was considered, I would like to ask the Minister if he could also have the information available for the public meetings on how much money has been spent in each of these municipalities to develop lots and properties. If you go through the Main Estimates, in the case of Aklavik last year, I think they got $30,000 and the year before they got $20,000. If you divide that up between 700 people, it does not meet the number of $13,000. I would like to know exactly how they came up with the $13,000 and if they could ensure that the department has that information available on the funds that have been spent to date within each community on developing property.

Supplementary To Question 14-13(8): Property Values In Mackenzie Delta
Question 14-13(8): Property Values In Mackenzie Delta
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 28

The Speaker Samuel Gargan

Mr. Steen.

Further Return To Question 14-13(8): Property Values In Mackenzie Delta
Question 14-13(8): Property Values In Mackenzie Delta
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 28

Vince Steen

Vince Steen Nunakput

Mr. Speaker, I will have the department respond to the Member's specific questions and advise him and the community how the department arrived at that particular figure and what it includes.

Further Return To Question 14-13(8): Property Values In Mackenzie Delta
Question 14-13(8): Property Values In Mackenzie Delta
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 28

The Speaker Samuel Gargan

Oral questions. Final supplementary, Mr. Krutko.

Supplementary To Question 14-13(8): Property Values In Mackenzie Delta
Question 14-13(8): Property Values In Mackenzie Delta
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 28

David Krutko

David Krutko Mackenzie Delta

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, regarding the department individuals that go into the communities, I would like to suggest to the Minister they can possibly go in there sooner than later so that we could try to resolve this problem as soon as possible. It is an issue that a lot of people have concerns about. Can the Minister make a commitment to get in there sooner, hopefully within the next couple of weeks so that the community could be prepared and ready for these public meetings? Thank you.

Supplementary To Question 14-13(8): Property Values In Mackenzie Delta
Question 14-13(8): Property Values In Mackenzie Delta
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 28

The Speaker Samuel Gargan

Mr. Steen.

Further Return To Question 14-13(8): Property Values In Mackenzie Delta
Question 14-13(8): Property Values In Mackenzie Delta
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 28

Vince Steen

Vince Steen Nunakput

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, the department will respond as soon as possible.

Further Return To Question 14-13(8): Property Values In Mackenzie Delta
Question 14-13(8): Property Values In Mackenzie Delta
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 28

The Speaker Samuel Gargan

Oral questions. Mr. Ootes.