Mr. Chairman, we have heard a lot of complaints, especially in the community of Aklavik, in the way taxes are being levied against the properties in the communities.
I know for a fact that there are certain provisions in the Gwich'in Agreement and the Sahtu Agreement regarding the municipal land provisions. Those lands are exempt from property taxes. It says developed Gwich'in municipal lands means the lands with improvements. Those lands are exempt from these taxes, which means that no services are being provided.
There is also a provision that talks about the federal government, where the federal government agrees to pay local governments any real property tax levied for 50 years from the date of settlement legislation.
I know for a fact that they are taxing the organizations, and many aboriginal people have houses on lands that were selected by the Gwich'in, yet under this, they are exempt from taxes. People are being taxed by your department. Why is that? Have you looked at these provisions?
One of the concerns I have is why has there been such a major increase in the value of the land taxes in a lot of our small communities, where before, you can go back ten years where the value of a lot of these properties was under $2,500, and now we are talking $15,000. I think many people are concerned.
How did you come up with such an exorbitant value on the property, especially property above the Arctic Circle, which is not the same value as southern parts of the Northwest Territories. That is where I here a lot of complaints from many people in Aklavik. Many people are not paying their taxes because they believe they have certain rights and they are not being adhered to by this government, especially treaty people who have land that was designated for bands under the Indian Act, which was called IAB, Indian Branch Lands. Many people are now being told they have to pay taxes because your house is sitting on it. This government does not own that property. Why are you dealing with that?