Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Public consultation towards the recreational leasing policy framework has no sooner been launched than they’ve gone off the rails. Overwhelming feedback from First Nations, leaseholders and the public has demonstrated such basic flaws in MACA’s process and planning that we’re back at square one. How much more wise it would have been to start with consultations, especially given the dearth of MACA’s knowledge and capacity.
Incredibly, the rights of First Nations have not been taken into account. MACA failed to provide the consultation documents directly to the Yellowknives Dene when the process was launched and the Minister should have consulted with the YKDFN before the public discussions began. The result: The YKDFN has called for no new leases until completion of the Akaitcho process.
MACA recommendations are based on inadequate and verified research. The 35 new leases proposed includes a 300 percent increase on one lake alone and is based on an office exercise without site visits to verify suitability. Worst of all, no effort was made to tap into the intimate knowledge of local leaseholders. Recommendations failed to acknowledge that an explosion of Walsh Lake leases will swamp the already inadequate facilities at the Vee Lake landing. There is no recommendation or cash to provide landing infrastructure to accommodate a doubled or tripled parking and docking demand.
Most fundamental is the illusion of land management supposed by the recommendations. MACA has a responsibility for managing lands but no familiarity with the land. MACA has responsibility for regulating land use but admits to having essentially no capacity for enforcing the regulations.
What does this mean for the future? This consultation is intended to result in a policy for the whole NWT. The fundamental clause of this effort gives little confidence in a result that will meet our land management needs throughout the NWT. Possibly most chilling is a commentary this makes on our prospects for devolution of land management. The federal government is doing
nothing to control squatting on federal Crown land, devotes no resources and tolerates a squatting free-for-all. This is the resourcing and good stewardship we propose to take down in a devolution deal?
We need to take the time to do this right and start over. I’ll be asking the Minister questions on how he proposes to turn this work around.