This is page numbers 275 - 296 of the Hansard for the 18th Assembly, 2nd Session. The original version can be accessed on the Legislative Assembly's website or by contacting the Legislative Assembly Library. The word of the day was work.

Topics

Wally Schumann

Wally Schumann Hay River South

As I said, we took a look at this and we're moving ahead with the rehabilitation process. As far as the funding for the Buffalo River Bridge, that's already been approved by Infrastructure Canada and work planning is already currently underway to proceed with that project. A number of things that we are going to be doing under the rehabilitation process is the truss strengthening, replacement to the half of the deck on some of these bridges, and pier repair and painting as well.

The Speaker

The Speaker Jackson Lafferty

Masi. Oral questions. Member for Nahendeh.

Shane Thompson

Shane Thompson Nahendeh

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Today you heard my Member's statement about a huge concern about land use for small communities on settled claim areas. On March 3rd, 2016, my colleague from Tu Nedhe-Wiilideh addressed similar issues. Therefore, Mr. Speaker, my question is directed to the Minister of Lands. Mr. Speaker, can the Minister of Lands please advise this House what the difference is between a regular lease and an equity lease? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

The Speaker

The Speaker Jackson Lafferty

Minister of Lands.

Robert C. McLeod

Robert C. McLeod Inuvik Twin Lakes

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, a standard residential or recreation lease is the lessee charges a rental 10 per cent of the assessed value of per annum for the life of the lease. An equity lease is under typical residential or recreational equities. The lessee is charged 10 per cent of the assessed value per annum for the first 10 years of the lease and the lessee is usually charged a nominal amount of one dollar for the remaining years on the lease. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Shane Thompson

Shane Thompson Nahendeh

I thank the Minister for his answer. Mr. Speaker, can the Minister of Lands please advise this House when the Government of the Northwest Territories stopped offering equity lease in unsettled claim areas?

Robert C. McLeod

Robert C. McLeod Inuvik Twin Lakes

Equity leases are still an option for clients under the land pricing policy in the unsettled areas.

Shane Thompson

Shane Thompson Nahendeh

I'd like to thank the Minister for his answer. I guess it's a little different than what I've heard in the past so I'll have to follow up later on. It is my understanding there has been no sales of lands under the type of equity leases that occur in my riding. Now, I've heard that there is an exception to this comment and that Cassidy Point lands which has happened this past sales of the lands, have happened this past year where there's been a historical commitment to provide fee simple title. Can the Minister explain how Cassidy Point land which is an unsettled area can be sold and the same cannot be done in Fort Simpson?

Robert C. McLeod

Robert C. McLeod Inuvik Twin Lakes

In 1992 there was a commitment made by then assistant deputy minister of Municipal and Community Affairs. It was a written commitment to the folks out at Cassidy Point that they would have the opportunity after leasing for a while to pay fee simple at the end of the life of the lease. We have to honour a commitment, the written commitment, that was made, so we did that. However, what they pay out there was not the one dollar that the Member may be referring to. It was actually a portion of the assessed value of the land and so there was no one dollar nominal fee charged to the residents out there.

The Speaker

The Speaker Jackson Lafferty

Masi. Oral questions. Member for Nahendeh.

Shane Thompson

Shane Thompson Nahendeh

Thank you, Mr. Speaker and the Minister for his answer. He answered part of it but he didn't answer the second part, but I'll work on that a little bit later on. With the number of outstanding issues with the lands in our small communities, will the Minister make a commitment to have his department get out there and provide the information to the residents especially elders and equity lease owners out in my riding, so they understand the process so they can actually afford to live in our ridings? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Robert C. McLeod

Robert C. McLeod Inuvik Twin Lakes

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker I will make that commitment. In fact, it's already happening in the Member's community where we had a member of our regional office meet with the Chamber of Commerce. I believe it was on May 26th and it was a very informative session from what I've been told, and they had a lot of questions, and they had a bit better understanding of how it works, but I will make a commitment to have our folks... It's part of our jobs too as representatives for our ridings is to share the information that we know with our constituents so they'd have a better understanding. Our department can assist in that by having some community workshops and getting some communication material out there so folks have a better idea of how the land leases and pricing policies and all that work. We are going to do some modernization to the land pricing policy. I believe that it's in the works now. We're looking at the fall of 2016 to bring some of the revised policy before committee and seek their input before we move forward. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

The Speaker

The Speaker Jackson Lafferty

Masi. Oral questions. Member for Mackenzie Delta.

Frederick Blake Jr.

Frederick Blake Jr. Mackenzie Delta

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I have questions for the Minister of Transportation. Mr. Speaker, since April many scientists predicted an early spring and also a number of elders, so we've had a lot of time to prepare for an early spring. With the early spring we've had why did the service begin this past Sunday afternoon in Tsiigehtchic and not any sooner? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

The Speaker

The Speaker Jackson Lafferty

Masi. Minister of Transportation.

Wally Schumann

Wally Schumann Hay River South

Mr. Speaker, the Member is correct. We did experience an earlier spring than normal. As the river broke up early on the Peel and the Mackenzie it kind of caught the department a little off guard in getting some of these things. One of the issues with the Tsiigehtchic and Peel River ferries was we had scheduled Transport Canada inspectors to come in for the replacement bottom of the Tsiigehtchic ferry, and at the same time they're in there to do the Peel River ferry. With the early spring and stuff, it's kind of caught us off guard from our normal scheduling, so that's one of the reasons for the holdup was the late arrival of federal inspectors.

Frederick Blake Jr.

Frederick Blake Jr. Mackenzie Delta

Mr. Speaker, as I mentioned, the Tsiigehtchic ferry was launched on Friday I believe and started service Sunday afternoon. I'd like to ask the Minister: why is the Peel River ferry not launched and not in service at this time?

Wally Schumann

Wally Schumann Hay River South

As I alluded to earlier in my statement that the transportation of Canada inspector was in. He was there to look at the Tsiigehtchic ferry as we replaced the bottom of that ferry and put it in and do its seaworthiness which takes a couple days of trials and stuff. When they were finished that they moved on to the Peel ferry. The Peel ferry is in the process of going through its inspection as such and with the low water now expected after high water from breakup we now have five anchor points available to run this ferry. The original anchor points that showed up after breakup, there were only two and that's not significant enough to have the ferry run safely for the general public.

Frederick Blake Jr.

Frederick Blake Jr. Mackenzie Delta

Mr. Speaker, the Minister just mentioned that the water level is too high at this time. I'm not sure who the Minister is getting his information from because I get this from the people that live in Fort McPherson that have traditional knowledge in that area. There's nothing wrong with the water level right now. Right now the landing should be in and you know if the inspections are complete there's no reason why the ferry is not in. I'd like to ask the Minister, when will the service begin on the Peel River ferry?

Wally Schumann

Wally Schumann Hay River South

As I alluded, there's five anchor points now available and as of today the slipways are being prepped and the timbers are being installed to launch the ferry. As of this evening, we plan on having the ferry into the Peel system and with more seaworthiness testing we're hoping to have the ferry service in operation by late Wednesday, early Thursday morning.

The Speaker

The Speaker Jackson Lafferty

Masi. Oral questions. Member for Nunakput.

Herbert Nakimayak

Herbert Nakimayak Nunakput

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I spoke earlier on the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, and my questions are for the honourable Premier McLeod. My question is: has the GNWT here received any formal correspondence from the federal government respecting its announcement to the UN declaration? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

The Speaker

The Speaker Jackson Lafferty

Masi. Honourable Premier.

Bob McLeod

Bob McLeod Yellowknife South

Thank you. Mr. Speaker. The Government of the Northwest Territories received notice from the federal government that the Minister of Indigenous and Northern Affairs would be making an announcement during the United Nation's Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues in New York City regarding its position on UNDRA. The Government of the Northwest Territories, like all other jurisdictions, was not made aware of what that announcement would be until the announcement was made by the Minister in New York. Understanding the implications of Canada's recent full endorsement of the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples will require further consideration and engagement with Canada.

Herbert Nakimayak

Herbert Nakimayak Nunakput

The Premier answered part of my second question. Does the GNWT have a formal position on the UN declaration or does it plan to develop one?