This is page numbers 3347 – 3406 of the Hansard for the 18th Assembly, 3rd 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 going.

Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters (Reversion)
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters (Reversion)

Shane Thompson

Shane Thompson Nahendeh

Thank you, Mr. Chair. I thank Mr. Hagen. The staff in the region in Fort Simpson do a great job for Nahendeh. They do a really great job. I am just trying to get a better understanding of exactly what the process is, because I have had a number of people approach me with this. I thank Mr. Hagen for that. Now I have a clear understanding of what direction we need to go, and we can move forward on that. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters (Reversion)
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters (Reversion)

The Chair

The Chair Frederick Blake Jr.

Thank you, Mr. Thompson. Next we have Mr. Vanthuyne.

Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters (Reversion)
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters (Reversion)

Cory Vanthuyne

Cory Vanthuyne Yellowknife North

Thank you, Mr. Chair. Just for clarification, I thought I heard the deputy minister indicate earlier that the department had not received to date any applications for agriculture leases. Is that correct? Can I get clarification? Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters (Reversion)
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters (Reversion)

The Chair

The Chair Frederick Blake Jr.

Thank you, Mr. Vanthuyne. Mr. Hagen.

Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters (Reversion)
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters (Reversion)

Hagen

Thank you Mr. Chair. To my knowledge, I could be wrong, I know we have had inquiries for agriculture land in the area that have existing leases that are not zoned or dedicated to commercial. It is dedicated as a recreational lease, and a commercial operation is not allowed on a recreational cabin lease. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters (Reversion)
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters (Reversion)

The Chair

The Chair Frederick Blake Jr.

Thank you, Mr. Hagen. Mr. Vanthuyne.

Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters (Reversion)
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters (Reversion)

Cory Vanthuyne

Cory Vanthuyne Yellowknife North

Thank you, Mr. Chair. Okay, that provides clarity for me. It is an instance such that he just described that I am aware of, that somebody on a recreational property has applied for an agriculture lease. I guess the question becomes: is that a possibility? Are people who are on existing recreational leases allowed the opportunity to apply for an agricultural lease on all or part of it and be given consideration to be able to use some of it for agriculture? There are a lot of people who have lands, who live on existing lots, and again I am referring to Ingraham Trail, who would certainly maybe like to take advantage of the agricultural industry. I am wondering if the department gives these lease applications consideration to promote agriculture in the territory. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters (Reversion)
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters (Reversion)

The Chair

The Chair Frederick Blake Jr.

Thank you, Mr. Vanthuyne. Mr. Hagen.

Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters (Reversion)
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters (Reversion)

Hagen

Thank you, Mr. Chair. Yes, it is a possibility. Recreational leases are laid out as people have cabins with quiet enjoyment of a peaceful environment. If they have neighbours who would agree that agricultural operation could go ahead and not affect them, we would engage them and do that. Although, if you want to really go to the letter of the regulations, people actually don't have the right under the regulations to be living out in those cabins. It is done all the time, obviously, but the access is seasonal, so in fact that isn't really allowed under the regulations. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters (Reversion)
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters (Reversion)

The Chair

The Chair Frederick Blake Jr.

Thank you, Mr. Hagen. Mr. Vanthuyne.

Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters (Reversion)
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters (Reversion)

Cory Vanthuyne

Cory Vanthuyne Yellowknife North

Thank you, Mr. Chair. I would like to ask a little bit more about when somebody puts in an application for agriculture. Do we have a clear distinction between those who are applying for the growth of vegetables versus those that are raising animals, let's say, for example? Do we distinguish between the two, or are those two different applications? Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters (Reversion)
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters (Reversion)

The Chair

The Chair Frederick Blake Jr.

Thank you, Mr. Vanthuyne. Mr. Hagen.

Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters (Reversion)
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters (Reversion)

Hagen

Thank you, Mr. Chair. As you know, the agricultural strategy has just been developed, and we actually haven't really gotten to the point where we distinguish between whether you have animals, farm animals, or you plant a garden. I mean, you can plant a garden for your own use or your friends' use. It just becomes a problem agriculturally when you go commercial and you sell your product. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters (Reversion)
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters (Reversion)

The Chair

The Chair Frederick Blake Jr.

Thank you, Mr. Hagen. Minister Sebert.

Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters (Reversion)
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters (Reversion)

Louis Sebert

Louis Sebert Thebacha

There is funding of $100,000 in 2018-2019 to develop policies and procedures and criteria for evaluating land leases for agriculture, so hopefully that will address some of these issues. Thank you.

Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters (Reversion)
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters (Reversion)

The Chair

The Chair Frederick Blake Jr.

Thank you, Minister Sebert. Mr. Vanthuyne.

Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters (Reversion)
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters (Reversion)

Cory Vanthuyne

Cory Vanthuyne Yellowknife North

Thank you, Mr. Chair. And, yes, that would be helpful, and I am sure it will. We definitely need clarification along those lines. What do we have as it relates to rates for land leases for agriculture versus land leases for commercial? You know, is land for agriculture more affordable? Is it at more affordable rate than that of commercial? Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters (Reversion)
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters (Reversion)

The Chair

The Chair Frederick Blake Jr.

Thank you, Mr. Vanthuyne. Minister Sebert.

Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters (Reversion)
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters (Reversion)

Louis Sebert

Louis Sebert Thebacha

Some lands that are, say, suitable for grazing are leased at $0.25 a hectare or $50 per annum, whichever is greater. Beyond that, generally, Commissioner's land that is used for agricultural purposes is leased at 5 per cent of the assessed value, which is, well, currently 50 per cent of the standard lease rate for other commercial properties, so there is an incentive and very reasonable cost to lease land. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters (Reversion)
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters (Reversion)

The Chair

The Chair Frederick Blake Jr.

Thank you, Mr. Sebert. Mr. Vanthuyne.

Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters (Reversion)
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters (Reversion)

Cory Vanthuyne

Cory Vanthuyne Yellowknife North

Okay. I appreciate all that. I think I have to take a step back for a moment and just touch again on land use plans. I am going to touch on the Yellowknife Recreational Periphery Land Use Plan. My understanding, from what I was hearing earlier, is that basically we are not going to make any headway on these land use plans until there is settlement of land rights agreements. Have we explored the opportunity to work directly with the -- and maybe you answered this already, but just please repeat for me: are the Yellowknives really not in favour of working even on that land use plan specifically right now in terms of finding some degree of, I do not know if resolution or certainty might be the right word, on that particular land use plan? Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters (Reversion)
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters (Reversion)

The Chair

The Chair Frederick Blake Jr.

Thank you, Mr. Vanthuyne. Mr. Hagen.

Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters (Reversion)
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters (Reversion)

Hagen

Thank you, Mr. Chair. The recreational land, it is a framework, not a land use plan per se, and Yellowknives have indicated a little late in the game that they would rather not be engaged in this recreational land use framework until they are further along or they have a land claim agreement signed. Now, a land use plan that you mentioned is something that is going forward. It is going forward in the Tlicho region on public lands. It is going forward, the Akaitcho now have expressed a big interest in moving forward in land use plan. That would take in the Yellowknives area also. There is an interim land use plan going forward in the Deh Cho. It is unusual. All of the land claim agreements in the Northwest Territories were settled and signed off and then the land use plan was put into place. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters (Reversion)
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters (Reversion)

The Chair

The Chair Frederick Blake Jr.

Thank you, Mr. Hagen. No further questions? Mr. O'Reilly.

Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters (Reversion)
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters (Reversion)

Kevin O'Reilly

Kevin O'Reilly Frame Lake

Thanks, Mr. Chair. I want to turn to the securities coordination line item on page 332, I believe it is. In the mains, it is shown as $915,000 for 2018-2019. When I go back into the business plan, which is publicly available, it shows that item as $885,000 on page -- well, it is not numbered. It is in schedule 2 of the Department of Land's business plan. Can someone explain the discrepancy here? Thanks, Mr. Chair.