Marsi cho, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, across my entire riding of Tu Nedhe-Wiilideh, the land taxation and land-leasing policy has many elders convinced that they will never own their own homes or properties. At this time, some elders owe so much tax and lease debt that they believe that, when they pass on, GNWT would own their homes and that surviving members who move into their homes will not be allowed to remain in them and will have to move out. Many of these family members do not own homes and are reliant on social housing, therefore costing the government about $20,000 a year to house them.
Mr. Speaker, as the government of the people of the Northwest Territories, we must work diligently with elders and their families to help them resolve this huge systematic issue as soon as possible.
Mr. Speaker, the Lands division must not only look at this through the lens of legislation, policy, and regulations to determine the best course of action. Mr. Speaker, when the treaty in my riding was signed, the Dene people were left with the impression that the treaty was signed so that both the government and the Indigenous landowners would share the land as equal partners. How did we get to the stage where the original landowners are now being billed thousands of dollars for their own land? What has transpired to make this possible, and how did the ownership transfer to the GNWT? The GNWT was not present at the Treaty 11 signing.
Mr. Speaker, one elder told me it was like somebody asking you to provide them a place to sleep for one night, only to wake up to find that individual repairing their unit and suddenly starts charging you rent.
Mr. Speaker, Indigenous people have used this land for thousands of years. Within the last hundred or so years, the government has taken all of their land away and is charging to live on their lot, in their homes, in their communities.
Mr. Speaker, now we have come to a situation where a trapper must pay hundreds of dollars for a trapping cabin. If things do not change, the GNWT would own everyone's trapping cabin. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.