In the Legislative Assembly on October 14th, 2022. See this topic in context.

Member's Statement 1169-19(2): Cabin Lease Lottery
Members' Statements

Page 4589

Rylund Johnson

Rylund Johnson Yellowknife North

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Every northerner loves the cabin, whether it's for hunting, fishing, trapping, or just simply a weekend getaway. People love to go to the cabin. It's one of the reasons people come to the North and it's one of the main reasons people stay in the North, Mr. Speaker. Yet if you live in Yellowknife, you better have a half million dollars to get a cabin, Mr. Speaker. There is insatiable demand for cabins in the Yellowknife periphery area. And we know this, Mr. Speaker, because the last time we did a lottery for 22 lots on the Ingraham Trail, 913 people entered that lottery, Mr. Speaker, for 22 lots. And, Mr. Speaker, since that time, how many leases have we given away? Zero, Mr. Speaker.

Member's Statement 1169-19(2): Cabin Lease Lottery
Members' Statements

Page 4589

Richard Edjericon

Richard Edjericon Tu Nedhe-Wiilideh

Shame.

Member's Statement 1169-19(2): Cabin Lease Lottery
Members' Statements

Page 4589

Rylund Johnson

Rylund Johnson Yellowknife North

Mr. Speaker, we are now seeing what should be $50,000 cabins sell for $250,000. We've artificially inflated the land value, and we've prevented a construction boom of potentially hundreds, if not thousands, of cabins being built.

Now, Mr. Speaker, I'm not suggesting we just open all of the land up to leases immediately. We already had the solution. That was the cabin lottery. It allowed us to plan where we're going to put leases. It allowed us to look at angling pressure of lakes. It allowed a fair way to let people literally "win the lottery" because getting one of those leases was like putting a hundred grand in your pocket the minute you got access to that land.

Now, Mr. Speaker, at that time, the Department of Lands said they needed a plan before they did that. And in 2017, they released a plan called the recreational leasing management framework, a framework that sets out how we give out recreational releases. And this is now the framework that is used everywhere in the territory except the Yellowknife periphery area. And I'm confused why, Mr. Speaker, there's no policy in place. In fact, we are not even following our own framework that sets out when we give access to leases.

Mr. Speaker, if we want an economic driver, let's get people some cabins. If we want people to stay in the North, enjoy recreation, enjoy our land, let's get them some cabins. Mr. Speaker, this is a great retention tool. Let people get out on the land. Let people build cabins. Let's do it properly. Let's consult with residents and Indigenous governments and do another cabin lottery. I know many people, including myself, will buy a ticket. I'll have questions for the Minister of Lands on when we plan to do that and when we are going to unfreeze this land. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Member's Statement 1169-19(2): Cabin Lease Lottery
Members' Statements

October 14th, 2022

Page 4589

The Speaker

The Speaker Frederick Blake Jr.

Thank you, Member for Yellowknife North. Members' statements. Member for Nahendeh.