Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, in June 2023, the Member from Inuvik Twin Lakes provided a Member's statement which was following up on a motion she brought forward to the House in relation to Indigenous peoples having cabins for rights-based purposes and how they should be exempt from lease payments for those rates-based camps and cabins, Mr. Speaker.

Mr. Speaker, in the NWT Lands Act in section 19(d), it states: To set apart and appropriate such areas or territorial lands as may be necessary to enable the GNWT to fulfill its obligations under land claim agreements in the Northwest Territories and to make free grants or leases for that purpose.

Mr. Speaker, one example is the Inuvialuit Final Agreement, an agreement that is constitutionally-protected, an agreement that provides for certain rights to Inuvialuit to access and establish camps as part of exercising their right to harvest; an agreement, Mr. Speaker, that we signed as the GNWT.

The Inuvialuit Final Agreement specifically states that the Inuvialuit need not pay fees to exercise their right to harvest, including their rights to establish camps. This has been ongoing for several years, Mr. Speaker, and the response has always been we're working on it. I still have examples in my riding where leaseholders are being taken to collections. In one case, Mr. Speaker, the cabin was actually washed away on the banks of the Mackenzie River. The land isn't even there anymore, much less the cabin, and they're still being taken to collections over their lease.

Yesterday, the Minister stated that leaseholders can apply for a pause on invoicing. If this shouldn't be happening in the first place, why are we asking leaseholders to apply? Are there people out there, Mr. Speaker, that want to pay? And if so, maybe the Minister can pause all and have those who would like to continue to pay apply to do so.

This is taking far too long, Mr. Speaker. People are frustrated. They are suffering financial hardship. Indigenous governments are fed up, and we need to resolve this issue now, Mr. Speaker. Thank you.