Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

WHEREAS the City of Yellowknife is located on Chief Drygeese Territory, the traditional land of the Yellowknives Dene First Nation, and respects the histories, languages, and cultures of the North Slave Metis and all Indigenous peoples of this region whose footsteps have marked these lands for generations;

AND WHEREAS the City of Yellowknife is experiencing sustained and accelerating growth, driven by military presence, major remediation and infrastructure projects, mining, tourism, and public administration expansion;

AND WHEREAS the population of the City of Yellowknife is projected to reach 26,659 by 2051, putting pressure on housing and municipal infrastructure systems;

AND WHEREAS the City of Yellowknife has less than 1 percent of developable land within its municipal boundary, restricting the City's ability to deliver sufficient housing, support commercial expansion, and plan and service critical infrastructure;

AND WHEREAS without timely and coordinated land action, these constraints will intensify, limiting employment growth, slowing economic diversification and undermining Arctic Security Readiness;.

AND WHEREAS the Government of the Northwest Territories is actively engaging with the City of Yellowknife to ensure that a transfer of land can occur to support the projected needs of the city and territory;

NOW THEREFORE I MOVE, seconded by the Member for Yellowknife Centre, that the Government of the Northwest Territories designate and transfer priority Commissioner's lands identified by the City of Yellowknife to the municipality to deliver residential and commercial land supply;

AND FURTHER, that the Government of the Northwest Territories establish an accelerated land transfer process that occurs in 12 months or less;

AND FURTHERMORE, that the Government of the Northwest Territories transfer the 41-hectare Frame Lake parcel identified by the City of Yellowknife to the municipality to enable timely planning and development;

AND FURTHERMORE, that the Government of the Northwest Territories ensure major regional initiatives are coordinated through intergovernmental planning with Indigenous governments, local authorities, and the federal government;

AND FURTHERMORE, that any actions or decisions resulting from this motion shall be interpreted and implemented in a manner that does not derogate from, abrogate, or infringe upon the existing aboriginal or treaty rights of the Yellowknives Dene First Nation, the North Slave Metis, or any other Indigenous Peoples of the Northwest Territories, as recognized and affirmed under Section 35 of the Constitution Act, 1982;

AND FURTHERMORE, that the Government of the Northwest Territories respond to this motion in 120 days. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.