Louis Sebert

As I mentioned earlier, there was a consultation period that closed on October 1st, 2017, and, of course, this matter was before the public. As I mentioned, it was in the media, it was discussed in the House, so people were certainly aware of these changes that were coming. So I think there was sufficient consultation with the public on this issue. We certainly did hear from Members opposite, and I'm sure Members opposite will recall that we did make amendments to certain of the proposed amendments, in the sense that we lowered from 10 to 5 per cent of the assessed value of certain residential...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The new leases' amounts, of course, came into effect on April 1st, and the media was briefed on the changes we were making the week prior to that. These changes had been discussed in the business plans during the winter session, and the media announcement went forward as part of a formal notification to the residents of the Northwest Territories of the changes. Letters were also sent out to each of the lessees on March 19, 2018. The press, the media had been aware of these changes; I see a story as long ago as February 2017, when these very changes were discussed. So...

Mr. Speaker, I give notice that on Monday, May 28, 2018, I will move that Bill 15, Document Formalization Service and Notice Reform Statute Law Amendment Act, be read for the first time. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Mr. Speaker, I give notice that on Monday, May 28, 2018, I will move that Bill 13, An Act to Amend the Securities Act, be read for the first time. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

While I may have said that the 10 per cent rate was good, the 5 per cent was even better. We certainly did listen to the Members opposite as they raised concerns. I think there was an extensive period of consultation. As I say, this issue was certainly before the public in the sense that it had been reported in the House and raised many times, quite properly, by the Members opposite, so I think the proper consultation was done and that the changes we have made were and are reasonable. Thank you.

A letter was sent to standing committee in August of 2016, indicating that we were thinking about changing these fees that had been in effect for a very long period of time. The changes were proposed in the 2016-2017 business plans, and discussed with committee, and also discussed during the Lands mains estimates in February 2017, in accordance with our established protocols. In July 2017 we informed SCOPP that the consultation period had closed, and that we were proceeding with amending regulations, and that the pre-gazette period was about to start. The period was for 90 days, and ended on...

Mr. Speaker, I wish to table the following three documents entitled "Northwest Territories Coroner Service 2016 Annual Report"; "NTPC Capital Adjustments 2017-2018 Budget"; and, further to my Return to Written Question 6-18(3), a document entitled "Land Transfers in the Northwest Territories: 2010-2011 to 2016 -2017." Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Of course, that depends on the value of the lands as assessed by the MACA assessment unit. That is with respect to Commissioner's land. For an average-sized lot, the cost is often in the area of about $2,000 a year. However, as Members will know, we are proposing a reduction from 10 per cent to 5 per cent, and so that $2,000 lease fee would then be reduced to $1,000 per year. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

The Department of Lands will and does work with lessees who are less than 90 days in arrears. However, once it reaches that point, they can work with the Department of Finance.

The assessed values of Commissioner's land parcels is determined by the assessors in MACA's assessment unit, which is a unit independent of the land managers in the Department of Lands. They use an approach that is consistent from community to community across the Northwest Territories to determine the assessed value of each parcel. If the occupant of the parcel disagrees with the assessed value, there are appeal mechanisms through MACA that can implemented to review the assessment.

Territorial land value is determined by an appraised value of land as required by the Northwest Territories land...