Thank you, Mr. Speaker. For my first set of questions, I want to ask the Minister of Environment and Climate Change.
Now, we know that a significant problem holding back the development of land and new housing in the city of Yellowknife, as well as broader economic opportunity, is the lack of an arrangement for timely and efficient transfer of Commissioner's land to the city of Yellowknife. The Minister mentioned earlier this sitting that there's a memorandum of collaboration in place with the city that allows this transfer to go ahead, but there remain a number of barriers that make it, practically speaking, impossible. So is the Minister pursuing targeted amendments to the Land Titles Act and related legislation that would simplify surveying requirements since this is currently a barrier that makes it prohibitively expensive? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Member from Yellowknife North. Minister of ECC.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, amendments to the Land Titles Act are not being considered by the Department of Justice for the remainder of this Assembly; however, we are working at the department and pursuing amendments to the Land Titles Act for the 21st Assembly. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. So I'd like to point out that the rules for transferring land from the Government of Canada to the GNWT are much simpler, and they still do require surveying, though, before municipal disposal. So what exactly is preventing the GNWT from using a similar model for when it transfers territorial land to municipalities? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, devolution was a delegation of administration and control of Crown land from the federal government to the GNWT. Land administered by the GNWT is not titled to the GNWT but titled to the Commissioner of the Northwest Territories, and that is federally appointed. Also, the GNWT is an arm of the Crown. A municipal government is not. And the devolution of administration and control authorities is not something the GNWT can further devolve. And I just wanted to point out as well that plans of survey are a functional requirement of the land title system, and that is mandated by federal legislation. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Minister of ECC. Final supplementary. Member from Yellowknife North.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. So aside from legislative change, can the Minister commit to establishing a dedicated project manager within ECC to at least help coordinate interdepartmental and intergovernmental land transfer since even under the current rules, capacity constraints seem to be slowing down land transfer? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, ECC has a dedicated senior land administrator for land transfers and given the demand for land, ECC is increasing its capacity in this area to support this important work. And I also wanted to mention that -- and I didn't mention in my first two answers, but consultation is a big part of this as well. We do have a consultation requirement in this process that I was remiss in not mentioning earlier. You know, this is consistent with the government -- our mandate to support land for housing, and I think we're working toward that. And prioritizing all land applications for housing is an initiative all across the NWT. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Minister of ECC. Oral questions. Member from Tu Nedhe-Wiilideh.
