Debates of March 4, 2026 (day 88)

March
4
2026
Session
20th Assembly, 1st Session
Day
88
Speaker
Shane Thompson
Word PDF
Members Present
Hon. Caitlin Cleveland, Mr. Edjericon, Mr. Hawkins, Hon. Lucy Kuptana, Hon. Jay MacDonald, Hon. Vince McKay, Mr. McNeely, Ms. Morgan, Mr. Morse, Mr. Nerysoo, Ms. Reid, Mr. Rodgers, Hon. Lesa Semmler, Hon. R.J. Simpson, Mr. Testart, Hon. Shane Thompson, Hon. Caroline Wawzonek, Mrs. Weyallon Armstrong, Mrs. Yakeleya
Assembly Members
Topics
Bill 45: Civil Forfeiture Act
Committee Motion 158-20(1): Concurrence Motion - Tabled Document 448-20(1): 2026-2027, Carried
Committee Report 39-20(1): Standing Committee on Procedure and Privileges, Report on the Review of the Northwest Territories Legislative Assembly, No. 3, Carried
Committee Report 40-20(1): Standing Committee on Procedure and Privileges Report on Electoral Participation in the Northwest Territories, Carried
Member's Statement 961-20(1): Selection Process for Arctic Winter Games
Member's Statement 962-20(1): Territorial Housing Needs Assessment
Member's Statement 963-20(1): Pathfinding Supports for Residents with Disabilities
Member's Statement 964-20(1): 2026 Prospectors and Developers Association of Canada (PDAC) Conference
Member's Statement 965-20(1): Internal Operations of Local Housing Authorities in Mackenzie Delta Region
Member's Statement 966-20(1): Territorial Housing Needs Assessment
Member's Statement 967-20(1): Markets for Liquefied natural Gas
Member's Statement 968-20(1): Land Leasing Policy and Bequeathments
Member's Statement 969-20(1): Solutions to Educate People (STEP) Program
Member's Statement 970-20(1): Territorial Housing Needs Assessment
Member's Statement 971-20(1): Government Accountability
Member's Statement 972-20(1): Improved Access to Care in the Dehcho Region
Minister's Statement 194-20(1): Preparedness for 2026 Wildfire Season
Minister's Statement 195-20(1): Territorial Housing Needs Assessment: Northwest Territories
Minister's Statement 196-20(1): Planning in Flood Hazard Areas Guide
Motion 69-20(1): Taking Action on Energy Affordability and Security in the Northwest Territories, Carried
Motion 76-20(1): Improving Transparency for Late-Term Direct Appointments
Motion 77-20(1): Establishment of a Comprehensive Territorial Crime Reduction Strategy
Motion 78-20(1): Extended Adjournment of the House to May 27, 2026
Question 1153-20(1): Advancing Liquid Natural Gas Production in the Beaufort Delta
Question 1154-20(1): Arctic Winter Games Participation and Application Process
Question 1155-20(1): Supports for Residents with Disabilities
Question 1156-20(1): Local Housing Authoriites' Roles and Responsibilities
Question 1157-20(1): Prospectors and Developers Association of Canada Conference
Question 1158-20(1): Government of the Northwest Territories Direct Appointments
Question 1159-20(1): Transfer of Land Leases for Housing in Communtiies
Question 1160-20(1): Territorial Housing Needs Assessment
Question 1161-20(1): Territorial Housing Needs Assessment
Question 1162-20(1): Build Canada Homes Applications
Question 1163-20(1): Homeownership Support Programming
Question 1164-20(1): Residential Land Leases within Municipal Boundaries
Question 1165-20(1): Government of the Northwest Territories Remote Work Policies
Question 1166-20(1): Housing Northwest Territories Approach to Working with Non-Government Organizations
Question 1167-20(1): Critical Mineral Exploration, Development and Funding
Question 1168-20(1): Direct Appointments Reporting
Recorded Vote
Tabled Document 484-20(1): NWT Department of Health and Social Service Ten-Year Report on the Northwest Territories Health Information Act
Tabled Document 485-20(1): Photo of Holdover Fires Taken March 1, 2026, at KM 40 on Highway 3
Tabled Document 486-20(1): BC Gov News Article titled "Expanding Cancer Coverage for Firefighters"
Statements

Question 1159-20(1): Transfer of Land Leases for Housing in Communtiies

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, my questions are for Minister of Municipal and Community Affairs.

Can the Minister explain why transferring a land lease to immediate family members after the leaseholder has passed away requires such a complex and costly legal process? Even when there is wills and estates are in place, that is not helping the process. Thank you.

Speaker: MR. SPEAKER

Thank you, Member for Monfwi. Mr. Premier.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Leases are dealt with by the Department of Environment and Climate Change so I'd like to redirect it to that Minister. Thank you.

Speaker: MR. SPEAKER

Thank you, Mr. Premier. Minister of ECC.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, there are a number of different types of land within the Northwest Territories. We could be speaking of municipal land, private land, Indigenous land, or Commissioner's land, and each one of those designations have a slightly different process; however, the legal registering of those processes require that they are registered through the lands office and that typically requires assistance of counsel or -- yeah, I will leave it at that. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Speaker: MR. SPEAKER

Thank you, Minister of Environment and Climate Change. Member from Monfwi.

Given the high legal costs associated with the current lease transfer policy, will the Minister commit to reviewing the process to determine how it can be simplified to reduce the financial burdens on families? Thank you.

Speaker: MR. SPEAKER

Thank you, Member from Monfwi. Minister of Environment and Climate Change.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, there are a number -- as I said, there are a number of different types of land that fall under different bodies, whether it's a municipality, the territorial government, or Commissioner's land or Indigenous land, and each of these policies, processes require input from the different associated governments. So to stand here and make a commitment to change policy based solely on a commitment in the House is not something I am prepared to do today. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Speaker: MR. SPEAKER

Thank you, Minister of Environment and Climate Change. Final supplementary. Member from Monfwi.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, will the Minister take steps to ensure seniors who pay land lease fees receive the same relief as seniors who receive property tax relief across the Northwest Territories. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, the property tax relief program does not fall under my portfolio. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Speaker: MR. SPEAKER

Thank you, Minister of Environment and Climate Change. Oral questions. Member from Yellowknife North.