A proposal to transfer 59 per cent of GNWT lands inside municipal boundaries to the City of Yellowknife received support from councillors on Aug. 23.
In a governance and priorities meeting, councillors and city staff discussed the proposal that would involve a formal application to the GNWT to transfer surveyed and unsurveyed lands, including roads and infrastructure; municipal head leases, such as waterfront and waterSA国际影视传媒恖ots; and growth management and special management reserve lands, which have public recreation and tourism potential.
The total area of the proposed transfer comprises about 11,400 acres, according to a city memorandum.
The city will not seek the transfer of former mine sites undergoing remediation work and Akaitcho Treaty 8 interim land withdrawal areas.
City manager Sheila Bassi-Kellett told the virtual meeting that the city currently owns about 11 per cent of the land within its municipal boundary.
GNWT land (commissionerSA国际影视传媒檚 land) makes up 75 per cent of the land inside the boundary. The federal government owns 7.9 per cent and 5.8 per cent is privately owned.
However, because the city lacks the authority to administer all public unfettered lands inside the boundary, its SA国际影视传媒渉ands are tiedSA国际影视传媒� when pursuing development in line with the community plan.
SA国际影视传媒淪ince 2019, the city has actively advocated for the transfer of vacant unencumbered lands from commissionerSA国际影视传媒檚 lands inventory. WeSA国际影视传媒檙e very pleased to see this included as part of the GNWTSA国际影视传媒檚 mandate in its term of office,SA国际影视传媒� Bassi-Kellett said.
Under its Reduce the Municipal Funding Gap Mandate priority, the GNWT says it will SA国际影视传媒淒evelop a process guide for the transfer of lands within municipal boundariesSA国际影视传媒� by winter 2021.
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The city is working with the territorial governmentSA国际影视传媒檚 Department of Lands on developing a process for the transfer, which will differ from past practice where the municipality proposed transfers of individual parcels, subject to council and GNWT approval.
SA国际影视传媒淭hat didnSA国际影视传媒檛 reflect on the overall autonomy and capacity of the city, and it meant weSA国际影视传媒檝e been in a position many times where we needed land and couldnSA国际影视传媒檛 get it,SA国际影视传媒� Bassi-Kellett said.
Mayor Rebecca Alty called the proposal a further step in devolution.
SA国际影视传媒淭he federal government had control over lands in the NWT and then the GNWT took control, and now it should be transferred to the city. As the GNWT was pitching to the feds when they wanted devolution of lands (they said) decision-making should be made closest to the people and thatSA国际影视传媒檚 the same principle here,SA国际影视传媒� she said.
Alty explained that the transfer bid is a win-win opportunity because it will be more efficient than doing piecemeal transfers and it would help retain revenue for the GNWT.
SA国际影视传媒淟ast year, we had a request for a quarry and it took well over a year for the GNWT to say it would lease that land to us. In the meantime, the businesses found different opportunities,SA国际影视传媒� Alty said. SA国际影视传媒淭hereSA国际影视传媒檚 a big benefit to the GNWT more so than for the city because thereSA国际影视传媒檚 lost revenue opportunity for the GNWT. ThereSA国际影视传媒檚 lost income tax due to the lost business, lost corporate tax due to the lost business and they could lose potential federal transfers if jobs arenSA国际影视传媒檛 being created in the NWT SA国际影视传媒� then people are moving elsewhere.SA国际影视传媒�
Coun. Niels Konge called the proposal long overdue, saying that before he joined council in 2012 he didnSA国际影视传媒檛 realize how large the problem of land was for the city.
SA国际影视传媒淎s a contractor who was trying to be a developer, it was just like, SA国际影视传媒榃hy canSA国际影视传媒檛 we get land?SA国际影视传媒� The process is so difficult and so time consuming to get land,SA国际影视传媒� he said. SA国际影视传媒淚tSA国际影视传媒檚 no wonder developers just give up. There always seems to be a lack of lots and land. ISA国际影视传媒檓 pleased the GNWT has finally seen the light and is agreeing to do this.SA国际影视传媒�
Konge added that he hopes the land transfer effort will make Yellowknife a SA国际影视传媒渂etter place to beSA国际影视传媒� in the future, but said he wonSA国际影视传媒檛 hold his breath on it.
Coun. Cynthia Mufandaedza also said she wouldnSA国际影视传媒檛 count on the proposal succeeding, but she expressed support for it.
Coun. Steve Payne called the bid a potential SA国际影视传媒渂ig win for the City and the people who live in it.SA国际影视传媒�
Coun. Shauna Morgan said she supports the recommendations in the proposal. She noted that while Akaitcho land claim areas arenSA国际影视传媒檛 part of the transfer, she hopes the city can continue its consultations with the Yellowknives Dene First Nation (YKDFN) on the municipal boundary.
SA国际影视传媒淚SA国际影视传媒檝e met with the chiefs a couple of times on this issue,SA国际影视传媒� said Alty. SA国际影视传媒�(And) thereSA国际影视传媒檚 interest in working together to make sure there isnSA国际影视传媒檛 any land in these lot transfers that they would look to acquire. WeSA国际影视传媒檙e not looking for any Akaitcho land claims. ThereSA国际影视传媒檚 interest in the GNWT, YKDFN and the city working together.SA国际影视传媒�
Bassi-Kellett explained that, at least since 2020, the city has informed the Yellowknives Dene of municipal land applications and asked to hear any concerns before it took them to the Department of Lands.
The GNWT also has a Section 35 duty to consult with the Yellowknives on land issues.
SA国际影视传媒淲e want YKDFN to be aware of the land asks,SA国际影视传媒� Bassi-Kellett said.
Council is scheduled to vote on the transfer proposal at its next meeting on Sept. 13.
