Engagement Paper: A Review of the Commissioner's Land Act and the Northwest Territories Lands Act

Introduction

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Land is Life

Land is fundamental to all aspects of life in the Northwest Territories (NWT). The Department of Lands’ (Department) mandate is to manage, administer, and plan for the sustainable use of public land in the NWT in a fair and transparent manner that reflects the interests of the people of the NWT. The Department operates with the central belief that land management and administration is a core public good and critical asset. The Department is committed to ensuring that land administration is clear, effective, and efficient.

Depending on how land is used in the NWT, leases or other land tenure instruments are often required. The Northwest Territories Lands Act and the Commissioner’s Land Act are administered by the Department, and provide the Government of the Northwest Territories (GNWT) with similar authorities to issue and administer leases and other land tenure instruments for the use and occupancy of public land.

The Department has reviewed the Northwest Territories Lands Act and the Commissioner’s Land Act to identify potential legislative amendments that will improve the overall effectiveness of land administration in the NWT. This document identifies issues and proposes recommended actions to address these issues. The document is intended to facilitate discussion for future action.