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

Proposed Amendments to the Northwest Territories Lands Act and Commissioner’s Land Act

Primary tabs

This Engagement Paper identifies issues and recommends potential actions to evolve the land management regime. The proposed recommendations set out in this document are not absolute; rather they are intended to facilitate discussion. The Engagement Paper is organized into the following sections:

Section 1: Application of the Two Lands Acts

Section 1 discusses differences between the categories of land to which each of the two acts applies and presents options for increasing clarity for land users and land administration.

Section 2: Authority to Transfer and Reserve Land for Government Use

Section 2 discusses differences between the two acts and authorities to consolidate land under one of the two regimes. Section 2 also discusses the authorities to set apart and reserve land for public and GNWT use.

Section 3: Land Tenure Instruments and Requirements

Section 3 discusses the authorities set out in the two acts to issue various land tenure instruments relating to different types of land use and occupancy.

Section 4: Limits to Authority to Dispose of Land

Section 4 discusses options to modernize out-dated provisions in the two acts which limit authorities to sell or lease public land.

Section 5: Financial Assurances and Securities

Section 5 discusses inconsistencies between the two acts relating to financial assurances and securities required for land tenure instruments and presents options to increase clarity for land users and land administration.

Section 6: Granular Resources

Section 6 discusses provisions in the two acts relating to authorities to manage quarrying and granular resources activities.

Section 7: Enforcement, Offences and Punishments

Section 7 discusses and presents options to address differences between the two acts relating to enforcing legislation, as well as offences and punishments for violations of the acts.

Section 8: Miscellaneous

Section 8 discusses issues with various provisions of the two acts and presents options for harmonization, modernization and/or clarification.