Lands Administration
Lands
The Lands section administers Commissioner's Land by either selling, leasing, or otherwise disposing of land within municipal boundaries of communities in the Northwest Territories and in Block Land Transfer Areas. Commissioner's Land is land that the Government of Canada has transferred, and given administration and control of the land to the Commissioner of the Northwest Territories. Commissioner's Land makes up approximately 2% of the land in the Northwest Territories. The Government of Canada administers about 97% of the land, and community governments administer the remaining 1%. In addition, the Lands section maintains records on private, federal and municipal lands on behalf of community governments.
The legislative authority for the administration of Commissioner's Land is contained in the Commissioners's Land Act and Regulations. The Government of the Northwest Territories' policy framework for the administration of Commissioner's Land includes guidance found in:
- Land Pricing Policy;
- Municipal Lands Policy; and
- Land Lease-Only Policy.
The Land Pricing Policy establishes the methodology for calculating the price of a parcel of Commissioner's Land for either sale or lease. The Municipal Lands Policy provides guidance to community governments on the administration of Commissioner's Land within their municipal boundaries, where the Commissioner has transferred land to the community government. The Land Lease-Only Policy prohibits the sale of Commissioner's Land in unsettled land claim areas to ensure that land claim and treaty land entitlement negotiations are not prejudiced. It provides a consultation process to allow local Aboriginal groups and other interested stakeholders to comment on a proposed disposition of Commissioner's Land in an unsettled land claim area.
In addition to the Government of the Northwest Territories' policy framework, the Lands section is required to consult with Aboriginal groups in the unsettled land claim areas in accordance with a series of Interim Measures Agreements. These Agreements are in place in the asserted territory of the Dehcho and Akaitcho First Nations, and the asserted territory of the Northwest Territory Metis Nation.
The strategic direction of the Lands section is to transfer the administration of Commissioner's Land to community governments, where the community governments have expressed a desire to take on responsibility for land administration, and have the capacity to do so.
The Lands section can provide advice and assistance on matters relating to leases, sales, assignment of leases, and mortgage and document registration.
For more information, please contact the Lands Manager at (867) 873-7569.