The Government of the Northwest Territories (GNWT) is committed to managing public land responsibly and recognizes that unauthorized occupancy – or “squatting” - is a long-standing land management issue across the NWT.  Today, Minister Shane Thompson announced the Department of Lands’ new approach to addressing unauthorized occupants and outlined steps the Department is taking to address untenured structures.

In developing the approach, the GNWT made a distinction between structures that were constructed before April 1, 2014 (the date the transfer of responsibility for public land management in the Northwest Territories from the federal department of Aboriginal Affairs and Northern Development Canada (AANDC) to the GNWT took effect) and those built after that date. Structures constructed after April 1, 2014 without proper authorization have been, and will continue to be, subject to the legal process for removal. While the Department will be posting all untenured structures, those built before April 1st, 2014 will be evaluated on a case-by-case basis to determine possible eligibility for tenure. If the structures do not meet the Department’s evaluation criteria for a lease, further enforcement action will be taken, which can include the legal process to seek removal of the structures. 

The GNWT recognizes that some untenured cabins may be associated with Indigenous occupants who are exercising their asserted or established Aboriginal or treaty rights. We refer to these as ‘potential rights-based cabins’. The Department is working with Indigenous governments and organizations (IGOs) to identify and confirm which untenured structures are potential rights-based cabins and we have developed a process for occupants wishing to assert their untenured cabins are ancillary to the exercise of their asserted or established Aboriginal or Treaty rights.

For more information please visit http://www.gov.nt.ca/needalease

Quote

“Unauthorized occupancy has been an issue in the North for over 50 years, and one we are now taking action to address. Requiring people to get the right authorizations to use our public land is an important part of how the land is managed, but so is enforcing those requirements. This plan is about making a difference for residents of the NWT, and bringing about transparency and accountability for access and use of public land for everyone.”

- Shane Thompson, Minister of Lands

Quick facts

• It is estimated there are around 700 untenured structures on public land.
• Unauthorized occupancy – or “squatting” – is a long-standing land management issue across the NWT and has been for over 50 years.
• The Department will be posting all untenured structures with a first posting notice. The Department has a process in place for individuals who assert their cabin is ancillary to the exercise of an asserted or established Aboriginal or Treaty right.   Information on this process is included with the first posting notice.

Related links

• Video can be found here: http://www.gov.nt.ca/needalease
• Additional information can be found here: http://www.gov.nt.ca/needalease

Media Requests, please contact:

Name Ashley Makohoniuk

Manager, Communications

Department of Lands

Government of the Northwest Territories

Email Ashley_Makohoniuk@gov.nt.ca

Phone Number 867-767-9182 ext 24058