Check against delivery.

Mr. Speaker, it is a fact that this government is building more homes for Northerners, and to keep the momentum going, we need more available land. The Northwest Territories is entering a period of never-before-seen investment, bringing opportunities, development, growth and expansion. To seize the opportunity in front of us, land must be made available to meet both present and future demands for housing.  The Department of Environment and Climate Change plays a critical role in making this happen and that is why we are prioritizing housing-related land applications.

Since the beginning of this Legislative Assembly, Environment and Climate Change has received more than 455 land applications for housing. I am pleased to report that the department has transferred 244 parcels into private ownership for residential purposes and granted 40 additional residential leases. Timelines are improving. Comparing monthly land transfers over the past 12 months to previous transfers from the beginning of this Legislative Assembly, the department has increased its processing rate by 109 percent. This increase reflects continued, persistent efforts to prioritize land for housing and improve efficiencies within our system.

As part of this commitment, the department has made key changes in areas where it matters most. We are seeing the payoff already.

Strengthening capacity in the Land Management division was a must; adding staff has helped in moving applications forward. As I speak, work continues to improve Environment and Climate Change’s internal processes and processing times so that applications can move as efficiently as possible.

Applications involving multiple land parcels are being prioritized where making land available can have the greatest impact on housing supply and affordability.

Mr. Speaker, examples of this work already exist. The proposed transfer of the Frame Lake land parcel to the City of Yellowknife was one such priority. Identified in the Memorandum of Collaboration signed with the City in June 2025, the transfer has advanced to the final stages of the land administration process.

For the Frame Lake parcel, consultation and engagement with Indigenous governments, Indigenous organizations, and other affected parties is complete, and a land sale agreement has been shared for signature. The remaining steps for the City include completing the legal survey and passing a land acquisition bylaw, and then ultimately, the GNWT will register the land with Land Titles and complete the grant process.

Once finalized, the transfer will support the City of Yellowknife’s ability to plan for housing, infrastructure, and other community development needs. I thank the City of Yellowknife, and all those involved, for their work to advance this specific priority.

To further the Government’s priority for more land for housing, staff meet regularly with Housing NWT to identify what is needed for new housing investments and to resolve tenure issues that could affect development across the territory. The department is also exploring a collaborative process to transfer land directly to clients participating in Housing NWT’s homeownership programs.

Mr. Speaker, we understand the urgency of making land available so we can build more homes for Northerners. My role is to make sure housing investments can proceed on land that has clear ownership or lease arrangements. Consultation, engagement, surveys, and other legal steps need to happen before land can be transferred. Completing these requirements properly the first time helps prevent complications that could delay housing in the future.

Some pieces here are not within our control. I for one, along with staff in the department, will continue to improve the parts of the process that we control. We will keep prioritizing applications that make more land available for housing, and we will work with our partners to resolve issues and meet needs.

Mr. Speaker, this is one of Environment and Climate Changes’ most important files. We must have efficient and timely processes to make land available when new jobs and future opportunities are presented in the Northwest Territories.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker.