Public meeting to be held on commissioner's lands
Malcolm Gorrill
Northern News Services
Inuvik (Apr 06/01) - An agreement over commissioner's lands between the town and territorial government is being hammered out.
Mayor Peter Clarkson says the Department of Municipal and Community Affairs is now willing to enter into an agreement with the town to turn over lands the municipality needs over the next three years.
In the past few weeks, Clarkson and senior administrative officer Jerry Veltman have met with MACA minister Roger Allen, and another MACA official.
The transfer is to be consistent with ongoing self-government negotiations. A requirement to develop will be a condition of sale of these lands by the town.
"So we have to do an inventory," Clarkson said.
"We'll select what lands those are, we'll work out what the pricing scheme would be, how we would resell those lands."
The town will present a proposal at a public meeting Friday from 3-5 p.m. at council chambers. After that the proposal will be sent to MACA for review.
MACA's offer comes shortly after council complained to Allen about the freeze by his department on transfers of commissioner's lands in the area.
Clarkson said council "can live with" this offer.
"It fits very well with what the Inuvialuit and Gwich'in have negotiated for," Clarkson said.
"It is a transfer to the community government, and we will go to a system that's fair in pricing."
