Frequently Asked Questions: Nunavut Land Referendum
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Land Referendum Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) Voting 1. Who can vote? If you are eligible to vote in a municipal election in your community, then you are also eligible to vote in the referendum. You must meet the following rules to be able to vote: 1. You must be a Canadian citizen 2. You must be 18 years of age or older 3. You have been living in your community for the last 12 months 4. You are a resident of your community on the day you vote 2. Age restrictions for voting? You must be 18 years of age or older 3. Is the vote per person or per household? The vote is per person, who is of 18 years and meet the criteria described in question 1. 4. What is the percentage of votes required to obtain a “YES” vote? The majority (50%+) of people that vote “YES” or “NO” will determine the outcome of the Plebiscite. The outcome will not include the majority of eligible voters but only include those who vote. 5. Who is organizing the vote? The Plebiscite will be initiated by the GN. Elections Nunavut will be responsible for the actual voting procedure. CGS will be responsible for the Public Awareness Campaign for the period leading up to the referendum. 6. When will the vote be conducted? The Land Referendum will take place on May 9, 2016. 7. What question is being asked? The question to be asked on the referendum ballot is "Do you want the Hamlet of ___________(City of lqaluit) to be able to sell municipal lands?" “YES” no
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From the Department of Community and Government Services, Government of Nunavut
Transcript of Frequently Asked Questions: Nunavut Land Referendum
LandReferendumFrequentlyAskedQuestions(FAQ)
Voting
1. Whocanvote?Ifyouareeligibletovoteinamunicipalelectioninyourcommunity,thenyouarealsoeligibletovoteinthereferendum.Youmustmeetthefollowingrulestobeabletovote:1.YoumustbeaCanadiancitizen2.Youmustbe18yearsofageorolder3.Youhavebeenlivinginyourcommunityforthelast12months4.Youarearesidentofyourcommunityonthedayyouvote
2. Agerestrictionsforvoting?Youmustbe18yearsofageorolder
3. Isthevoteperpersonorperhousehold?
Thevoteisperperson,whoisof18yearsandmeetthecriteriadescribedinquestion1.
4. Whatisthepercentageofvotesrequiredtoobtaina“YES”vote?Themajority(50%+)ofpeoplethatvote“YES”or“NO”willdeterminetheoutcomeofthePlebiscite.Theoutcomewillnotincludethemajorityofeligiblevotersbutonlyincludethosewhovote.
5. Whoisorganizingthevote?ThePlebiscitewillbeinitiatedbytheGN.ElectionsNunavutwillberesponsiblefortheactualvotingprocedure.CGSwillberesponsibleforthePublicAwarenessCampaignfortheperiodleadinguptothereferendum.
6. Whenwillthevotebeconducted?TheLandReferendumwilltakeplaceonMay9,2016.
7. Whatquestionisbeingasked?Thequestiontobeaskedonthereferendumballotis"DoyouwanttheHamletof___________(Cityoflqaluit)tobeabletosellmunicipallands?"“YES” no
8. Whyisthereferendumbeingheld?
Article14.8ofNLCArequiredareferendumonthealienationofmunicipallands(theabilitytopurchaseland)withinfirstandsecondyearafterratificationoftheNLCA.AreferendumwasheldonApril10,1995;whichresultedina“NO”votemeaningmunicipallandswouldcontinuetobedisposedofonaleaseonlybasis.After20years,the"municipalvoters"mayelectbyreferendumtoremovetherestrictiononsellingmunicipallandunderArticle14.8.4oftheNLCA;Therefore,anytimeafterApril10,2015,areferendummaybeheldtoremovetherestrictionofsellingmunicipallands;NowthatApril10,2015haspassed,itistimeforanewLandReferendumtodetermineifNunavummiutwanttheirmunicipalitiestosellland.
9. WhatamIvotingfor?Thereferendumletsyoumakeanimportantdecisionabouthowyouwantthehamletcouncilinyourcommunitytomanageandcontrolmunicipallands.Youcanchoosetocontinuewiththeexistingprocedurewhichallowscounciltoleaseoutmunicipallotsoryoucangivecounciltheadditionalpowerandauthoritytoselltheselots.Witha“NO”decision,theHamletorCityCouncilwillretainownershipofallmunicipallandsandwillcontinuewiththecurrentprocesstodisposeoflandbyleasingit.Witha“YES”decision,councilwillbegiventheoptiontosellmunicipallands.Councilmaygiveownershipofcertainlotstoanindividualorcompanywhowillpayapurchasepriceforthelots.Councilwilldecidewhichlotswillbesoldandwhenthelotswillbeavailableforsale.CouncilwillberequiredtosetoutalloftherulesandproceduresforsellinglotsintheirLandAdministrationBy-law.
10. WhyshouldIvote?Thisdecisionwillshapethewaythatyou,asacommunityresident,mayobtainlotsinthefuture.Witha“YES”decision,youmayhavetheopportunitytobuythelotthatyouarenowleasing,and/ortobuyotherlotsinthecommunity.
11. WhathappensifIdon’tvote?Stayinghomeonreferendumdaydoesnotequala“YES”decisionora“NO”decision.Onlythosepeoplewhocomeoutandvotewillbecounted.Ifyoudonotvote,youwillgiveupthechancetohaveasayinhowyourcommunitymanageslands.
Thedecisionwillbemadebyasimplemajority.Inotherwords,ifmorethanfiftypercentofthepeoplewhovotesay“YES”,thentheHamletwillhavetheoptiontoselllots.Oncethisdecisionismade,itcannotbechanged;Councilwillalwayshavetheauthoritytoselllots.Ifthevotersofyourcommunityvote“NO”thenthemunicipalitywillcontinuetoleaselandandaccordingtotheNunavutLandClaimsAgreement,thisdecisioncanonlybechangedbyanotherReferendum.
12. WheredoIvote?Aswithhamletorcitycouncilelections,eachmunicipalitywillsetupavotingstation,onReferendumDay.Itwillprobablybeatthearena,communityhallorhamletoffice.Youshouldwatchfornoticesinyourcommunitytofindoutwheretovote.
13. WhatifIcannotgotothevotingstationonMay9,2016?IfyouwillnotbeinyourcommunityorthereisanotherreasonwhyyoucannotvoteonMay9,2016,youwillhavetheopportunitytovoteatanadvancepoll.Youshouldwatchfornoticesinyourcommunitytofindoutwheretheadvancepollislocated.Youalsohavetheoptionoflettinganothereligiblevotercastyourvoteonyourbehalf.Thisiscalleda"proxyvote".Ifyouthinkyouwillbevotingthisway,youshouldaskyourmunicipalityforanapplicationform.
14. Whatifwevote“NO”andthenchangeourminds?
Ifthevotersofacommunityvote“NO”thenthemunicipalitywillhaveonlyhavetheauthoritytoleaseland.AccordingtotheNunavutLandClaimsAgreement,thisdecisioncanonlybechangedbyanotherreferendum.Anotherreferendumcanbeheldatanytime,however,themunicipalitywouldbetheplebisciteauthorityandcoverthecosts.
15. Whatifwevote“YES”andthenchangeourminds?Onceacommunityvotes“YES”onthedecisionaboutsellingorleasingland,thereisnomethodtoreversethedecision.TheNLCAunderSection14.8.4statesthatonlyareferendumcouldbeheldtoremovetherestrictionofsellingmunicipallands.Thereforeanotherreferendumcouldnotbeheldtorestoretherestrictiononsellingmunicipallands.However,councilcouldadopta"leaseonly”policy,eventhoughcouncilwouldstillhavetheabilitytosellland.
16. WhatisCGS’spositiononthereferendum?Wouldyoubepromotinga“YES”vote?CGSsupportsmunicipalities.WebelievethatCommunitydecisionsshouldbemadeatthecommunitylevel.CGS’spositionisneutral.
LeaseandLandUseQuestions
1. HowwilltheReferendumaffectmunicipalcontrolofland?Witha“NO”vote,themunicipalityhasmorecontrolovermunicipallandsbecausethemunicipalitywillcontinuetoownthelandandsetvarioustermsandconditionsforthelotsthroughleases.Witha“YES”vote,themunicipalitywilllosesomeofthecontrolithasovermunicipallands.Onceamunicipalitysellsalottoaprivatebuyer,themunicipalitywillnolongerbeabletoenforceitslandadministrationby-lawonalot.However,councilwillstillbeabletoenforceitszoningby-lawtocontroldevelopmentonallcommunitylots,regardlessofwhoownstheland.
2. Ifthevoteis“YES”willcouncilstartsellinglotsinthecommunityimmediately?Ifthevoteis“YES”,residentsaregivingcounciltheoptiontoselllands.Councilisnotrequiredbya“YES”votetoselllotsandtheydonothavetostartsellingimmediately.Theexceptionarethosecommunitiesthathaveissuedequityleasesandhaveagreedthatthelesseecanobtainfeesimpletitleifthereisa“YES”voteandallleasepaymentshavebeenmade.However,itwilltakesometimefortheLandAdministrationby-lawstobeamendedandtoimplementnewprocedures.
3. Howarelotpricesset?ThelotpricesinyourcommunitywillbesetbythelanddevelopmentcostsinaccordancewiththeLandAdministrationBy-lawandGNLandPolicies.Forexistinglots,councilcanchooseeithermarketvalueorreplacementcostasthemethodforsettingtheprice.Marketvalueisdeterminedbyaprofessionallyqualifiedlandappraiserorbypublicbids.Replacementcostisdeterminedbyhowmuchitwouldcosttodevelopasimilarlotinyourcommunityattoday'sprices.
4. Whatdoesthemunicipalitydowiththemoneyitreceivesforsellingorleasinglots?ThemunicipalitywillkeepthefundsitreceivesinanaccountcalledaLandDevelopmentReserveFund.Themoneythatmunicipalitiesreceivefromleasingorsellinglotswillbeputintothisaccountandusedfordevelopingnewlotsinthefuture.
5. Cancouncilimposeresidencyrestrictionsonthesaleorleaseoflots?Currently,themunicipalitiesdonothavetheauthoritytoplaceresidencyrestrictionsonthesaleoflandwithinmunicipalboundaries.However,theCities,TownsandVillagesActandHamletsActcouldbeamendedtoallowthemunicipalitiesenforceresidencyrestrictions.
6. Wouldtherebeanyadditionalcostintaxesasaresultofowningland(ratherthanleasing)?No,therewouldbenodifferenceintheamountoftaxesthathavetobepaidbetweenalotthatisleasedandalotthatisowned.
7. Wouldtherebeanyadditionalcostincurredifweswitchfromleasingtoowning?
Ifalotisleasedorpurchasedtherewillberegistrationfeesatlandtitles,aswellas,lawyerfees.
(WearecurrentlycheckingwithLandTitlesonthefeesandhow a lessee will obtain fee simple title, if they currently have a mortgage registered at Land Titles)
ThemunicipalitieswouldexperiencesomeinitialcostssincetheywillberequiredtoamendtheirLandAdministrationby-laws,traintheirfinanceandlandsstaffandobtainlegalopinions.
8. Ifthevoteis“YES”,doesthepersonleasingthelothavetopurchase?
Youwillnotbeforcedtopurchaseyourlot.A“YES”votewillgivethemunicipalitiestheoptiontosellthelottothelessee.
9. WheredoIgetthemoneytobuyland?Ifyoudonothavethemoneytopaycashforalot,youcouldrequesttoborrowmoneyfromthebank,intheformofamortgage,justasyouwouldborrowmoneytobuildahouse.
10. Isitmoredifficulttogetamortgageforbuildingahouseonleasedland?Itisexpectedthattheprocesswillinvolvelesspaperworkandwillbemorestreamlined.
11. WhatifcouncilchoosestosellmylotandIdonotwanttobuyit?Inthedisposaloflandtothepublic,councilshavearesponsibilitytoreflecttheneedsandprioritiesofthecommunityandtoapplyfairandconsistentpractices.Ifthevoteis“YES”,councilcannotforceapersontobuyalotwhenthatpersonisunwillingorunabletodoso.
12. WhyshouldIbuymyownlandwhenwewerealreadygiventhelandintheNunavutLandClaimAgreement?TheNunavutLandClaimsAgreementgivesownershipofcertainlandstoDesignatedInuitOrganizations.TheselandscanneverbesoldandwillalwaysbekeptbytheDesignatedInuitOrganizationsfortheuseandbenefitoftheInuit.TheAgreementalsogivesownershipofmunicipallots,withinmunicipalboundaries,tolocalgovernments.Thereferendumonlyincludesmunicipalland.
13. WhyshouldIpayformunicipallands?Foracommunitytouselandforhousing,businesses,recreation,etc.,lotsmustbedeveloped.Thisrequiresplanningandengineering,roads,gravellotfill,drainagechannels,powerlinesandpoles,andlegalsurveys.Theprice,thatyoupaythemunicipalitytobuyorleasealot,willbebasedonlanddevelopmentcosts.
14. Cancouncildecidetosellsomelotsandleaseothers?Councilcanonlyselllandifthevoteis“YES”.Councilwilldecidewhichlotsaremadeavailableforsale.Councilmaychoosetosellonlylotsinaspecificpartofthecommunity,forexample,anewsubdivision.Anylotsnotidentifiedforsalewillbeforlease.
15. Willthepriceoflotsbethesamethroughoutthecommunity?Thepriceoflotsmaydifferbecausecouncilcantakecertainsite-specificfactorsintoconsiderationwheneachlotispriced.Councilmayincreaseordecreasethepriceofalotbyupto25%becauseofitslocation,size,slopeorotherfeatures.Councilcanalsolowerthepriceoflotswhenspecialsituationsoccur.
16. Howwillthisaffectzoninginthecity/hamlet?Willthehomeowners’rightschange?Themunicipalitywilllosesomeofthecontrolithasovermunicipallandswhenitgivesupownershipoflotstoprivatebuyers.Thisisbecauseonceapurchasersellsalottosomeoneelse,councilcannolongerenforceitslandadministrationrulessincethesaleistakingplacebetweentwoprivateparties,ratherthancouncilandaprivatepurchaser.However,councilwillstillbeabletoenforceitszoningby-lawtocontroldevelopmentonalllots,publicandprivate,withintheboundariesofthemunicipality.
17. Whocanbuyland?AnyresidentsofNunavutthatareof18yearsofagecanpurchaseland.Seequestion#5onresidencyrestrictions.
18. Whowouldberesponsibleforthetransferofownershipandlegalfees?Transferofownershipwouldbetheresponsibilityofthepurchaser,municipalityandtheLandTitlesOffice.Thepurchaserwouldberesponsibleforanytransferandlegalfees.
19. CanpastleasefeesbecreditedtothepurchasepriceifIbuymylot?Ifthelesseehasanequityleasethepaymentsmadewillbecreditedtowardsthepurchaseofthelot.Forpeoplewithstandardleases,previousleasepaymentscancontributetothepurchaseoflandinaccordancewiththemunicipallandadministrationby-law.
20. Owningourlandvsleasing,whatistheimpactonliability?Peoplewillbecomemoreprotectiveoftheirland.Currently,lesseeswithequityleaseshaveshownconcernwithdevelopmentthatisoccurringadjacenttotheirlotandintheirneighbourhood.
21. Whatarethefinancialeffectsofleasingland?Ifyoucurrentlyhaveastandardlease,(makeannualpayments)youmustpayafeefortheuseofthelot.Attheendofyourleaseterm,allofthefeesyouhavepaidstayinthelandowner'spocket.
22. Whatarethefinancialeffectsofbuyingland?Ifyouhaveanequityleaseorpurchasedtheland,paymentsthatyoumadeforthelotareaddedtotheequity(value)oftheland.Whenyousellyourhomeyoucanaddthevalueofthelandtothevalueofthehouse.Paymentsthatyouhavemadeforthelandcanberecoveredwhenyousellyourhouse.
23. Isthepurchaseofthelandforsurfacerightsonly?“YES”.SurfaceRights-theownerhaspossessionofthesurfaceoftheearth,asdefinedbytheirlotboundary.
24. Whowouldberesponsiblefortheclean-upoffuelspillsontheproperty?Thegeneralruleisthatthepollutershouldpayandcleananycontamination.Eachsituationwouldhavetobeassessedcasebycase.
25. WilltherebeanyBylawchangesasaresultofpurchasingproperty?LandAdministrationby-lawswouldhavetobereviewedandupdated.Communityplansandzoningby-lawsmayalsohavetobeamended.
26. Howwouldadecisiontosellpropertyaffectcondoowners?Thesellofpropertywouldnotaffectcondoowners.Thesaleofacondoisonlyforthebuildinganddoesnotincludetheland.
27. Willtherebeanychangestozoningregulations?Theremaybeminorchangestozoningregulations.CGSandDepartmentofJusticewillreviewtheby-lawstodetermineifanychangesarerequired.Itisanticipatedthatthechangeswillbesmallandnothaveamajorimpactonlanddevelopment.
28. CanIpurchasealotandholditforfuturedevelopment?Councilmustdiscouragelandspeculationbybothbusinessesandresidents.Inotherwords,councilwillnotpermitanyonetogetalotorlotsunlesstheyneedthatlotforahomeorbusiness.Therefore,youcannotbuyalotandsaveitforthefuture.Whetheryouleaseorbuyyournewlot,youmustfinishyourbuildingwithin2years.Councilcangiveaone-yearextensioninspecialcircumstances.
29. Wouldsurveyshavetobeconductedoneveryone’slots?Whowouldpayforthesurveying?Howwouldpropertyboundariesbemarked?Theonlylotsthatcanbesoldaremunicipaltitledlots.Inordertoraisetitleonalot,itmustbelegallysurveyedandthesurveyplanmustberegisteredatLandTitlesOffice.Themunicipalitieshavebeenresponsibleforlanddevelopmentsince1996.LandDevelopmentcostsincludelegalsurveyingcosts.
30. Howwouldlotsfortownhousesbedetermined?Therewouldbenochangeindeterminingtheboundariesfortownhouses.
31. Wouldtherebepropertytaxes?Howwouldtaxratesbedetermined?Currently,propertyownersandlesseesaretaxed.Theassessmentvalueofalotisdeterminedbycalculationsperformedbyaprofessionalpropertyassessor.Thevalueisdeterminedbylanddevelopmentcosts,sizeofthelotandtheimprovementsonthelot.
32. Oncepurchased,wouldlotimprovementsbythelandownerbepermitted?Forexample,fencing.Thetypesofdevelopmentonalot,suchasfences,aredeterminedbythezoningby-laws.Therewillbenochangesifthereisa“YES”vote.
33. Ifthereisa“YES”vote,willthosewithequityleasesbeabletopurchasetheirland?“YES”.Ifthelesseehaspaidthefullamountoftheequityleaseandotherfees,feesimpleshallbetransferredtothelesseeassoonasreasonablypossiblewithoutthelesseebeingrequiredto
payanyadditionalfeesexceptforthecostsincurredincompletingthetransfer.Theexceptionarethoseequityleaseswithinthe100ftstrip.
34. Ifaland-leasehasbeenpaidinfull,wouldthelandstillhavetobepurchased?Nobutitwouldbeinthelessee’sbestinteresttopurchasethelandsincetheyalreadypaidthepurchaseprice.
35. Wouldcurrentlyemptylotsbemadeavailableforpurchase?Municipalitieswilldeterminewhichlotswillbeavailableforsale.However,vacantlotsthathavebeensurveyedandwherethemunicipalityhasobtainedfeesimpletitlecanbesoldifthereisa“YES”vote.
36. Whowilldevelopnewlotsinthecommunity?Themunicipalitieshavebeenresponsibleforlanddevelopmentsince1996.Ifthereisa“YES”vote,therewillbeopportunitiestoexaminethepossibilitiesofthepropertydevelopmentcompaniesbuyinglargetractsofland,whichtheywilldevelop,subdivideandsell,asisdoneinsouthernCanada.
37. Wherewillmunicipalitiesgetthemoneytodeveloplots?Municipalitieswillbeexpectedtopayforthedevelopmentofnewlotswithmoneyreceivedfromthesaleorleaseoflots.
38. Ifthereferendumresultsina“YES”Vote”willthecostofdevelopinglandinNunavutgoup?CGSbelievesthata“YES”votecouldreducethecostoflanddevelopmentandhomeownership.Underleaseholdtitle,thecostofregisteringmortgagesissignificantlymorelaboriousthanunderfeesimpletitleasitrequiresmuchmorepaperandlegalcoststosatisfylendingrequirements.Feesimpletitlemightactuallycontributetoreducingthecostoflanddevelopmentandhomeownership.
