Dene Nation ordered to pay $91K in Yellowknife office rent arrears

The Supreme Court of the Northwest Territories has ordered the Dene Nation to pay nearly $91,000it owes in unpaid rent to its former landlord in Yellowknife.

In October, property owner MDC Holdings filed a lawsuit against the Dene Nation, sayingit was owed more than$75,000in rent arrears up to that point. It said the Dene Nation had not paid the rent on the 50th Street officesince December 2015.

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Shortly after MDC Holdings filed its statement of claim, the Dene Nationpaid its rent for the month of June 2016 about $13,000 but it did not file a statement of defence or make an appearance in courtafter being given 25 days to do so.

Late last week, the court ordered the Dene Nation to pay its arrears, plus interest, and the remaining rent to the end of its lease in December.

TheDeneNation has until Dec. 15 to come up with a plan to repay the debt or dispute the matter.

Last month,DeneNation relocated its Yellowknife officejust around the cornerto the N.W.T. Communications Centre.

DeneNation president BillErasmusdeclined to comment.