Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Mr. Chairman, in the review of Bill 5, I raised concerns during committee of the whole with the Minister regarding the definition of sleds.
To me, a sled can be anything from a toboggan to a sleigh, or even a piece of board that has a string attached to it. I had some concerns regarding helmets. Giving the communities the ability to enforce by-laws for people to have to use helmets, especially if they are using bikes, skateboards, ice skates, in-line skates and skis. The concern I have, coming from a small community where we do not have much of those types of activities, is that I feel this bill will be very difficult to enforce on individuals who use sleds as their only means for moving their goods and services, as well as for traditional purposes. Plus, the majority of our communities do not have paved streets. Most of the time, it is gravel, so there is no real usage of skateboards.
What I see happening with this act is that it will have an effect on the individuals who depend on the movement of their goods and services by sleigh. A lot of our small communities do not have taxi service, and many people do not have the resources to purchase a snowmobile or other things most people take for granted. Yet, a toboggan and a sleigh plays an active role in the day-to-day lives of individuals for moving goods and services to and from the store or the community out to their bush camps and visa versa.
I agree that there have to be some protections in place, especially for people on bikes and skateboards where there could be harm caused if the individual fell during those activities. Growing up in a small community, a sleigh plays a very active role in daily activities. They should be able to carry out their daily activities without being restricted by someone putting forth a by-law that would impose restraints on them where they now have to wear a helmet to carry out this activity.
I would like to ask the Minister, has he made an attempt to consider the possibility of the definitions for sleds, and excepting things such as toboggans from the list that is being defined in the agreement and deal with those items you are really after?