Mr. Chairman, the basis for the amendments to this legislation is to empower the communities to give them the ability to do a number of things; in this case, the transfer of unpaid charges to property taxes. We would expect that the municipality would notify the client that they are in arrears of any type of service, and I am sure that that is the practice that is in place now.

However, in a case where there are unpaid charges that may be lingering for some time, the municipality will have the ability to transfer to the individual's property taxes, and there is no real legal notification process in place to notify the individual that this will be taking place.

Thank you, Mr. Minister. Mr. Braden.

Okay. Can the Minister or his staff tell us, has this been an issue in the past? Have we had residents complain to us that they haven't had an

opportunity to be heard, and that maybe due process was maybe a little rough on them? I am just trying to gauge, is this something that we should pursue, or is this something that is really inconsequential? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Braden. Mr. Minister.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Mr. Chairman, this legislation was in place historically. When we redrafted the municipal legislation that was adopted in the 14th Assembly, somehow it was omitted; this change was not included. This has been there for some time. Since the 70s, most of the municipal taxation authorities have had this option of transferring unpaid charges to property taxes. We have not, as a department, received any complaints about this whole exercise of being able to transfer property taxes.

Thank you, Minister McLeod. General comments. Okay, Bill 9, Municipal Statutes Amendment Act. Clause 1.

Clause 2.

Clause 3.

Agreed. Thank you. To the bill as a whole.

Agreed. Thank you. Does the committee agree that Bill 9 is ready for third reading?

Agreed. Thank you. Bill 9 is now ready for third reading. Thank you, Minister McLeod and your staff. I will ask the Sergeant-at-Arms if he will escort the witnesses from the Chamber.

Committee, I direct your attention now to Bill 3, An Act to Amend the Access to Information and Protection of Privacy Act. I will ask the Minister of Justice if he has opening comments. Mr. Bell.

I do. Thank you, Madam Chair. Madam Chair, I am pleased to introduce Bill 3, An Act to Amend the Access to Information and Protection of Privacy Act. This legislation will make minor amendments to clarify the definition of "employee," and to provide greater certainty regarding the responsibility of public bodies and their employees to protect personal information.

Madam Chair, the request originated with the Department of Health and Social Services. They have identified the need for contractors to be included in NWT privacy legislation, specifically information technology contractors who access private information as part of their work. The Department of Justice has confirmed the need for this amendment.

The Access to Information and Protection of Privacy Act strikes a balance between the need to protect privacy and the need for open, accountable government. Employees are currently prohibited from disclosing personal Information without authorization. This amendment will broaden the definition of "employee" to include appointees, volunteers and students. The expanded definition only applies under this act, and will also include people who perform services under contracts and agency relationships.

The proposed amendments strengthen the Access to Information and Protection of Privacy Act and are consistent with recent recommendations of the Information and Privacy Commissioner. They also support the government's commitment to providing open, accessible and accountable government to the people of the Northwest Territories.

Madam Chair, I would be pleased to answer any questions or concerns the committee may have on this legislation. Thank you.

Thank you, Minister Bell. At this time, I will ask Ms. Lee, the chair of the Standing Committee on Social Programs, if she would please deliver the comments on the review by the committee. Ms. Lee.

Thank you, Madam Chair. Madam Chair, the Standing Committee on Social Programs met to review Bill 3, An Act to Amend the Access to Information and Protection of Privacy Act, on June 20th and October 11, 2005, in Yellowknife; on June 22nd in Fort Smith; on June 25th in Hay River; and on June 27th in Fort Resolution.

The committee would like to thank the Minister and all the witnesses who spoke on the bill. The committee heard concerns about Bill 3 from one witness, Ms. Arlene Hache from the Centre for Northern Families. Ms. Hache expressed concerns that the bill would have the effect of defining her, and her organization, as GNWT employees. The committee was satisfied by its subsequent discussions with the Minister that the act will not have this effect beyond requiring the protection of the confidentiality of personal information that the centre may receive in the course of performing services for a public body, such as a health and social services authority or a GNWT department.

Ms. Hache's second concern was with the government's position that it owns some information in their client files, pursuant to contribution agreements. In Ms. Hache's opinion, the government should not see itself as the sole keeper of confidentiality. As she explained to us, some of her clients do not want their information shared with the GNWT, and they should be entitled to access services confidentially. While this issue is outside the scope of Bill 3, the committee did have some preliminary discussion with the Minister and intends to follow up once it receives more information.

Madam Chair, it became apparent to the committee, through its public hearing process, that the effect of the proposed amendments may not be well understood by some individuals and organizations that will now have a duty, under the act, to protect personal information. The committee would, therefore, encourage all public bodies to ensure they communicate responsibilities clearly in

contracts and contribution agreements, and when employing volunteers, appointees and students.

Following the clause-by-clause review, a motion was carried to report Bill 3 to the Assembly as ready for Committee of the Whole. This concludes the committee's general comments on Bill 3. Individual committee members may have questions or comments as we proceed. Thank you, Madam Chair.

Thank you, Ms. Lee. At this time, I would like to ask the Minister if he would like to bring in witnesses.

Yes, thank you, Madam Chair.

Thank you. Is the committee agreed?

Agreed. Thank you. Then I will ask the Sergeant-at-Arms to please escort the Minister's witnesses to the witness table.

Minister Bell, for the record, would you please introduce your witnesses? Minister Bell.