Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, Members of this Legislative Assembly have been working diligently to ensure that a number of important legislative initiatives and issues are dealt with prior to the end of our term. Some of the most important of these initiatives include:
- • as mentioned earlier, we will be moving forward with a new Safer Communities and Neighbourhoods Act to provide additional remedies not available under the Criminal Code of Canada;
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- • a new Liquor Act to address numerous issues identified in the final report of the 2005 Liquor Act review that was completed last year.
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- • a new Change of Name Act to establish a simpler process for changing of names and eliminating the requirements to go before the court. A new Workers' Compensation Act to conclude the legislative review process that began more than five years ago.
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- • a new Species at Risk Act to provide NWT with its own legislative framework for protecting wildlife and habitats for future generations;
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- • amendments to the Maintenance Orders Enforcement Act to provide officials with stronger enforcement tools;
- • a new Public Health Act to establish a modern legislative framework for managing public health matters;
- • a new Employment Standards Act to replace the existing Labour Standards Act and make a number of administrative improvements to the legislation.
Mr. Speaker, the Members of the Legislative Assembly have accomplished a great deal over the first three years of our mandate. We have worked hard to meet our commitment to building an open and transparent government, a government that works in partnership with aboriginal governments, stakeholder groups, and residents of this great territory.
By continuing along the path of partnership over the remainder of our term, we can realize the full promise and potential of this great territory. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mahsi.
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