Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I am pleased to introduce Bill 16, Tobacco Control Act. This government is proud to bring forth legislation that builds upon and expands municipal bylaws and the existing Workers' Compensation Board regulations. I would like to recognize the hard work and thoughtful consideration of this bill by the Standing Committee on Social Programs. The committee's personal contributions in passing on the public's input has resulted in a bill that will help us greatly reduce the public's expose to second-hand smoke.
With this bill, we continue the process of denormalizing tobacco use in the Northwest Territories. Smoking will not be permitted in public areas and youth will face fines for purchasing tobacco and its accessories as will the storeowners who sell to them. Storeowners will also be required to remove all displays of tobacco and require identification from all young people prior to sale. This bill will greatly restrict the availability of tobacco to young people, act as a strong deterrent to those who would sell to youth, and limit the public's exposure to second-hand smoke as much as possible.
This bill represents our collective desire for a healthier people, embodies our aspirations for the future of our youth, and provides us with a determined step towards a smoke-free North. Thank you, Mr. Chairman.