Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I want to speak today about how the Government of the Northwest Territories is dragging its heels on legislation that directly impacts the lives and the livelihood of northerners. Mr. Speaker, I would equate the government's history on developing legislation is as slow as molasses going uphill. Examples are the Wildlife Act, the Species at Risk Act and the long-awaited Liquor Act. With large pieces of legislation taking as long as they do, I am left wondering where, oh where, on the government's radar is legislation on locksmithing and massage therapy.
Most other jurisdictions in this country have legislation on locksmithing and massage therapy. With the recent passage of the Pharmacy Act, could we not look at using that as a guide or template to help other professions seeking legislation to govern their operations? Numerous meetings, letters, e-mails and conversations have taken place regarding new legislation for locksmithing, Mr. Speaker. It has been 20-plus years since this issue was first brought up to the then-Justice Minister and it's been brought up with every Justice Minister since then, including the former Justice Minister, the current Justice Minister and here we are, Mr. Speaker, four months from the next government being formed, and still there is nothing; no movement towards legislation governing locksmithing. Mr. Speaker,
Mr. Speaker, section 353 of the Criminal Code requires all persons in possession of lock picking equipment to be licensed by the Solicitor General of the province in which they live. Currently, as I know it, there are not licensing requirements that have been set out in the Northwest Territories. That means, Mr. Speaker, that anyone can
order and possess lock picking equipment in the Northwest Territories to do whatever they wish with it and it's just not practical, Mr. Speaker. Is it just not good common sense that we should move forward and license and legislate the locksmithing profession?
The government needs to address these deficiencies in legislation and judging by the inability of many governments to act, the people out there in our communities, Mr. Speaker, are asking why. Why does it take so long for this government to move what would appear common sense, practical legislative solutions forward? Mr. Speaker, I will have questions for the Minister of Justice at the appropriate time. Mahsi.
---Applause