Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I am pleased to present Bill 15, Liquor Act. This bill is a complete rewrite of our existing act and represents the first major revision since 1983.
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The revised Liquor Act will provide a liquor system that is more effective, balanced and consistent with the priorities of NWT residents. It provides strong legislation that protects youth, controls the illegal sale of liquor, and provides for safer conditions in licensed premises. Bill 15 represents the culmination of more than three years of work that included a review of the current Liquor Act, a comparative analysis of other provincial and territorial legislation, and consultations with NWT residents about their views on changing liquor legislation.
In 2005, the Department of Finance undertook an extensive consultation process. A detailed discussion paper was circulated that summarized the main issues and provided a series of questions to stimulate debate. Meetings were held in nine communities to solicit the views of NWT residents. These communities were chosen to represent a cross-section of liquor access and regulation circumstances based on size, presence of liquor stores and/or licensed establishments, and liquor status. In addition, on the recommendation of the Standing Committee on Accountability and Oversight, funding was provided so that outlying communities were able to send two representatives to attend the nearest session.
Early in 2006, Improving Liquor Legislation in the NWT, Final Report of the 2005 Liquor Act Review was released. This report included 38 recommendations for change, most of which are reflected in this bill.
One of the main conclusions of the report was NWT residents, while largely supportive of the existing governance structure of the liquor system, also wanted to see more control at the community level. Consequently, the bill retains the existing shared governance responsibility between the Minister and the Liquor Licensing Board, and includes provisions to devolve more control over liquor to communities.
Bill 15 does not contain specific legislative or regulatory provisions regarding addictions or treatment. Social responsibility and an attitude toward alcohol cannot be legislated. Each individual is responsible for his or her own actions.
We are all aware of the effect that alcohol has on our communities and residents, as Members indicated during our debate in May about the need to denormalize alcohol abuse in our communities. This bill supports GNWT policies and programs to address a number of elements of social responsibility in the liquor system. For example, the NWT Liquor Commission participates in numerous inter-jurisdictional initiatives to promote the responsible use of alcohol and has a program to place healthy message labels on all liquor bottles sold in the NWT.
Bill 15 includes a number of provisions that were suggested by the Standing Committee on Accountability and Oversight during committee review of the bill, including the inspection of liquor stores by liquor inspectors, stronger inspection tools for sales to minors, and higher maximum penalties for store operators who sell to minors and for minors who use false ID to purchase liquor. I would like to thank committee members for their very valuable input.
The bill proposes a number of major areas of change to the Liquor Act:
- The bill provides strong legislation that protects youth, controls the illegal sale of liquor, and provides for safer conditions in licensed establishments. A number of measures are included to prevent minors from accessing liquor, including stiffer fines for minors using false or altered ID to attempt to purchase liquor;
- It provides for a much clearer distinction between the adjudicative, enforcement and governance functions of the liquor control system. Consistent with standard practice, all regulation-making powers will rest with the Commissioner on the recommendation of the Minister;
- It strengthens the control that communities have on liquor within their boundaries. Communities will be able to directly request the Minister to conduct a plebiscite to determine which type of restriction or prohibition system will apply within their municipal boundaries, without having to first provide a petition from residents. The threshold for approving a question on a plebiscite is being reduced from 60 percent to 50 percent plus one, which is more democratic. The revised act would recognize the ability of communities operating under self-government agreements and exercising jurisdiction in this area, to pass their own bylaws with regard to liquor control;
- It clarifies who is able to purchase, consume, sell and possess liquor;
- It strengthens the penalties for bootlegging, increasing the deterrents to this illegal activity, particularly bootlegging to minors. As a further deterrent, a new inspection regime is being introduced to provide for improved monitoring of liquor stores using inspectors, similar to the regime currently in place for monitoring licensed premises;
- It improves the operation of licensed premises by better protecting youth, improving customer safety and making the rules for licence holders more internally consistent and clear. It recognizes that intoxication can occur from substances other than beverage alcohol and drugs, and provides a more streamlined approach to dealing with the issue of intoxication in licensed premises; and, finally,
- Finally, Bill 15 will result in increased administrative simplicity for both licensees and liquor administration. For example, the number of license classes is being reduced from the current 12 to four.
That concludes my opening remarks. I would be pleased to answer any questions Members may have. Thank you, Mr. Chairman.