Thank you, Mr. Chair. Overall the committee supports Bill 15. We believe it achieves an appropriate balance between personal, community and territorial responsibility.
The committee did, however, note that many critical provisions that will determine the success of the new Liquor Act will be placed in regulations. These provisions include maximum quantities that may be transported by individuals who are not licence or permit holders, the types and brands of liquor to be kept for sale in liquor stores, the operation of liquor stores, rules and procedures regarding plebiscites, and the powers and duties of inspectors.
Much of the strength of the act will depend on clear and implementable regulations that address the concerns that were raised during public consultations. To ensure successful implementation, committee urges the government to continue its consultations during the development phase of the regulations.
Committee would like to recognize the efforts and good work of the Minister, the department staff and their consultants, in developing the public discussion paper, the bill and in working with the committee to follow up on issues brought forward during the community consultations. Throughout its review of Bill 15, the committee on Accountability and Oversight has appreciated the Minister's forthrightness with information and his willingness to consider proposed amendments. We look forward to continuing this collaborative approach during the implementation of the new Liquor Act.
While Bill 15 is a large step forward in modernizing our liquor legislation, it will need to be complemented by further initiatives addressing addictions, treatment and prevention, making liquor less attractive to young people, and leading to a future where each person who chooses to drink will use alcohol responsibly.
As Mr. Sean Whelly, a Fort Simpson resident, said, “...if you want to address the issue of drinking in the North, why don't you get to the root causes of alcoholism instead of trying to tackle through legislation what comes at the end here? Let's fund alcohol programs; let's reach out to the kids and make sure that they know that there's other things besides alcohol.”
Last May this House passed a motion calling for the denormalization of alcohol abuse. As we discussed at that time, only certain aspects of liquor can be controlled through legislation. Liquor laws must be complemented by a multi-faceted approach combining prevention, treatment and enforcement to deal with the individual and societal consequences of alcohol and substance abuse.
The committee recognizes that the Liquor Act itself cannot address all social issues around alcohol and alcohol abuse in the Northwest Territories. However, the committee believes that early in its life, the 16th Legislative Assembly must make prevention a priority, and task the social envelope Ministers to come up with a coordinated approach to create a campaign for public education and denormalization, including incremental budget targets for the use of prevention strategies and programs.
Committee reminds the government that there is no lead department with the mandate to manage a government-wide campaign against alcohol abuse. There are at least four different departments with some function in the administration of liquor and handling its multi-million dollar consequences: Finance, Health, Justice and Education. Committee has seen no evidence of any long-range, long-term collaborative alcohol programming among them.
Collectively, the governments and the Legislatures past and present have failed to look beyond their own spheres of responsibility and address in a unified way this single, most devastating impact on our society and our future generations.
The GNWT will not be able, on its own, to turn around patterns of abuse that are now generations old. The NWT's government and Legislature should be the catalysts to marshal the support, and mobilize the resources, of all community and aboriginal governments and community leaders against alcohol abuse.
This concludes the committee's opening comments on Bill 15. Individual Members may have questions and comments as we proceed.
Following the clause-by-clause review, a motion was carried to report Bill 15, Liquor Act, as amended, as ready for consideration in Committee of the Whole.