Thank you, Mr. Chairman. The Standing Committee on Economic Development and Infrastructure conducted its public review of Bill 13, An Act to Amend the Commissioner’s Land Act, on May 26, 2009. The committee would like to thank the Minister and his staff for presenting the bill. The committee also thanks the witness, Mr. Kevin O’Reilly, who contributed to the review.
The bill amends the Commissioner’s Land Act. It includes amendments that would provide that the Residential Tenancies Act does not apply on Commissioner’s land held under a lease authorized under the Commissioner’s Land Act, designate the Minister or a person authorized by the Minister as the person responsible for initiating court proceedings regarding wrongful or unlawful use, possession or occupation of Commissioner’s land and limit the liability of the Commissioner as an occupier of Commissioner’s Land.
The bill had included an amendment adding a regulation-making power respecting the posting of security when Commissioner’s land is leased for commercial or industrial use. However, the committee members asked to see this authority be a mandatory requirement and that these requirements should be expressed in the statute, not the regulations. The Minister concurred with an amending motion to remove this regulation-making power in another motion making a minor change to another clause. He also agreed to return with another legislative proposal in the fall which would add the security provisions to the statute.
Following the committee’s review, a motion was carried to report Bill 13, An Act to Amend the Commissioner’s Land Act, to the Assembly as ready for Committee of the Whole.
Mr. Chairman, this concludes the committee’s opening comments on Bill 13. Individual Members may have additional questions or comments as we proceed. Thank you.
