Thank you, Mr. Chairman. To my right is Ms. Lisa Cardinal, director of policy and planning and evaluation for the Department of Health and Social Services. To my left is Mr. Mark Aitken, legislative counsel with the Department of Justice.

Thank you, Ms. Lee. I’ll now open the floor to general comments on Bill 8. General comments? Detail? Is committee agreed that we proceed with detail on Bill 8?

Thank you, committee. I’ll defer the title and begin the clause-by-clause. Is committee agreed?

Clause 1.

---Clauses 1 through 43 inclusive approved

Does committee agree that we have concluded detail?

Does committee agree that we have... Okay, Bill 8, Social Work Profession Act. Bill as a whole.

Does committee agree that Bill 8, Social Work Profession Act, is now ready for third reading?

---Bill 8 as a whole approved for third reading

I’d like to thank the Minister and her witnesses. Ms. Lee.

Thank you.

Sergeant-at-Arms, if I could please get you to escort the witnesses from the Chamber.

The next item on our agenda is Bill 9, An Act to Amend the Tourism Act. Is committee agreed that we move on to Bill 9?

Now that we’ve agreed to consider Bill 9 I will now ask the Minister responsible for the bill, the Honourable Bob McLeod, the Minister responsible for Industry, Tourism and Investment, to introduce the bill.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I’m pleased to introduce Bill 9, An Act to Amend the Tourism Act. This bill addresses the proposed changes to the Tourism Act, specifically the removal of the Tourism Deposit Assurance Program.

The Tourism Deposit Assurance Program was established in the early 1990s in an effort to

increase consumer confidence in Northwest Territories tourism operators following the demise of two large lodges on Great Bear Lake. No other Canadian jurisdiction offers a program like the Tourism Deposit Assurance Program.

This bill is an important one because the Department of Industry, Tourism and Investment believes that the Tourism Deposit Assurance Program has not accomplished what it was designed to do. It has not increased consumer confidence in our tourism industry and the Tourism Deposit Assurance Program ultimately drains valuable resources from programs designed to develop our tourism industry development. The industry is much better served by encouraging tourism operators to adopt payment practices that protect their clients, such as credit card payments.

The removal of the Tourism Deposit Assurance Program from the Tourism Act is consistent with direction we have received from industry partners such as Northwest Territories Tourism. In June 2010 the chair of the Northwest Territories Tourism advised Industry, Tourism and Investment that its board had passed a motion recommending that the department eliminate the program from its legislation.

Removing the Tourism Deposit Assurance Program from the Tourism Act is also consistent with the recommendations of the Standing Committee on Economic Development and Infrastructure, which recommended that the Tourism Deposit Assurance Program be cancelled in March 2010.

Industry, Tourism and Investment and the Government of the Northwest Territories remains committed to providing a diversified economy that provides all communities and regions with opportunities and choices. It is our view that removing the Tourism Deposit Assurance Program from the Tourism Act and focusing our resources on programs and services that assist the development of our tourism industry will help us meet this important objective.

I want to thank the committee for its input into the review of the proposed changes to the Tourism Act. I would now be happy to answer any questions you might have about this issue.

Thank you, Mr. McLeod. I would now like to ask the chairperson for the Standing Committee on Economic Development and Infrastructure, which reviewed this bill, to make comments. Mr. Ramsay.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Bill 9, An Act to Amend the Tourism Act, revokes Section 13 and 14 of the Tourism Act that established the Tourism Deposit Assurance Program effective November 15, 2010.

The Standing Committee on Economic Development and Infrastructure conducted a public

hearing on Bill 9 on September 27, 2010, in Yellowknife. The committee heard concerns and opinions from many outfitters as well as from representatives from NWT Tourism. The committee took everything it heard, both written and in person submissions, under advisement in its consideration of this bill. The committee also held a public clause-by-clause review of Bill 9 on October 13, 2010. Following the committee’s review, a motion was carried to report Bill 9 to the Legislative Assembly as ready for consideration in Committee of the Whole.

This concludes the committee’s opening comments on Bill 9. Individual members may have additional questions or comments as we proceed.

Thank you, Mr. Ramsay. On that, I would ask the Minister responsible for the bill if he would like to bring some witnesses into the House. Mr. McLeod.

Yes, I would, Mr. Chairman.

Is committee agreed?

Thank you, committee. I will now ask the Sergeant-at-Arms to escort the witnesses into the Chamber.

Mr. McLeod, can I please get you to introduce your witnesses for the record?