Committee agree?

Okay. So we’ll begin with Bill 12 after the break.

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I’d like to call Committee of the Whole to order. Prior to the break we agreed to begin with Bill 12, An Act to Amend the Liquor Act. At this time, I’d like to ask the Minister responsible for the bill if he has any opening comments. Minister of Finance, Mr. Miltenberger.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I am here to present Bill 12, An Act to Amend the Liquor Act.

The current Liquor Act, which came into force on October 31, 2008, provides the legislative authority for an inspector or peace officer to obtain a warrant to enter into a dwelling house to inspect, but it does not give the necessary authority to an inspector or peace officer to seize and remove anything referred to in the warrant.

The only way seizure can be authorized after a search of a dwelling house pursuant to Section 112 of the Liquor Act is if amendments are made to the act specifically allowing for a seizure.

Bill 12 amends the Liquor Act to provide the inspector or peace officer with the legislative ability to obtain a warrant to search and seize, not just to search.

That concludes my opening remarks. Thank you, Mr. Chairman.

Thank you, Mr. Miltenberger. At this time I’d like to ask the standing committee who reviewed the bill if they have any comments. Mr. Menicoche.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. The Standing Committee on Government Operations has reviewed Bill 12, An Act to Amend the Liquor Act. The bill amends the Liquor Qct to allow for an inspector or peace officer to seize and remove anything referred to in a warrant for the search of a dwelling house.

This concludes the committee’s general comments on Bill 12. Individual Members may have comments or questions as we proceed.

At this time I would like to ask the Minister if he will be bringing in witnesses.

Yes, Mr. Chairman.

Does committee agree that the Minister may bring in witnesses?

Sergeant-at-Arms, please escort the witnesses in.

For the record, Mr. Miltenberger, could you introduce your witnesses?

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I have Margaret Melhorn, deputy minister of Finance; and Ms. Lana Birch-Rideout, legislative counsel from Justice.

Welcome, witnesses. Mr. Abernethy, general comments on the bill.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Just for the record, this Liquor Act came into force on October 30, 2008. Prior to this act coming into place, did peace officers who obtain a warrant have the ability to seize prior to that point under the old legislation?

Minister of Finance.

Yes, Mr. Chairman.

So this is basically to return that power that once existed that got missed by way of some sort of oversight.

The Member is correct.

General comments on Bill 12. Mr. Yakeleya.

Just a comment. The peace officers, are they the ones that are sworn in such as bylaw officers in terms of their authority as a peace officer?

Ms. Birch-Rideout.

General comments. Detail. Bill 12, An Act to Amend the Liquor Act. Clause 1.

---Clauses 1 through 4 inclusive approved