Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Bill 5, An Act to Amend the Commissioner’s Land Act,

includes an amendment that requires anyone leasing Commissioner’s land for commercial or industrial use to post security to cover the cost of restoration of the land to a satisfactory condition. The Standing Committee on Economic Development and Infrastructure conducted two public hearings on Bill 5, An Act to Amend the Commissioner’s Land Act, one on December the 8, 2009, and one on February 15, 2010.

The committee heard concerns from members of the public, a private citizen and a representative of the Deh Cho First Nations. The committee brought forward some amendments to the bill at the public review on February 15, 2010. The proposed amendments move the factors used to determine the amount of security from the regulations into the act, as well as conditions for the exemption from posting security.

Members believe these amendments result in stronger legislation that reduces the Government of the Northwest Territories’ risk of environmental liability. The Minister concurred and the bill was amended. The committee thanks the Minister and his staff for presenting the bill. Following the committee’s review, a motion was carried to report Bill 5, An Act to Amend the Commissioner’s Land Act, to the Assembly as ready for Committee of the Whole. This concludes the committee’s opening comments on Bill 5. Individual Members may have additional questions or comments as we proceed. Thank you, Mr. Chairman.

Thank you, Mr. Ramsay. At this time, I’d like to ask the Minister if he’ll be bringing in any witnesses. Mr. McLeod.

Thank you, Mr. Chair, I would.

Does committee agree the Minister brings in his witnesses?

Sergeant-at-Arms, escort the witnesses in.

For the record, Mr. Minister, can you introduce your witnesses?

Thank you, Mr. Chair. I have with me today, to my right, Mr. Mike Aumond, deputy minister of Municipal and Community Affairs. To my far left is Mr. Mark Aitken, director of legislation, and to my immediate left is Ms. Bev Chamberlin, director of lands administration with Municipal and Community Affairs. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Thank you, Mr. Minister. Welcome, witnesses. General comments in regard to Bill 5, An Act to Amend the Commissioner’s Lands Act. What’s the wish of the committee? Detail? Turn to page 1 of the bill. Bill 5, An Act to Amend the Commissioner’s Land Act, clause 1.

---Clauses 1 through 4 inclusive approved

To the bill as a whole.

Does committee agree that Bill 5 is now ready for third reading?

---Bill 5 as a whole approved for third reading

With that, I’d like to thank the Minister. Thank you, witnesses. Sergeant-at-Arms, escort the witnesses out.

As we agreed, the next bill we’ll be dealing with is Bill 7, An Act to Amend the Summary Convictions Procedures Act. I’d like to ask the Minister of Justice if he has any general comments. Minister.

Yes, Mr. Chair. I’m pleased to be here to speak to you about Bill 7, An Act to Amend the Summary Convictions Procedures Act. I would like to thank the Standing Committee on Social Programs for their review of this bill. The Summary Conviction Procedures Act allows for a ticket to be issued to a person who is accused of committing an offense under a territorial law or municipal bylaw. The ticket indicates the amount of the voluntary payment for an offense, as well as the date on which the person is obligated to attend court if the person wishes to challenge the ticket.

Mr. Chair, the act outlines the procedures that need to be followed in order to convict a person who has failed to pay a ticket or attend court. This usually involves holding a trial in which the accused is not present, which involves calling a peace officer such as an RCMP or bylaw officer to the witness stand to provide sworn testimony about how the ticket came into existence. This results in policing and court resources being used in a less than efficient manner.

The bill before you today was developed at the request of the RCMP, the City of Yellowknife, the Northwest Territories Association of Communities, and the Territorial Court. The main reason for the bill is to permit a court to automatically convict a person who receives a ticket if that person neither pays the ticket nor appears in court to contest the ticket. One of the proposed amendments removes the need to hold an unnecessary trial when a person fails to show up to court.

Mr. Chair, other amendments in this bill will also raise the maximum fine from $150 to $500 for failure to appear in court as required under the act. The fine amount has not been changed since 1986. The proposed increase takes into consideration inflation, while also encouraging individuals to appear in court if they wish to dispute the charge. The bill also includes minor amendments to clarify a provision relating to ticket information, and to ensure that the terminology is consistent throughout the act.

The Department of Justice is pleased that these amendments will save both time and money for courts and peace officers, which will in turn allow peace officers to spend more time serving the residents of the Northwest Territories.

Mr. Chair. I would be pleased to answer questions that the committee members may have regarding Bill 7. Mahsi, Mr. Chair.

Thank you, Mr. Minister. At this time I would like to ask the chair of the standing committee which reviewed the bill if you have any comments. Mr. Beaulieu.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. The Standing Committee on Social Programs conducted a public review of Bill 7, An Act to Amend the Summary Convictions Procedures Act, at a meeting on December 11, 2009. Bill 7 makes amendments to the Summary Conviction Procedures Act. The amendments will allow a justice to enter a conviction and impose the specific penalty in cases where a person who has been summonsed to appear before the justice by way of a ticket fails to either pay the specific penalty or to appear as summonsed. As well, Bill 7 increases the maximum fine for failing to appear before a justice as required, and other minor amendments are made to the terminology.

Following a clause-by-clause review, a motion was carried to report to the Assembly that Bill 7 is now ready for consideration in Committee of the Whole.

This concludes the committee’s general comments. Individual Members may have comments or questions as we proceed. Thank you, Mr. Chairman.

Thank you, Mr. Beaulieu. At this time I’d like to ask the Minister if he’ll be bringing in any witnesses.

Yes, Mr. Chair.

Sergeant-at-Arms, can you escort the witnesses in?

Mr. Minister, for the record, could you introduce your witnesses?

Mahsi, Mr. Chair. To my right I have Mark Aitken, director of legislation division and to my left, Mike Reddy, senior policy analyst, policy and planning division. Mahsi, Mr. Chair.

Thank you, Mr. Minister. Welcome, witnesses. General comments in regard to Bill 7, An Act to Amend the Summary Convictions Procedures Act. General comments? Detail? Turn to page 1, Bill 7, An Act to Amend the Summary Convictions Procedures Act, clause 1.

---Clauses 1 through 5 inclusive approved

To the bill as a whole.

Does committee agree that Bill 7 is ready for third reading?

---Bill 7 as a whole approved for third reading