As I committed to the Member when he raised this issue a number of days ago, I would get the latest briefing. The Member has articulated probably the one option, probably the main option, but I will get up to speed on the file and I’ll commit to sit down with the Member and see what possible options there are over and above the current circumstance.

Thank you, Mr. Miltenberger. Item 9, written questions. Item 10, returns to written questions. Item 11, replies to opening address. Item 12, petitions. Item 13, reports of committees on the review of bills. The honourable Member for Weledeh, Mr. Bromley.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The Standing Committee on Economic Development and Infrastructure reported yesterday on Bill 7, Community Planning and Development Act, and Bill 19, Cost of Credit Disclosure Act.

I move, seconded by the honourable Member for Nunakput, that Bill 7, Community Planning and Development Act, and Bill 19, Cost of Credit Disclosure Act, be moved into Committee of the Whole for today.

Thank you, Mr. Bromley. A motion is on the floor. The motion is in order. To the motion.

Question has been called.

---Carried

Item 14, tabling of documents. The honourable Minister responsible for Finance, Mr. Miltenberger.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I wish to table the following two documents entitled Supplementary Estimates (Infrastructure Expenditures), No. 2, 2011-2012, and Supplementary Estimates (Operations Expenditures), No. 2, 2011-2012.

As well, I wish to table the following document entitled Natural Resources Conservation Trust Fund Annual Report, 2010-2011.

Thank you, Mr. Miltenberger. The honourable Minister responsible for the Workers' Safety and Compensation Commission, Mr. Robert McLeod.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I wish to table the following document entitled Workers’ Safety and Compensation Commission 2010 Annual Report.

Thank you, Mr. McLeod. Item 15, notices of motion. Item 16, notices of motion for first reading of bills. Item 17, motions. Item 18, first reading of bills. Item 19, second reading of bills. Item 20, consideration in Committee of the Whole of bills and other matters: Bill 7, Community Planning and Development Act, and Bill 19, Cost of Credit Disclosure Act, with Mr. Abernethy in the chair.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. The committee wishes to proceed with Bill 7 and Bill 19 today.

Is committee agreed?

Okay. With that we’ll take a short break and when we come back we’ll proceed with Bill 7 and Bill 19.

---SHORT RECESS

I’d like to call Committee of the Whole back to order. Prior to going on break, we agreed to proceed with reviews of Bill 7 and 19. We willstart off with Bill 7. Agreed?

Agreed. Alright. The first thing we will do is go to the Minister responsible to introduce the bill. Minister McLeod.

Mr. Chairman, I am here to present Bill 7, Community Planning and Development Act. This new legislation was developed in response to requests from municipal governments, the Northwest Territories Association of Communities, the Local Government Administrators of the Northwest Territories, and professional community planners.

I would like to acknowledge the hard work of representatives of the NWT Association of Communities and the professional planners on our Peer Review Group, who all made important

contributions at various stages to the development of this bill.

Community planning can be simple or complex, depending on the needs and desires of the community. Our aim is to have legislation that serves all municipalities, from the smallest to the largest, which enables communities to meet their visions for the orderly development of their municipalities.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I look forward to hearing comments from the Members, and answering any questions.

Thank you, Mr. Minister. We’ll now go to the chairman responsible for the standing committee that reviewed the bill to make opening comments on the bill. Mr. Ramsay.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. The Standing Committee on Economic Development and Infrastructure held public hearings on Bill 7, Community Planning and Development Act, during the months of April and May of 2011 in Yellowknife, Fort Smith, Ulukhaktok, Inuvik, and Aklavik. The clause-by-clause review with the Minister began on May 10, 2011, and concluded on August 15, 2011.

During the May 10, 2011, review of the bill with the Minister, the committee passed a motion to amend the bill by adding a provision stating that nothing in the act shall be construed as to abrogate or derogate from Aboriginal or treaty rights, that anything authorized by the act must be carried out in accordance with land claim agreements where they apply, and that land claim agreements and legislation are paramount in case of a conflict with this act.

Similar provisions are found in other Northwest Territories legislation such as the Species at Risk Act. The Minister did not concur with this amendment and so the bill was not amended. The Minister requested time to seek legal advice on the implications of the amendment.

During the August 15

conclusion of the clause-by-

clause review, the Minister advised that direction has been given for the development of amendments to include similar provisions in the Interpretation Act, which applies to all NWT legislation. This legislation would come forward during the life of the 17

Assembly. The committee

and the Minister did agree to one minor, non-substantive amendment during the clause-by-clause review of the bill.

Following the clause-by-clause review, a motion was carried to report Bill 7, Community Planning and Development Act, to the Legislative Assembly as ready for consideration in Committee of the Whole as amended and reprinted.

Mr. Chairman, this concludes the committee’s opening comments on Bill 7. Individual Members

may have additional questions or comments as we proceed. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Ramsay. Would the Minister like to bring witnesses into the Chamber?