This is page numbers 6849 - 6882 of the Hansard for the 16th Assembly, 6th Session. The original version can be accessed on the Legislative Assembly's website or by contacting the Legislative Assembly Library. The word of the day was safety.

Topics

Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters

Bob Bromley

Bob Bromley Weledeh

Thank you, Mr. Chair. I’d like to continue my general comments that were wrongly cut off by the Chair earlier today. That’s correct. I would like to note...

Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters

The Chair

The Chair David Krutko

Mr. Bromley, I would like to advise you to withdraw that statement. I believe you are challenging the Chair. I request that you withdraw that statement. Thank you.

Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters

Bob Bromley

Bob Bromley Weledeh

Mr. Chair, I would like to withdraw that comment. At the same time, I would like to note that it is my right to do general comments. I was cut off after three minutes on the clock.

Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters

The Chair

The Chair David Krutko

Mr. Bromley, I’m just basically following direction, that once you concluded your statement there weren’t going to be any questions and we were going to allow each Member to make their general comments and move on and allow the Minister to reply to the general comments of everyone at the end. I stated that when Ms. Bisaro spoke. So that was the rule I put on the floor of the House. So if you were offended, well, excuse me. That’s why we’re having a second round of general comments. Again, your concern will be noted and also my concern of challenging the Chair will also be noted.

Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters

Bob Bromley

Bob Bromley Weledeh

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I will be happy to provide you many examples, many of which you will be very familiar, of exactly this situation in which the Member was allowed to have that question to the Minister during his general comments. With that, I will continue, Mr. Chair.

I wanted to note that the department did come forward with a communications plan, which we had asked for and were very happy to see. I think there’s a lot of good material in that. The Minister does note in that that he will be working with the Students Against Distracted Driving, and he also has commented that he will be including as his target audience those in communities without cell phone coverage, because it’s well known that many people in those communities do have cell phones and travel frequently to centres which do have coverage. So I appreciate that as well.

I would like to note, though, that in the communications plan there is an intention to promote hands-free alternatives to handheld electronic devices, and I think everybody would agree that the main purpose of this legislation is safety, and the department has provided us with extensive and comprehensive evidence that in fact those alternatives are just as deadly and raise exactly the same safety issues. So I wonder if the Minister would, at a minimum, remove the promotion of hands-free alternatives to the handheld devices and simply stick with trying to avoid distractions to driving as the main focus. Perhaps he would include, based on the evidence that he’s provided us, some notification that in fact there could be concerns that even hands-free devices are a safety issue.

Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters

The Chair

The Chair David Krutko

Minister of Transportation.

Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters

Michael McLeod

Michael McLeod Deh Cho

Mr. Chairman, we’re trying to find the reference that the Member is making. He’s asked two questions about talking and removing promotion of hands-free alternatives. I’d like to point out that that’s something we will look at removing. I think it’s a good point that the Member is making and we certainly, by way of providing exemptions, are not intending to promote any type of hands-free electronic devices. However, we recognize in some cases, such as winter roads, that is the only communication device available. So we will be looking very carefully on how and what type of devices can be used.

For the most part, most people, including the truckers and residents, are using LAD phones, which are hard wired and don’t require a handheld operation. So we certainly will take the Member’s advice and follow up on both of his comments, and remove the reference to promotion and carefully scrutinize what devices are allowed.

Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters

The Chair

The Chair David Krutko

General comments. Detail.

Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters

Some Hon. Members

Agreed.

Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters

The Chair

The Chair David Krutko

Okay. Turn to page 1, clause 1.

---Clauses 1 through 13 inclusive approved

Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters

The Chair

The Chair David Krutko

To the bill as a whole.

Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters

Some Hon. Members

Agreed.

Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters

The Chair

The Chair David Krutko

Does committee agree that Bill 16 is ready for third reading? Mr. McLeod.

Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters

Michael McLeod

Michael McLeod Deh Cho

Mr. Chairman, I believe there were a number of motions for amendment.

Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters

The Chair

The Chair David Krutko

Mr. McLeod, clarification. I assume that these are your amendments. Could you clarify exactly what amendments you’re talking about?

Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters

Michael McLeod

Michael McLeod Deh Cho

Mr. Chairman, there was a reprint and I don’t believe that was the same document that was just referenced. If we could have Mr. Ian Rennie talk to the issue.

Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters

The Chair

The Chair David Krutko

Mr. Rennie, could you elaborate?

Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters

Rennie

Mr. Chairman, there were two motions and there is a reprint, but I don’t think the reprint was what was just gone through. I can read the motions.

Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters

The Chair

The Chair David Krutko

Apparently the bill we have in front of us is Bill 16, An Act to Amend the Motor Vehicles Act, reprinted. So I’m not too sure.

Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters

Rennie

Okay, there was an 8.1 that was not gone through. Section 8.1 on page 3.

Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters

The Chair

The Chair David Krutko

Just for clarification, I believe you’re talking about 8.1. I believe it is part of clause 8, so the whole 8 comes in as one clause so

we didn’t have to call it out. That’s the reason I didn’t call it out, because apparently clause 8 is total clause 8 and clause 1. So it has been dealt with in that manner. I believe we have dealt with clause 8.1. So hopefully, for the record, maybe the Minister or yourself can clarify. Mr. McLeod.

Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters

Michael McLeod

Michael McLeod Deh Cho

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. With that clarification, I think that’s what we were looking for.

Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters

The Chair

The Chair David Krutko

If you’re wondering what happened, we did everything right. We are agreeing to third reading of the bill. We have dealt with the item which the Minister had a concern with, third reading. Just for the record, does committee agree that Bill 16 is ready for third reading?

---Bill 16 as a whole approved for third reading

Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters

The Chair

The Chair David Krutko

I’d like to thank the Minister and his witnesses. Sergeant-at-Arms, escort the witnesses out.

As we agreed, the next bill we’ll be dealing with is Bill 17, An Act to Amend the Territorial Parks Act. With that, I’d like to ask Mr. Bob McLeod, Minister of ITI, if he has any comments on Bill 17.

Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters

Bob McLeod

Bob McLeod Yellowknife South

I do, Mr. Chairman. I am pleased to introduce Bill 17, An Act to Amend the Territorial Parks Act.

It is time to modernize our legislation to match the same level of protection and security in other Canadian parks.

The proposed amendments relate to safety precautions and procedures that exist in most other Canadian jurisdictions.

These amendments will set a framework within the act that will give the department the authority to deal with specific concerns that have been identified repeatedly within our parks.