Thank you, Madam Chair. I am pleased to present Bill 2, An Act to Amend the Territorial Parks Act.
The first amendment is in relation to fire restrictions in territorial parks.
Additional authority is needed, as a matter of safety for parks users and to prevent damage to the park. The proposed changes now provide ITI with the ability to issue restrictions and bans with respect to fires in all territorial parks, and for regulation-
making power to prohibit or regulate the setting, use and extinguishing of fires.
This proposed amendment relates to safety precautions and procedures for regulating fire use that exist in all other Canadian jurisdictions. It is time to update our legislation to match the same level of protection and security in other Canadian parks.
The second amendment is in regard to parking issues. Controlling vehicles, including where they park, is also critical for the safe, enjoyable and efficient operations of our parks and campgrounds. ITI needs this enforcement tool to deal with the minority who choose to ignore the rules to the detriment, inconvenience and possible threat to safety of other park users.
These amendments will set a framework within the act that will give the department the authority to deal with specific concerns that were identified following the 2012 parks season. Thank you, Madam Chair.