Total department, not previously authorized, $25.034 million. Committee agree?

Thank you, committee. Page 8, Justice, operations expenditures, policing services, not previously authorized, $1.307 million.

Court services, not previously authorized, $597,000.

Total department, not previously authorized, $1.904 million.

Thank you. Page 9, Education, Culture and Employment, operations expenditures, directorate and administration, not previously authorized, negative $150,000.

Education and culture, not previously authorized, negative $100,000.

Total department, not previously authorized, negative $250,000. Does committee agree?

Thank you. Page 10, Transportation, operations expenditures, highways, not previously authorized, $400,000.

Total department, not previously authorized, $400,000.

Thank you. Does committee agree that we’ve concluded consideration of Tabled Document 52-17(5), Supplementary Estimates (Operations Expenditures), No. 4, 2013-2014?

Thank you, committee. Ms. Bisaro.

Thank you. The motion is in order. The motion is carried.

---Carried

I’d like to thank Mr. Kalgutkar and Mr. Aumond for joining us this evening. Thanks for your time. Sergeant-at-Arms, if you could escort the witnesses out of the Chamber, please.

Committee, as previously discussed, we are going to commece review of Bill 5, An Act to Amend the Motor Vehicles Act. Before we do, I’d like to draw your attention to the gallery. We have some members here from the Department of Transportation road licensing and policy staff. We have Ms. Gabrielle Moser and Ms. Meagan Birch. Thank you for joining us today.

---Applause

With Bill 5, An Act to Amend the Motor Vehicles Act, we’ll turn it over to the Minister responsible for this bill, Minister Beaulieu.

Amendments proposed under Bill 5 will improve driver and motor vehicle services provided to the public and will improve the safety of our transportation system.

The department is in the process of expanding the High Risk Drivers Program. Through this program, the Department of Transportation will address the risks to public safety posed by drivers that are continually caught driving while impaired or engaged in other high risk activities such as excessive speeding or reckless driving. The changes proposed in Bill 5 will allow the registrar

more options and flexibility regarding driver’s licence sanctions, reinstatement conditions, duration of suspensions, and cancellations. Extending the registrar’s authority will allow the department to tailor sanctions and remedial actions to the specific needs of the offender.

Changes are also introduced that will improve service for clients with driving restrictions related to medical conditions. The proposed amendments will allow the registrar the authority to request medical examinations and additional driver testing. This provision will ensure accuracy and fairness in determining driver fitness. The registrar will also be able to suspend a licence, instead of just being able to cancel a driver’s licence. This will reduce the administrative burden and hoops clients will have to go through to have a licence re-instated in the case of short-term medical conditions that would restrict driving.

The protection of a client’s personal information is critical to the department. Amendments proposed in the bill will allow the registrar more discretion relating to the disclosure of personal information and the circumstances under which it can be used. The amendments also reduce duplication for items already covered in the Access to Information and Protection of Privacy Act.

The department is constantly amending processes to improve service delivery to clients. We have recognized the need for more flexibility in relation to renewal options for driver licences. With the proposed amendments, clients will be able to renew their licence one year in advance of expiry and extend its validity by up to three months. This will enable students and other individuals who are away from home for extended periods of time more flexibility if their renewal dates occur during a period they are away.

It is proposed that certificates of registration will have their validity extended up to 18 months, a requirement related to the implementation of on-line services. On-line services already include e-notification services to remind clients when it is time to renew and vehicle registration renewals. The expansion of on-line driver and motor vehicle services is part of the GNWT’s Service Innovation Strategy to help meet the 17th Assembly goal of effective and efficient government by reducing red tape and making it easier for NWT residents and businesses to access the information and services they need.

Additional safety-related amendments include the restriction of individuals from riding on motorcycles if they cannot reach the foot-pegs or floorboards, removing the prohibition on the use of red and amber lights, and more clearly defining school and construction zones. Proposed amendments also clarify who can be held liable if a child is not properly secured in a vehicle and extend the liability

for any Motor Vehicles Act offence to drivers or owners of commercial vehicles.

Finally, the bill includes amendments to address various administrative matters, including spelling, grammar, paragraph structure and formatting errors. Outdated terms are proposed to be repealed and new terms defined. These miscellaneous amendments will improve the overall clarity and understanding of the Motor Vehicles Act.

Together, the amendments advance our continuing goal of improving road safety and services we provide to all NWT residents and visitors to our territory. Thank you, Mr. Chairman.