Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I will read them into the official record at this time. Bill 5, An Act to Amend the Motor Vehicles Act, includes amendments to the Motor Vehicles Act to increase options and flexibility regarding drivers’ licences and sanctions, reinstatement conditions, duration of suspension and cancellation to support the NWT High Risk Drivers Program, to clarify the registrar’s authority and responsibilities of medical professionals respecting driver medical examinations and requirements, and to address offence provisions related to driving in school zones and construction zones and other public safety provisions.

The Standing Committee on Economic Development and Infrastructure conducted a public hearing on Bill 5 in Yellowknife on January 22, 2013. The committee heard comments from members of the Yellowknife and the NWT Seniors’ societies regarding issues including medical fitness examination. The committee also received a written submission from an NWT private business owner regarding vehicle owner’s liability and the definition of an unsafe driver. The committee thanks all witnesses for their participation and thoughtful comments.

The committee decided that items were appropriately addressed through policy and existing regulations. Members support the proposed amendments and thank 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 Motor Vehicles Act, to the Assembly as ready for further consideration in Committee of the Whole.

This concludes the opening remarks on Bill 5. Individual Members may have additional questions and comments as we proceed.

Again, I want to thank those folks who did come out to the public hearing, especially the written

submission by someone from the Hay River community. I appreciate the effort the public has put into this bill.

Thank you, Mr. Hawkins, for the comments from the committee. Minister Beaulieu, do you have witnesses that you’d like to bring into the House today?

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Yes, I do.

Thank you, Minister Beaulieu. Does committee agree?

Thank you, committee. Sergeant-at-Arms, if you could please escort the witnesses in.

Minister Beaulieu, for the record, if you can introduce your witnesses to the House, please.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. To my left is Russell Neudorf, deputy minister of Transportation. To my immediate right is Steve Loutitt, director of road licensing and safety, Transportation. To my far left is Ian Rennie, legislative counsel, Department of Justice.

Thank you, Mr. Beaulieu. Mr. Rennie, Mr. Loutitt, Mr. Neudorf, welcome to the Chamber this evening. Committee, general comments. Ms. Bisaro

Thank you, Mr. Chair. I just have a question which came from a constituent, and I don’t believe it was addressed. It certainly wasn’t addressed at the public hearing when I was there. The question is this: Do the changes in the act and the act in general apply to quad vehicles?

Thank you, Ms. Bisaro. Minister Beaulieu.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. They do not. They are a part of the ATV Act.

That’s good. Thanks very much. I guess, not knowing the ATV Act, maybe the Minister can advise whether or not the ATV Act needs changes similar to what we’ve done for the Motor Vehicles Act to make sure that licensing and driver qualifications are where they should be for ATVs and quads.

I’m going to ask the deputy minister to provide more detail on that.

Thank you, Minister Beaulieu. Deputy Minister Neudorf.

Thank you, Mr. Neudorf. Ms. Bisaro.

That’s good. Thank you.

General comments. I have Mr. Hawkins followed by Mr. Yakeleya. Mr. Hawkins.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I’m not going to spend a lot of time asking a bunch of questions, but a particular issue that has arisen, and I thought it was well dealt with both in committee and certainly by the department, which was one of the questions posed by our seniors community, of course, is the issue of having to do medical examination. Although I’m familiar with the answer, and I’ve taken the answer and accepted it, I do think that there are some people who are curious on the public record. Those who watch at home and, believe it or not, actually a lot of seniors do watch our proceedings at home, so they would probably like to hear the highlights that explain why at certain ages and when medical examinations need to be done and at what age. Rather than me trying to explain it here, I thought for everyone’s benefit, be it the public, the Minister could go through just sort of a general snapshot as to ages and the reason and where that falls under that authority.

Thank you, Mr. Hawkins. Minister Beaulieu.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Under Section 4.3 of this standard requires non-commercial drivers to complete a review of the driver’s fitness and undergo a medical at age 75, at age 80 again, and every two years over the age of 80.

The last question I’d like to ask, maybe in this particular area: Is this contiguous across Canada or do we find this happens in some regions versus others, and perhaps if they know off the top of their head or they’re familiar with any region, be it province or other territory, that requires a similar type of process where medical exams are required after a certain age. Again, this is an issue, actually, that had arisen during our discussion of this bill, inquired by some of the seniors and the public, although some who were there, I think, understood or appreciated the answer, but I would say there are some people at home who would still like to hear a little more detail on this. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Hawkins. For that we’ll go to Deputy Minister Neudorf.