This is page numbers 6699 – 6756 of the Hansard for the 17th Assembly, 5th 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 going.

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Tom Beaulieu

Tom Beaulieu Tu Nedhe

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I’m pleased to introduce the proposed amendments in this bill, which will help facilitate the daily administration and operation of the bridge near Fort Providence, the Deh Cho Bridge, and improve upon the enforcement of the Deh Cho Bridge Act and the regulations.

After two years of operating the bridge, the department has identified areas to improve and expand upon inspection and investigation authorities held by our highway transport officers. These proposed amendments will give our HTOs the authority to adequately enforce the act, regulations and bridge tolling system. This bill will also clarify circumstances under which drivers and owners of motor vehicles are liable for non-payment of bridge toll fees. It will allow the admissibility of evidence for official documents for the toll evasion prosecution, such as photographs captured by cameras mounted on the bridge gantry. This will assist our HTOs to purse toll evasion prosecutions and will reduce court time and costs.

Rather than tabling a special report regarding the collection of bridge tolls, annual reporting requirements are proposed to be included in the department’s main estimates. This will eliminate the duplication of effort and make the department’s reporting requirements more efficient.

This amendment also reflects that a concession agreement for the Deh Cho Bridge is no longer in place. To improve consistency among the department’s acts and regulations, the department is proposing to remove the 90-day consultation process for any significant changes to the Deh Cho Bridge regulations. As a concession agreement is no longer in place, the regulation and bridge tolls will be administered like any other regulation or fees administered by the department.

Finally, many changes will be made to the Deh Cho Bridge Act to promote consistency with the Motor Vehicles Act. Together the amendments advance our continuing goal towards a more efficient and effective government. I look forward to discussing the bill with you in detail today. Thank you.

The Chair

The Chair Daryl Dolynny

Thank you, Minister Beaulieu. At this time, committee, we’ll turn our attention to the chairman of the Standing Committee on Economic Development for comments on the bill. Mr. Hawkins.

Committee Motion 146-17(5): Bill 64: An Act To Amend The Co-Operative Associations Act - Amendment To Clause 23, Carried
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters

October 6th, 2015

Robert Hawkins

Robert Hawkins Yellowknife Centre

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. The Standing Committee on Economic Development and Infrastructure held its public review on Bill 49, An Act to Amend the Deh Cho Bridge Act, on September 16, 2015. Bill 49 amends the Deh Cho Bridge Act to streamline rules and requirements currently present in the act, clarifying enforcement powers and reducing red tape.

The committee is satisfied that the legal and fiscal responsibilities of the GNWT are satisfied by including toll reporting under the main estimates, in compliance with the Financial Administration Act.

Members were pleased that tolling revenue will continue to be clearly identified within the public accounts. Similarly, Members recognize that toll adjustments, according to the Consumer Price Index, CPI, will be undertaken in keeping with the GNWT-wide direction of the Financial Management Board.

Nevertheless, Members expect that the GNWT will continue to engage residents respecting any and all changes to the management of the Deh Cho Bridge.

Finally, while the committee agrees with the department that tolling enforcement is a matter of fairness, Members also wish to express their concern respecting individuals crossing the bridge for non-business purposes, but who may be tolled due to their classification of licence plate and/or vehicle’s weight. Following the clause-by-clause review, a motion was carried to report Bill 49 to the Assembly as ready for consideration in Committee of the Whole.

This concludes the committee’s general comments on Bill 49. Individual Members may have additional questions or comments as we proceed. Thank you, Mr. Chairman.

The Chair

The Chair Daryl Dolynny

Thank you, Mr. Hawkins. We’ll now turn our attention to the Minister if he has witnesses to bring in the House. Minister Beaulieu.

Tom Beaulieu

Tom Beaulieu Tu Nedhe

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

The Chair

The Chair Daryl Dolynny

Thank you, Minister. Does committee agree?

Some Hon. Members

Agreed.

The Chair

The Chair Daryl Dolynny

Thank you, committee. Sergeant-at-Arms, if you could please escort the witnesses into the House. Minister Beaulieu, if you’ll be kind enough to introduce your witnesses to the Chamber.

Tom Beaulieu

Tom Beaulieu Tu Nedhe

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. To my immediate right is Russell Neudorf, deputy minister of Transportation. To my far right, Steve Loutitt, director of road licensing and safety, Department of Transportation. To my left, Cherie Jarock, legislation division, Department of Justice.

The Chair

The Chair Daryl Dolynny

Thank you, Minister Beaulieu. Ms. Jarock, Mr. Neudorf, Mr. Loutitt, welcome to the House this evening folks. Okay, committee, we’re on Bill 49. We’re going to open up to general comments. General comments. Is committee prepared to go clause-by-clause?

Some Hon. Members

Agreed.

The Chair

The Chair Daryl Dolynny

Thank you, committee. Committee, there are only five clauses to this bill, so we’re going to do one at a time. Clause 1.

---Clauses 1 through 5 inclusive approved

The Chair

The Chair Daryl Dolynny

To the bill as a whole.

Some Hon. Members

Agreed.

The Chair

The Chair Daryl Dolynny

Does committee agree that Bill 49, An Act to Amend the Deh Cho Bridge Act, is ready for third reading?

Some Hon. Members

Agreed.

The Chair

The Chair Daryl Dolynny

Okay, committee. Bill 49 is now ready for third reading. Thank you, committee. I’d like to thank Minister Beaulieu this evening here and I’d like to thank Mr. Loutitt, Mr. Neudorf and Ms. Jarock for joining us this evening. Sergeant-at-Arms, if you could please escort the witnesses out of the Chamber.

Committee, we’re going to continue on with our committee business here, Bill 60, An Act to Amend the Motor Vehicles Act, No. 2. With that, I’ll turn it over to the Minister responsible. Minister Beaulieu.

Tom Beaulieu

Tom Beaulieu Tu Nedhe

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. The Department of Transportation has identified a number of required amendments to the Motor Vehicles Act that will increase highway safety and enable the department to implement new initiatives. Bill 60 addresses five general areas of amendment.

Validation stickers are now being completely phased out due to the introduction of online services in 2014. Validation stickers are no longer needed as clients can print their certificates of registration from the Internet. All references to validation stickers will be removed from the Motor Vehicles Act.

Abandoned and worthless vehicles across the Northwest Territories are an eyesore and have the potential to become public hazards. Proposed provisions in Bill 60 will allow the department to develop regulations to address this problem, including the processes and mechanisms to declare and dispose of abandoned vehicles.

In addition, the bill proposes to amend speeding offences such that penalties will be valued according to the driver’s actual number of kilometres over the speed limit.

Distracted driving continues to be a problem across Canada, including here in the NWT. Stiffer penalties are needed to deter this dangerous driving behaviour. The department is proposing to introduce administrative licence suspensions for second, third and fourth distracted driving offences in a two-year period. The duration of these suspensions would be 24 hours, 7 days and 30 days respectively. These licence suspensions would be administered in addition to the $322 fine.

The department is proposing a new offence for distracted driving in high foot traffic areas such as school zones and construction zones. The department would make the penalty for driving distracted in those zones higher than the current penalty for distracted driving. The term used in relation to distracted driving will also be defined.

Other amendments in the proposed bill provide for the clarification of processes in relation to drivers’ medicals, such as driver medical reporting requirements. These proposed provisions clarify the registrar’s authority and the responsibility of clerks in respect to medical fitness. Ensuring individuals are medically fit to drive is essential to public safety.

Finally, the proposed bill will improve readability and clarity of the Motor Vehicles Act; therefore, these amendments advance continue to improve road safety for all NWT residents and visitors to our territory. Thank you.

The Chair

The Chair Daryl Dolynny

Thank you, Mr. Beaulieu. At this time I will turn it over to the chairman of the Standing Committee on Economic Development for committee’s comments on the bill. Mr. Hawkins.

Robert Hawkins

Robert Hawkins Yellowknife Centre

Thank you, Mr. Chair. The Standing Committee on Economic Development and Infrastructure held its public review on Bill 60, An Act to Amend the Motor Vehicles Act, No. 2, on September 16, 2015.

Bill 60 amends the Motor Vehicles Act to eliminate references to validation stickers which are no longer used and enable the registrar to apply terms and conditions when reinstating a licence and to suspend or cancel a licence if medical examination requirements are not met, strengthen distracted driving legislation, establish unique offences for each kilometre by which a driver exceeds the maximum speed limit, create a new offence respecting parking in interference with the fighting of a fire, address the valuation and disposal of worthless vehicles, and address grammatical translation and reference errors.

One of the amendments proposed in Bill 60 would see speeding fines increase incrementally for each kilometre over the speed limit. During the public hearing, the committee expressed its concern that the proposed provision provided for drivers to be charged with multiple offenses. For example, 15 offenses for driving 15 kilometres above the speed limit; however, Members are confident of the department’s assurance that the matter will be clarified in the regulations and look forward to such amendments.

The committee also welcomed amendments to respecting abandoned vehicles, a matter of continuing interest to residents and local businesses as well as the Members.

Finally, the committee wishes to briefly comment on the proposed amendments respecting distracted driving. Despite advances in legislation, enforcement and public awareness, both in the Northwest Territories and across Canada, distracted driving continues to claim lives and to be a cause of injury and damage to property. The committee commends the department’s alternatives to this important road safety issue.

Members emphasized the need for consistent enforcement of the new rules also anticipate new educational initiatives. Following a clause-by-clause review, a motion was carried to report Bill 60 to the Assembly as ready for consideration in Committee of the Whole.

This concludes the committee’s comments on Bill 60. Individual Members may have additional questions or comments as we proceed. Thank you.

The Chair

The Chair Daryl Dolynny

Thank you, Mr. Hawkins. I am going to turn it back to the Minister responsible if he has any witnesses to bring into the House. Mr. Beaulieu.

Tom Beaulieu

Tom Beaulieu Tu Nedhe

Thank you, Mr. Chair. I do.

The Chair

The Chair Daryl Dolynny

Thank you, Minister. Does committee agree?

Some Hon. Members

Agreed.

The Chair

The Chair Daryl Dolynny

Thank you, committee. Sergeant-at-Arms, would you please escort the witnesses into the House.

Minister Beaulieu, if you could please introduce your witnesses to the Chamber.