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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Robert Hawkins

Robert Hawkins Yellowknife Centre

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. The Standing Committee on Economic Development and Infrastructure certainly worked tirelessly on its review of the public review of Bill 61, An Act to Amend the Public Airports Act. We did that on September 16, 2015.

Bill 61 amends the Public Airports Act to increase the maximum lease duration for Commissioner’s public airports land to 30 years, specified disposal procedures for unclaimed property and synchronize the regulations of traffic and pedestrians with the Motor Vehicles Act.

The bill also makes consequential amendments respecting enforcement to the Motor Vehicles Act.

The committee appreciates the amendments that align the language of the various statutes under the Department of Transportation. Members also appreciate the reduction of red tape and clarification of the department’s authority. The committee looks forward to the implementation of clear and effective procedures for enforcement and for storage and disposal of unclaimed property. Following the clause-by-clause review, a motion was carried to report that Bill 61 to the Assembly as ready for consideration in Committee of the Whole.

This concludes the committee’s general comments on Bill 61. Individual Members may have additional questions or comments as we proceed. Thank you.

The Chair

The Chair Daryl Dolynny

Thank you, Mr. Hawkins. We’ll turn it over to the Minister if he has witnesses to bring into the House. Minister Beaulieu.

Tom Beaulieu

Tom Beaulieu Tu Nedhe

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I do have witnesses.

The Chair

The Chair Daryl Dolynny

Thank you, Minister Beaulieu. 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 Chamber.

Minister Beaulieu, if you’d be kind enough to introduce your witnesses to the House this evening.

Tom Beaulieu

Tom Beaulieu Tu Nedhe

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. To my immediate right is deputy minister of Transportation, Russell Neudorf. To my far right is director of airports, Delia Chesworth; and to my left, legislative counsel, Thomas Druyan.

The Chair

The Chair Daryl Dolynny

Thank you, Minister Beaulieu. Mr. Druyan, Mr. Neudorf and Ms. Chesworth, thank you for joining us this evening in the House. Committee, we’ll open up Bill 61 to general comments. Is committee prepared to go to detail?

Some Hon. Members

Agreed.

The Chair

The Chair Daryl Dolynny

Committee, we’ve got 13 clauses here, so we’ll do them one at a time and then we’ll defer the Bill title to the end. Clause 1.

---Clauses 1 through 13 inclusive agreed

The Chair

The Chair Daryl Dolynny

To the bill as a whole.

Some Hon. Members

Agreed.

The Chair

The Chair Daryl Dolynny

Is committee agreed that Bill 61, An Act to Amend the Public Airports Act, is ready for third reading?

Some Hon. Members

Agreed.

The Chair

The Chair Daryl Dolynny

Thank you, committee. Bill 61 is now ready for third reading. I’d like to thank the Minister this evening here, and Mr. Druyan, Mr. Neudorf and Ms. Chesworth for joining us. Sergeant-at-Arms, if you could please escort the witnesses out.

The Chair

The Chair Robert Bouchard

Thank you, committee. Does committee agree we’re starting Bill 65, An Act to Amend the Safety Act? First I’ll go to the Minister responsible, Mr. Lafferty.

Jackson Lafferty

Jackson Lafferty Monfwi

Mahsi, Mr. Chair. I’m pleased to introduce Bill 65, An Act to Amend the Safety Act. Bill 65 proposes several amendments to the Safety Act. The objective of those consultations and this bill is to improve occupational health and safety.

The reasons for the amendments set out in Bill 65 are generally new occupational health and safety regulations have been developed jointly by the Northwest Territories and Nunavut for recommendation to their respective Commissioners where there are insufficient authority in the Safety Act for a small portion of proposed new regulations.

As well, Canada has enacted new Workplace Hazardous Information System legislation, called WHMIS, and amendments to the Safety Act are needed to allow harmonization with the federal legislation.

The treatment of the subject matter in this bill was the focus of extensive consultation over a period of September 2010 to March 2011 between representatives of industry; labour and public in the Northwest Territories and Nunavut were engaged in consultation aimed at reforming the Occupational Health and Safety Regulations.

Mr. Chair, these regulations apply to workplaces other than mines and some aspects of oil and gas operations. The consultation resulted in a report in excess of 1,000 pages and three volumes.

I’m pleased to answer any questions that Members may have pertaining to Bill 65. Mahsi.

The Chair

The Chair Robert Bouchard

Thank you, Minister Lafferty. I’ll ask the chairman responsible for the Standing Committee on Economic Development and Infrastructure, 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 of Bill 65, An Act to Amend the Safety Act, on September 17, 2015. The committee thanks the Minister and his staff for presenting the bill.

Bill 65 amends the Safety Act to harmonize with the new Occupational Health and Safety Regulations, including regulation-making power and authority for three sections and with the new federal Workplace Hazardous Information System legislation.

The committee recognizes that extensive consultation informed the draft of the new Occupational Health and Safety Regulations. However, no specific consultation was undertaken in the drafting of Bill 65. The committee encourages the undertaking of specific consultation for any future legislative proposals specifically respecting the Safety Act.

During the public hearing, the committee initiated two amendments of Bill 65 with the Minister’s concurrence. The first corrects an inconsistency in the translation in the French version of Clause 4 to align with the remainder of the Safety Act. The second clarifies the language regarding the exemption of privileged information under the Access to Information and Protection of Privacy Act in clause 5.

Following the clause-by-clause review, a motion was carried to report Bill 65 to the Assembly as ready for consideration in Committee of the Whole as amended and reprinted.

This certainly concludes the committee’s general comments of Bill 65. Individual Members may have additional questions and comments as they arise. Thank you very much, Mr. Chairman.

The Chair

The Chair Robert Bouchard

Thank you, Mr. Hawkins. Minister Lafferty, do you have witnesses to bring into the Chamber?

Jackson Lafferty

Jackson Lafferty Monfwi

Yes, I do, Mr. Chair.

The Chair

The Chair Robert Bouchard

Sergeant-at-Arms, please escort the witnesses into the Chamber. Is committee agreed?

Some Hon. Members

Agreed.

The Chair

The Chair Robert Bouchard

Thank you. Minister Lafferty, would you please introduce your witnesses.

Jackson Lafferty

Jackson Lafferty Monfwi

Mahsi, Mr. Chair. To my left I have Mr. Dave Grundy. He’s the CEO of the Workers’ Safety and Compensation Commission. To my immediate right is Judy Kainz, director of prevention services and safety officer. To my far right is Ms. Emerald Murphy, legal counsel. Mahsi.