Thank you, Mr. Chair. Mr. Chair, I'm here to introduce Bill 18, An Act to Amend the Cities, Towns and Villages Act. I would like to thank the Standing Committee on Government Operations for their review of this bill. In addition to the two suites of amendments I will present, this bill makes three housekeeping amendments that have been suggested by the Legislative Division of the Department of Justice.

Mr. Chair, tourist accommodation taxes exist in some form in all provinces in Canada, whether in the form of a tax on hotel rooms collected by the province or municipality, or a destination marketing fee charged by hotel and accommodation associations. After consideration of each of these options, and in consultation with community governments and stakeholders, the Department of Community and Municipal Affairs proposed amendments to the Cities, Towns and Villages Act to give communities the authority to choose to impose a tourist accommodation tax.

The second suite of amendments included in this bill fulfills a mandate commitment of the 18^th Legislative Assembly. The proposed amendments will enable the municipal corporation to use local improvement charges to assist residents in making retrofits or implementing renewable energy technologies to private homes.

The types of projects that could be supported through these could include the installation of energy efficient furnaces or pellet boilers or the installation of solar panels. These long-awaited amendments respond to direct requests from community governments, meet MACA's stated goal of supporting governments in carrying out municipal responsibilities, and fulfill a mandate commitment for this Assembly.

In proposing these amendments, MACA has consulted with community governments and other stakeholders and has worked closely with the Departments of Finance and Industry, Tourism and Investment.

Although not all tax-based communities intend to pursue these opportunities immediately, all agreed that in supporting the option being available to their community government should they choose to use it. Should these amendments gain the approval of the Legislative Assembly, they will come into force upon assent.

This concludes my opening remarks, and I would be pleased to answer any questions that Members may have regarding Bill 18. Thank you, Mr. Chair.