Thank you. I am pleased to be here today to discuss Bill 5, An Act to Amend the Summary Conviction Procedures Act.

I would like to thank the Standing Committee on Social Development for the review of this bill and for the constructive feedback they have provided.

Bill 5 is the result of extensive discussions between the City of Yellowknife and the Department of Justice regarding the issuance and enforcement of parking tickets. The Summary Conviction Procedures Act was last amended in 2010 to create efficiencies by allowing for a conviction to be entered if the accused does not show up for their court appearance. The City of Yellowknife has since that time indicated interest in taking on responsibility for the development and implementation of its own parking offence regime.

Bill 5 addresses this request and provides an amendment whereby the Summary Conviction Procedures Act does not apply to parking offences if a municipality has developed an administrative penalty regime of its own.

The amendment will give municipalities in the Northwest Territories the option to draft bylaws and establish their own administrative scheme for parking tickets if and when they wish to. The status quo will be maintained for those municipalities that do not establish their own regimes. The amendment is expected to significantly reduce demand for parking ticket matters on Justice of the Peace Court and the related provision of sheriff services. This, in turn, will provide greater access to justice by allowing Justice of the Peace Court time to be used for other non-parking-related matters.

I would be pleased to answer any questions that the committee may have regarding Bill 5. Thank you.