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Topics

The Chair

The Chair R.J. Simpson

All those in favour? All those opposed?

---Carried

Thank you, committee. Committee, do you agree that this concludes our consideration of Committee Report 15-18(3), Standing Committee on Government Operations Report on the Review of Bill 30, An Act to Amend the Human Rights Act?

Some Hon. Members

Agreed.

The Chair

The Chair R.J. Simpson

Thank you, committee. This concludes our consideration of Committee Report 15-18(3). Committee, we have agreed to next consider Bill 30, An Act to Amend the Human Rights Act. I will give everyone a moment to get your grey binders out. I will ask the Minister responsible for the bill to introduce it. Minister Sebert.

Louis Sebert

Louis Sebert Thebacha

Thank you, Mr. Chair. I am here today to discuss Bill 30, An Act to Amend the Human Rights Act.

I would like to thank the Standing Committee on Government Operations for their review of this bill and for the constructive feedback that they have provided. A number of motions were made in committee, and I am pleased that the bill has improved as a result.

Bill 30 amends the Human Rights Act to improve the delivery of human rights services and enhance the protection of human rights in the Northwest Territories. The amendments arise from recommendations by the Human Rights Commission's comprehensive review team, which brought together constitutional and human rights experts to review the NWT Human Rights Act on the occasion of its 10th anniversary.

Specifically, the amendments proposed fall under four major themes: first, valuing and incorporating a restorative approach throughout the human rights system, and encouraging early resolution where possible; second, improving efficiency in operations by consolidating the commission and the director functions into one single agency, the Human Rights Commission; third, emphasizing the commission's responsibility to protect and assure the public interest through the identification of systemic discrimination and the application of broader systemic remedies; and fourth, affirming the rights of transgender and other gender diverse persons.

The bill will also make a number of non-substantive miscellaneous amendments to improve the clarity and readability of specific provisions of the act.

I would be pleased to answer any questions that Members may have regarding Bill 30.

The Chair

The Chair R.J. Simpson

Thank you, Minister. I will turn to the chair of the Standing Committee on Government operations which considered the bill for any opening remarks. There are no opening remarks from the chair. Minister, would you like to bring witnesses into the Chamber?

Louis Sebert

Louis Sebert Thebacha

Yes, I would.

The Chair

The Chair R.J. Simpson

Thank you, Minister. Sergeant-at-Arms, please escort the witnesses into the Chamber. Minister, would you please introduce your witnesses for the record.

Louis Sebert

Louis Sebert Thebacha

Thank you, Mr. Chair. To my right is Mark Aitken, assistant deputy minister, Department of Justice. To my left is Kelly McLaughlin, legislative counsel, Legislation Division, Department of Justice.

The Chair

The Chair R.J. Simpson

Thank you, Minister. I will now open the floor to any general comments on Bill 30. First, we have Mr. Testart.

Kieron Testart

Kieron Testart Kam Lake

Thank you, Mr. Chair. I am hoping the Minister can provide some detail on something that occurred during the course of our review of the bill. The committee, as announced in its report, received a letter from the Minister from the Canadian Life and Health Insurance Association to the Department of Justice's assistant deputy minister outlining the insurance industry's views on prohibiting discrimination on the basis of genetic characteristics. The committee understood at that time that this letter was, in fact, solicited by the Department of Justice. Can the Minister confirm if that is true? Thank you.

The Chair

The Chair R.J. Simpson

Thank you. Minister Sebert.

Louis Sebert

Louis Sebert Thebacha

Yes. That is true.

The Chair

The Chair R.J. Simpson

Thank you. Mr. Testart.

Kieron Testart

Kieron Testart Kam Lake

Thank you, Mr. Chair. Did the government, at any time, reach out to advocacy groups for those suffering from genetic disabilities to solicit their thoughts on this issue as it relates to Bill 30? Thank you, Mr. Chair.

The Chair

The Chair R.J. Simpson

Thank you. Minister.

Louis Sebert

Louis Sebert Thebacha

Yes. Thank you, Mr. Chair. I understand that the department's Mr. Aitken actually spoke to the Coalition for Genetic Fairness. Thank you.

The Chair

The Chair R.J. Simpson

Thank you. Mr. Testart.

Kieron Testart

Kieron Testart Kam Lake

Thank you, Mr. Chair. Why was that information not provided to committee? Thank you.

The Chair

The Chair R.J. Simpson

Thank you. Minister.

Louis Sebert

Louis Sebert Thebacha

Thank you. I understand that it was after the standing committee review.

The Chair

The Chair R.J. Simpson

Thank you. Minister, when you are done speaking, just say, "Thank you," or something just to let the tech people know that we can change the mic. Mr. Testart.

Kieron Testart

Kieron Testart Kam Lake

Thank you, Mr. Chair. There was a point in time where this letter, in fact, was tabled in this Assembly after committee research materials were tabled. Can the Minister commit to tabling whatever correspondence he has received from the Coalition for Genetic Fairness? Thank you.

The Chair

The Chair R.J. Simpson

Thank you. Minister.

Louis Sebert

Louis Sebert Thebacha

Thank you, Mr. Chair. I understand that there was no correspondence. There as some indication that they might be sending some or were going to send some, but nothing was received. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

The Chair

The Chair R.J. Simpson

Thank you. Mr. Testart.