This is page numbers 5877 - 5944 of the Hansard for the 18th Assembly, 3rd 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 report.

Topics

The Chair

The Chair R.J. Simpson

Thank you. Mr. O'Reilly.

Kevin O'Reilly

Kevin O'Reilly Frame Lake

Thanks, Mr. Chair. Well, I may not be here to hold the Minister to this, but is there an estimate of a time that the Minister or her staff might be able to give us? The reason I ask this is parents who are looking at or wanting to take some of these types of leave, they are going to want to know when it's going to kick in, so, if I could get some kind of a rough estimate, that would be helpful. Thanks, Mr. Chair.

The Chair

The Chair R.J. Simpson

Thank you. Minister.

Caroline Cochrane

Caroline Cochrane Range Lake

Thank you, Mr. Chair. We are trying to get this work done right now. It will potentially be early, as early as possible, in the next Assembly if we cannot get it done before. We are rushing it now. We are trying to get it done, but we recognize we only have a couple more weeks to get this work done, or a month, three weeks, so we are trying. The latest it will be, I can't give you an estimate. We are hoping within a couple of months. That is what we are hoping for. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

The Chair

The Chair R.J. Simpson

Thank you. Anything further from Mr. O'Reilly? Nothing further from Mr. O'Reilly. I will call clause 14.

Some Hon. Members

Agreed.

The Chair

The Chair R.J. Simpson

Thank you, committee. Please return to the bill number and title. Bill 57, An Act to Amend the Employment Standards Act. Does committee agree?

Some Hon. Members

Agreed.

The Chair

The Chair R.J. Simpson

Thank you. To the bill as whole.

Some Hon. Members

Agreed.

The Chair

The Chair R.J. Simpson

Does committee agree that Bill 57 is now ready for third reading?

Some Hon. Members

Agreed.

The Chair

The Chair R.J. Simpson

Thank you, committee. Bill 57 is now ready for third reading. Does committee agree that this concludes our consideration of Bill 57?

Some Hon. Members

Agreed.

The Chair

The Chair R.J. Simpson

Thank you, committee. Thank you to the Minister and to the witnesses. Sergeant-at-Arms, you may escort the witnesses from the Chamber. Committee, we have agreed to next consider Bill 58, Justice Administration Statutes Amendment Act. I will turn to the Minister responsible for the bill for opening comments and to let the Minister introduce it. Minister Sebert.

Louis Sebert

Louis Sebert Thebacha

Thank you, Mr. Chair. I am pleased to be here today to discuss Bill 58: Justice Administration Statutes Amendment Act. This bill proposes to make targeted and necessary legislative amendments to acts that support the justice system in the Northwest Territories.

This bill amends various statutes administered by the Department of Justice to:

  • repeal provisions of An Act to Amend the Children's Law Act and amend the Children's Law Act to establish a recalculation service;
  • amend the Coroners Act to clarify the responsibilities of the Chief Coroner and coroners in respect of inquests and authorize the release of the body of the deceased if an investigation is complete;
  • amend the Evidence Act to add provisions in respect of the admissibility of electronic records, and repeal provisions that allow the court to refuse to admit photographic film prints into evidence;
  • add an updated definition for "prime rate" to the provisions of the Judicature Act relating to prejudgment and post-judgment interest;
  • add a reference in the Jury Act to exemptions from jury service contained in the Legislative Assembly and Executive Council Act;
  • increase fee rates in respect of the registration of certain instruments and caveats under the Land Titles Act;
  • amend the Public Trustee Act to establish a mechanism for the disposition of unclaimed property;
  • amend the Residential Tenancies Act to provide for the appointment of a chief rental officer, adjust provisions relating to service and the giving of reasons, and allow regulations to be made in respect of fees for services provided; and
  • amend the Retirement Plan Beneficiaries Act to provide for the discharge of the administrator of a plan.

Overall, this bill contains a number of measures to improve access to justice and service delivery, which the government believes will significantly assist residents of the Northwest Territories.

Of particular note, the changes to the Children's Law Act will improve the process for recalculating support order amounts payable under both that act and the federal Divorce Act. This will make it easier for parents to obtain changes in the amounts payable under support orders to better reflect current circumstances. These amendments will allow the government to implement this long-awaited service by the end of 2019.

In addition, the proposed changes to the Residential Tenancies Act will help address the processing times for orders. Members of this Assembly and the public have stated many times that the timelines faced by those relying on the hearing process set out in legislation are too long. Contributing to the delays are certain requirements set out in the existing legislation, including the requirement to provide written reasons for every order.

I would be pleased to answer any questions that Members may have regarding Bill 58. Thank you.

The Chair

The Chair R.J. Simpson

Thank you, Minister. I will turn to the chair of the Standing Committee on Social Development, the committee that considered the bill, for any opening comments. Mr. Thompson.

Shane Thompson

Shane Thompson Nahendeh

Thank you, Mr. Chair. The Standing Committee on Social Development concluded its review of Bill 58, Justice Administration Statutes Amendment Act, on July 25, 2019, with a public hearing and clause-by-clause review held at the Legislative Assembly building. Committee received no submissions from the public. The committee supported the government's change to improve access to justice and service delivery, which will assist residents of the Northwest Territories.

Mr. Chair, I would also like to thank the Minister and his department for working with committee and our legislative staff as we move forward. Individual Members may have additional comments or questions as we proceed with consideration of this bill. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

The Chair

The Chair R.J. Simpson

Thank you, Mr. Thompson. Minister, do you have witnesses you wish to bring into the chamber?

Louis Sebert

Louis Sebert Thebacha

Yes, I do.

The Chair

The Chair R.J. Simpson

Sergeant-at-Arms, please escort the witnesses into the chamber. Minister, please introduce your witnesses for the record.

Louis Sebert

Louis Sebert Thebacha

Thank you, Mr. Chair. To my right is Mr. Mark Aitken, assistant deputy minister of Justice. To my left is Ms. Laura Jeffrey, legislative counsel. Thank you.

The Chair

The Chair R.J. Simpson

Thank you. Welcome to the witnesses. I will open the floor to general comments. First, Ms. Green.

Julie Green

Julie Green Yellowknife Centre

Thank you, Mr. Chair. I have made several Member's statements in this House about the problems related to delays in putting out orders after hearings under the Residential Tenancies Act. In particular, I had heard from constituents who are just renting one place of their own, they aren't commercial landlords, and how the wait between the hearing and the order can mean that the money is even more difficult to collect from the non-paying tenant.

I am very happy to see this change. I think that it will make a tangible difference to the people who are, as I say, just landlords of a single property or a couple of properties. This will expedite the service that the public can receive from the rental office.

I am also happy to see the changes in the Children's Law Act. Whenever we can improve legal services for ordinary people who come face-to-face with the law, I think that we should do so, and I am pleased to see that this bill does that. Thank you.

The Chair

The Chair R.J. Simpson

Thank you, Ms. Green. Anything further to general comments on this act? Seeing none, does committee agree that we begin our clause-by-clause review?