This is page numbers 659 - 708 of the Hansard for the 19th Assembly, 2nd 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 community.

Topics

The Chair

The Chair Lesa Semmler

Thank you, Minister. Member for Frame Lake.

Kevin O'Reilly

Kevin O'Reilly Frame Lake

Thanks, Madam Chair. I made probably about three or four statements in the last Assembly about this legislation. It's not very strong. I don't think it really reflects best practice or is comparable to what other Canadian jurisdictions do. There was an instance of someone selling fish from Kazakhstan as locally produced fish. I think there have been some issues around aurora tourism here; that might be more of an issue for ITI. We need to protect the value of our products, and if we don't have stronger consumer protection legislation, I'm worried about that. If this is not on their list right now, how is the Minister going to look into this issue about whether it can or should be reviewed? Thanks, Madam Chair.

The Chair

The Chair Lesa Semmler

Thank you, Member. Minister.

Paulie Chinna

Paulie Chinna Sahtu

Thank you, Madam Chair. I would like to make a review of this act in our term, and I would like to look at areas that we would have to enhance and we would have to change in order to fit the needs of the Northwest Territories. Going forward, I would like to review what has been done so far and the concerns that were brought forward. Thank you, Madam Chair.

The Chair

The Chair Lesa Semmler

Thank you, Minister. Member for Frame Lake.

Kevin O'Reilly

Kevin O'Reilly Frame Lake

Thanks, Madam Chair. Can the Minister make a commitment to come back to the standing committee within six months with a report with her findings on that? Thanks, Madam Chair.

The Chair

The Chair Lesa Semmler

Thank you, Member for Frame Lake. Minister.

Paulie Chinna

Paulie Chinna Sahtu

Thank you, Madam Chair. Yes, I will commit to reviewing the situations and looking at the Consumer Protection Act and providing the information that I found to standing committee. Thank you, Madam Chair.

The Chair

The Chair Lesa Semmler

Thank you, Minister. All right. We'll move on to Member for Yellowknife North.

Rylund Johnson

Rylund Johnson Yellowknife North

Thank you, Madam Chair. I struggle with this because I see the 13 positions in the directorate, and there are only a few in policy and planning. I recognize how hard those people work, but MACA has a legislative backlog that really needs to get done. I've mentioned multiple times the hope of a building standards act, the hope of a Consumer Protection Act, a city charter. I know we're finally getting to the Fire Prevention Act, which is going to be a lot of work. We're also getting the Property Assessment and Taxation Act, which I'm very excited about. I've asked the Minister to look into permanent residents voting, the possibility of online voting. I have recommendations for the Cities, Towns and Villages Act. I know we're not going to see all those pieces of legislation in the next four years, and that's a wish list I have for MACA's legislation. My question for the Minister is: considering the demand for MACA to update a number of legislative initiatives, are there plans to expand some of the policy people or plans to come back with a supplemental to at least make sure we get the Property Assessment and Taxation Act and a couple of these projects done in the next four years?

The Chair

The Chair Lesa Semmler

Thank you, Member. Minister.

Paulie Chinna

Paulie Chinna Sahtu

Thank you, Madam Chair. I will take into consideration the list that the Member has provided, and I would like to educate myself a little further on what has been done and the improvements that need to be made. I do understand and I do see that the legislation that we do have, going forward, and the acts, that they are outdated. I would like to take a look at them and review them, as well. Thank you, Madam Chair.

The Chair

The Chair Lesa Semmler

Thank you, Minister. Member for Yellowknife North.

Rylund Johnson

Rylund Johnson Yellowknife North

Thank you, Madam Chair. I guess I'll be a little more blunt here. I really don't think that MACA currently is being funded properly to get all of its legislation in line, and I would really encourage the Minister to champion this. Let's make MACA one of the most productive legislative departments there is. To do that, you're going to have to fight at the financial management board and fight in this House to bring forward and get the policy work and really push to get this legislative agenda moving. I think everyone who works at MACA knows that there have been requests to get the Property Assessment and Taxation Act going for years and years, so I guess I would just like to hear the Minister, whether she is willing to make that fight. Let's get some more Municipal and Community Affairs legislation done in the next four years.

The Chair

The Chair Lesa Semmler

Thank you, Member. Minister.

Paulie Chinna

Paulie Chinna Sahtu

Thank you, Madam Chair. I know that changing legislation, reviewing legislation requires a lot of manpower, a lot of consultation, involving the stakeholders that these would involve, and that they would be of effect. Going forward, I would have to look at it strategically because it is a lot of work and looking at engaging with our stakeholders, as well, throughout the territory and the effects and the changes that we are looking to update. Going forward, I would like to say that I would like to review what has been done and look at the acts that we currently have within my department. We have already identified four of them, four of them all together. It seems like it's a little at a time, but we're making progress. Thank you, Madam Chair.

The Chair

The Chair Lesa Semmler

Thank you, Minister. Are there any further questions under the directorate? Member for Hay River South.

Rocky Simpson

Rocky Simpson Hay River South

Thank you, Madam Chair. With respect to the Office of the Fire Marshal, how many staff is there that actually does plan review? Thank you, Madam Chair.

The Chair

The Chair Lesa Semmler

Would that be under public safety? That's the next section. You're ahead of us. Did you have questions under the directorate? Yes? No? Okay. Are there any further questions under the directorate? If there are no further questions under the directorate, turn to page 329, Municipal and Community Affairs, directorate, operations expenditure summary, 2020-2021 Main Estimates, $3,942,000. Does committee agree?

Some Hon. Members

Agreed.

The Chair

The Chair Lesa Semmler

Thank you. We are now moving to the first activity starting on page 332, with information pages up to 335. Questions? Member for Hay River South.

Rocky Simpson

Rocky Simpson Hay River South

Thank you, Madam Chair. The question was: how many staff does the Office of the Fire Marshal have who do plan review? Thank you, Madam Chair.

The Chair

The Chair Lesa Semmler

Thank you, Member. Minister.

Paulie Chinna

Paulie Chinna Sahtu

Thank you, Madam Chair. Presently, we have one staff. Thank you, Madam Chair.

The Chair

The Chair Lesa Semmler

Thank you, Minister. Member for Hay River South.