Thank you, Mr. Schauerte. Member for Yellowknife North.

Thank you, Madam Chair. I get that there are a lot of directions you can go with the Fire Prevention Act and that this started in the 17^th Assembly, but I heard the Minister say that we are looking for an LP in February of 2022. I just cannot help but think that there is a systemic problem in the Department of Municipal and Community Affairs in getting legislation done. Even if it's piece-mealing it and doing it in a phased approach, I am concerned that we yet might go another Assembly, three in a row, without seeing the Fire Prevention Act. I hear the LP is scheduled for February 2022. When can we expect to see introduction of the Fire Prevention Act? How much after the LP are you expecting to introduce the act? Thank you, Madam Chair.

Thank you, Member for Yellowknife North. Minister of MACA.

Thank you, Madam Chair. I just want to express to the Member that this Fire Prevention Act will be brought forward to committee as well to have the significant changes done and passed. I make that a priority within the portfolio and within the department. I don't want to be the Minister known that it's now the 20^th Assembly and nothing has been completed with the Fire Prevention Act, so I will be making this a priority. I will have Mr. Gary Schauerte comment on that because, after the February 2022, no, 2021, what is the next phase of approach for the Fire Prevention Act so we continue traction on the proposal. Thank you, Madam Chair.

Thank you, Minister. Mr. Schauerte.

Thank you, Mr. Schauerte. Member for Yellowknife North.

Thank you, Madam Chair. I caution the department. Early 2023 means there are a couple of sittings and then an election. It's very hard to get legislation passed early 2023. I think with this one, specifically, getting an LP in 2022, if it's not going in the right direction, we are at risk of not passing this once again. One of those directions, as has been repeatedly asked by the NWT Association of Communities, is that this actually be a building standards act, that we look at the work of developing a northern building code; we look at how the GNWT Good Building Practices apply to the Northwest Territories; we look at accessibility standards, how disability legislation applies. I can't emphasize the amount of work that is. I believe that the Department of Infrastructure's GNWT Good Building Practices is over 400 pages of architects, engineers, builders, every community involved in building it. I don't see that capacity in the Department of Municipal and Community Affairs. I question whether the department should even have the Fire Prevention Act in the first place, given the scope of work. My first question is: is the Fire Prevention Act LP that we are expecting to see going to be a building standards act? Thank you, Madam Chair.

Thank you, Member. Minister of MACA.

Thank you, Madam Chair. I want to be very clear on the Fire Prevention Act because, since I have had the portfolio as Minister of Municipal and Community Affairs, we have had a lot of situations that have occurred where the Fire Prevention Act would need those significant changes. I am looking at the differences within that act, as well, but then I want to be very clear on what the proposal is like coming forward.

I know that the building codes really puts the Northwest Territories in a different state. It could become very complicated. I am going to have Mr. Gary Schauerte just elaborate on that a little bit more. I don't want to confuse the Members, as well, and I do not want to see this piece of legislation carry over into the next Assembly. I want to make sure that we are very clear and that we are going to see this pass. I would also like to see it before January of 2023. Thank you, Madam Chair.

Thank you, Minister. Mr. Schauerte.

Thank you, Mr. Schauerte. Member for Yellowknife North.

Thank you, Madam Chair. When I look at the seniors and disabilities property discount act, the Fire Prevention Act, and the Property Assessment and Taxation Act all scheduled for later in this Assembly, MACA is not introducing any legislation in the next year, I don't understand why the department doesn't grab some low-hanging fruit and bring forward a piece of legislation.

There have been requests for the Fire Prevention Act for years. There are simple little changes that you could carve off. I believe the appeals mechanism is not working. It should probably have a Ministerial appeal mechanism as one. There are numerous clauses that the municipalities have expressed with the Property Assessment and Taxation Act. I am concerned. I just want to see confidence that MACA can bring forward a piece of legislation, even a small little change to one of these acts, not to mention the Cities, Towns and Villages Act, the Hamlets Act, and all of the other legislation that I would love this department to catch up on. I don't care which one it is; I don't care if it is a phased approach or how you do it. Is the Minister willing to bring forward a piece of legislation in the next year? Thank you, Madam Chair.

Thank you, Member. Minister of MACA.

Thank you, Madam Chair. Thank you, Member, for your comment. I will bring that back to my department and look at what it is that we could possibly pass just a portion of this legislation, but I would have to bring that back to my department and make sure that we are making these changes effective and right. Thank you, Madam Chair.

Thank you, Madam Chair. Maybe one last thing. I don't want to wait until February 2022 before I have any input into the Fire Prevention Act, so if I could get the Minister to provide just a summary of what is being planned. In that, I would like the question answered whether this is going to be beyond fire prevention and be a building standards act, whether we are going to look at the entire national building code and the northern building code, whether we are going to look at accessibility legislation, whether that is part of the scope of work that we are doing right now, and I would like some answers on what is expected in regulations.

To me, if we are going to adopt a northern building code, that is probably done in regulations, which means we don't bring this piece of legislation in for another six years or something because the amount of work to develop the regulations would also be massive. A commitment of the Minister that she can give something to, in this case, the Standing Committee on Government Operations of what is being done with the Fire Prevention Act. Before I see an LP in February 2022, I would like to have a sense of where we are going. Thank you, Madam Chair.

Thank you, Member. Minister, the Member is looking for a commitment before 2022.

Thank you, Madam Chair. I would like to say yes to the Member and just provide a summary of where we are at right now and what we are looking at going forward. The phased approach is what we are forecasting. Thank you, Madam Chair.

Thank you, Minister. Are there any further questions under the Municipal and Community Affairs directorate? Member for Frame Lake.

Thanks, Madam Chair. Could I get an update as to where we are with ATIP implementation with municipal governments? Thanks, Madam Chair.

Thank you, Member for Frame Lake. Minister of MACA.

Thank you, Madam Chair. I am going to hand this question over to the deputy minister. I will just get her to respond. Thank you, Madam Chair.