Thank you, committee. Bill 3, An Act to Amend the Public Highways Act, is now ready for third reading. Does committee agree that this concludes our consideration of Bill 3, An Act to Amend the Public Highways Act?

Thank you, Minister, and thank you to our witnesses. Sergeant-at-Arms, you may escort the witnesses from the Chamber. Committee, we have agreed to consider Bill 12, An Act to Amend the Apprenticeship, Trade and Occupational Certification Act. I will ask the Minister of Education, Culture and Employment to introduce the bill.

Thank you, Madam Chair. I am here today to present Bill 12, An Act to Amend the Apprenticeship, Trade and Occupational Certification Act. I want to thank the Standing Committee on Social Development for its interest in and review of the bill. The Apprenticeship, Trade and Occupational Certification Act gives the Minister authority to issue various types of certifications for apprenticeships, trades, and occupations in the NWT.

This bill seeks to amend the act to allow for the issuance of other prescribed certificates, to give the Department of Education, Culture and Employment the ability to issue certificates of achievement in business competency to NWT journeypersons, commonly known as Blue Seal Certificates. Blue Seal Certificates, which are issued in a number of other jurisdictions, formally recognize achievement in business competency when a journeyperson has completed recognized business courses and training. There is currently no mechanism for granting Blue Seal Certificates under the act.

Having a Blue Seal Certificate program in the NWT that formally recognizes the achievements of journeypersons in business competency would both support the growth of businesses and the continued professional development of journeypersons. The amendment would also keep the NWT aligned with other jurisdictions where Blue Seal Certificates or similar certificates are issued and encourage associated business education and training in the North.

I am pleased to bring forward these amendments that will have a positive impact on our residents and the NWT labour market. This concludes my opening remarks, and I would be pleased to answer any questions that the Members may have regarding Bill 12. Thank you.

Thank you, Minister. I will now turn to the chair of the Standing Committee on Social Development, the committee that considered the bill, for opening comments. Member for Kam Lake.

Thank you, Madam Chair. Bill 12, An Act to Amend the Apprenticeship, Trade and Occupational Certification Act, received second reading in the Legislative Assembly on October 29, 2020, and was referred to the Standing Committee on Social Development for review. On February 10, 2021, the standing committee held a public hearing with the Minister of Education, Culture and Employment and completed its clause-by-clause review of the bill. I thank the committee and committee staff for their efforts in reviewing this legislation. Individual Members may have additional comments or questions. Thank you, Madam Chair.

Thank you, Member. Minister, would you like to bring witnesses into the Chamber?

Yes, please.

Sergeant-at-Arms, please escort the witnesses into the Chamber. Minister, please introduce your witnesses.

Thank you. We have Mr. Michael Saturnino, assistant deputy minister, labour and income security, and Mr. Mike Reddy, director of legislation, Department of Justice. Thank you.

Thank you and welcome. I will now open the floor to general comments on Bill 12. Are there any general comments? Member for Yellowknife North.

Thank you, Madam Chair. I am happy to see this. I know that a number of jurisdictions do that, and there are more and more Blue Seal kind of courses popping up at colleges across the country. I am just wondering the impetus for this. Do we plan on giving out any Blue Seals as there are presently people waiting to be able to get certified for one of these? Thank you, Madam Chair.

Thank you. Minister.

Thank you. I think my dad is waiting. There is criteria that needs to be developed. There are a lot of different things that have to happen, but I can ask Mr. Saturnino for some clarification. Thank you.

Thank you. Mr. Saturnino.

Thank you. Member for Yellowknife North.

Thank you, Madam Chair. Yes. I am looking forward to seeing this, and hopefully, we can get a few of our Red Seals to also get Blue Seals. I am just wondering if there are any plans for Aurora College to provide the training required for a Blue Seal.

Thank you. Minister.

Thank you. If you look at other jurisdictions, what they do, there are a number of different courses that you can take. Then that is confirmed by the department, and then you get issued a Blue Seal. I am sure that Aurora College has those courses. I don't have a list with me, but as a polytechnic, they would definitely have those types of courses. Thank you.

Thank you. Member for Hay River South.

Thank you, Madam Chair. Yes, I am waiting to get my Blue Seal. I think it's a good thing because tradespeople, whether they know it or not, and I think most of them know it, they are businesspeople. I think having that extra certification and the ability to own and run their own business and maintain that I think is very important. It's a good change. The one question I would have is: if you have got people who are tradespeople but also have a degree in business, would they be allowed to challenge the exam or would they be grandfathered in? Thank you, Madam Chair

Thank you. Minister.