Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Your Standing Committee on Social Development is pleased to provide its report on the review of Bill 13, An Act to Amend the Interpretation Act, and commends it to the House.

Introduction

Bill 13, An Act to Amend the Interpretation Act, received second reading in the Legislative Assembly and was referred to the Standing Committee on Social Development October 29, 2020. Bill 13 amends Interpretation Act to remove references to Mountain Standard Time and Daylight Savings Time and replaces them with a reference to one standard time. Bill 13 will allow the Commissioner in Executive Council to replace the current Daylight Savings Time regulations, with permanent year-round time standard regulations.

Public Review of Bill 13

Committee invited written and in-person submissions from municipal and Indigenous governments, organizations, education councils, and the business community. Committee received seven written submissions from:

• Nahanni Construction Ltd. / Cold Weather Construction Experts
• Dehcho Divisional Education Council
• Yellowknives Dene First Nation, Dettah Administration
• Sahtu Divisional Education Council
• Mayor and Council, Town of Hay River
• Dave Nickerson
• David Wasylciw

Submissions received by committee are attached in appendix A, and committee thanks those who took the time to share their views. The submissions received by committee are broadly supportive of allowing the Government to amend Daylight Savings Time to one fixed time. Committee notes that the submission from the mayor and council of the Town of Hay River provided support conditional on Alberta advancing changes to one standard time.

Committee Review

Committee also considered recommendations from the work done by the 18^th Legislative Assembly's Standing Committee on Social Development. In the report, Review of Motion 32-18(2), Referral of Petition 6-18(2), Elimination of Time Change in the Northwest Territories, committee acknowledges an elevated level of attention from the public. Petition 6-18(2) had 533 signatures from residents of 18 different NWT communities, supporting the Government of the Northwest Territories to move to one standard time.

Prior to making any changes to the Daylight Savings Time Regulations, committee report recommendations advise the Government of Northwest Territories to consider conducting broad public and targeted stakeholder engagement and to consult with counterparts in Alberta.

Concerns

In their review of Bill 13, committee shared concerns about the lack of options for government public engagement and consultation prior to the Commissioner in Executive Council making changes to the Daylight Savings Time regulations. This concern was addressed by a committee motion to amend Bill 13. Committee's motion requires the Minister to conduct public engagement with residents of the Northwest Territories regarding the elimination of the time change and prior to the setting of standard time.

Clause-By-Clause Review

A clause-by-clause review of the bill and public hearing was held on February 9, 2021. Committee moved one motion to amend Bill 13, which is attached in appendix B. The motion was carried, and the Minister concurred with the motion. Committee thanks the honourable R.J. Simpson, Minister of Justice, and members of his staff for their appearance before committee.

Conclusion

Following the clause-by-clause review, a motion was carried to report Bill 13, An Act to Amend the Interpretation Act, as amended and reprinted, as ready for consideration in Committee of the Whole. Committee thanks all those who took the time to make written submissions on this bill. This concludes the standing committee's review of Bill 13. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.