Thank you, Madam Chair. Madam Chair, I'm here to introduce Bill 53, An Act to Amend the Liquor Act. This bill proposes four administrative amendments to the Liquor Act that would benefit from immediate attention.
- First, updating personal importation limits to increase the quantities of liquor that a person may bring with them into the Northwest Territories;.
- Second, removing enforcement as part of the Northwest Territories Liquor Licensing Board's role due to potential conflict of interest;
- Third, removing the ban on licensed applicants who have been charged with but not convicted of a criminal offence, which is necessary for consistency with the legal principle of innocent until proven guilty; and
- Fourth, officially updating the name of the Northwest Territories Liquor Commission to include cannabis.
The legislative amendments proposed in Bill 53, as well as the more other significant changes that the department is working towards through the holistic liquor legislative review, will ultimately support liquor legislation in the Northwest Territories becoming more nimble, modern, streamlined, and responsive to the needs of residents. Thank you, Madam Chair.