Clauses 16 to 20, does committee agree?

Clauses 21 to 25, does committee agree?

Clauses 26 to 28, does committee agree?

Committee, to the bill as a whole, does committee agree that Bill 66, An Act to Amend the Property Assessment and Taxation Act, is now ready for third reading?

Thank you, committee. Does the committee agree that this concludes our consideration of Bill 66, An Act to Amend the property assessment and taxation act?

Thank you, Minister, and thank you to your witnesses. Sergeant-at-arms -- oh, Minister.

Yes, I'd like to thank the staff and the justice department staff that helped us work on this. I'd like to thank committee for the work, and we were able to enhance the bill that we presented with their recommendations. So I'd like to thank everybody for their hard work. Thank you.

Thank you, Minister. Are you using the same witnesses, or are you swapping them out for the next --

We're switching two and bringing one in.

Sergeant-at-arms, please escort the witnesses from the Chamber.

Committee, we've agreed to consider Bill 67, An Act to Amend the Fire Prevention Act. I will ask the Minister of Municipal and Community Affairs to introduce the bill.

Thank you, Madam Chair. I am here to present Bill 67, An Act to Amend the Fire Prevention Act. The purpose of Bill 67 is to improve regulatory functions by creating a more authoritative plan review process that includes a formal avenue of appeal for plan review decisions. The bill also includes an exclusion of liability clause which protects statutory actors for actions or omissions done in good faith in the course of their duties.

In addition to these substantive amendments, this bill makes several housekeeping amendments to gender-neutralize language and fix non-substantive grammatical errors in the Act.

During the Standing Committee on Government Operations review of the bill, the Department worked with committee staff and the Department of Justice on three addition amendments to the bill. The Department is appreciative of the time committee took in reviewing the bill and proposing amendments.

The Department recognizes that Bill 67 does not address the need for a building standards framework in the Northwest Territories. While the Department anticipates proceeding with building standards legislation in the 20th Legislative Assembly, further research and engagement with industry stakeholders and community governments will be needed as part of advancing that work. That concludes my opening remarks and I look forward to hearing comments from Members and answering any questions the Members may have on the bill. Thank you.

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

Yes, I do, please.

Sergeant-at-arms, please escort the witnesses into the Chamber. Minister, would you please introduce your witnesses.

Sorry, Madam Chair. On my left is Jennifer Young, director of corporate affairs. To my right close to me is Justin Hazenberg, director of public safety. On my far right is Ian Rennie, a drafter for the Department of Justice. Thank you, Madam Chair.

Thank you. Welcome. I will now turn to the chair of the Standing Committee on Government Operations, the committee that reviewed the bill, for any opening comments on Bill 67. Member for Yellowknife North.

Thank you, Madam Chair. Bill 67, An Act to Amend the Fire Prevention Act, received second reading in the Legislative Assembly on November 3rd, 2022, and was referred to the Standing Committee on Government Operations for review.

Bill 67 proposes changes to the Fire Prevention Act, which has not been reviewed since it was first passed in 1988. The committee sought public feedback on this legislation. During its review, the committee heard that clarity and certainty was needed with respect to the timelines of the appeal board process. The committee also heard concerns regarding the composition of the board. At the clause-by-clause review of Bill 67 on February 13, 2023, the committee was pleased to pass three motions to strengthen the bill that addressed concerns committee heard from stakeholders.

I would like to thank committee for its work on the review of Bill 67. I'd also like to thank the Minister and staff for their work on the Fire Prevention Act, and I look forward to comprehensive building standards legislation one day. Thank you, Madam Chair. Individual Members may have additional comments.

Thank you. I will now open the floor to general comments on Bill 67. Are there any general comments? Seeing none, does committee agree that there are no general comments?