Question has been called. All those in favour? Opposed? Abstentions? The motion is carried. Bill 12 has been read a second time and is referred to the standing committee of the Assembly for further consideration.

---Carried

Second reading of bills. Consideration in Committee of the Whole of bills and other matters. Bill 11, Tabled Document 275-20(1), with the Member from Tu Nedhe-Wiilideh in the chair.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. Mr. Chair, the committee wishes to consider Bill 11, An Act to Amend the Motor Vehicles Act, as well as Tabled Document 275-20(1), 2025-2026 Main Estimates, Executive and Indigenous Affairs. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Thank you. Does the committee agree?

Thank you. We'll take a short recess.

---SHORT RECESS

I'll get your attention, please. Before I move on to the bills and other matters, we have in front of us, I just want to take the time to recognize some guests in our gallery here today. I just want to recognize Mary and Gerry Darter, Christine and Eric Gornitsky. They come from California, United States of America. Welcome.

The next one I have is -- I hope I say this right. Tsuyoshi Nagao, and he is from Japan. I want to say welcome to the House. Mahsi.

Thank you, and we're going to continue on. Committee, we have agreed to consider Bill 11, An Act to Amend the Motor Vehicles Act. I will ask the Minister of Infrastructure to introduce the bill. I'll go to the Minister.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. Mr. Chair, I am here to present Bill 11, An Act to Amend the Motor Vehicles Act.

Bill 11 is a package of amendments to the Motor Vehicles Act, which include changing how information held by the registrar of motor vehicles can be shared.

First, Bill 11 will protect consumers by allowing anyone shopping for a used vehicle to independently verify its registration history.

Second, the bill will support the NWT Bureau of Statistics to conduct its population count by allowing the registrar to share information from driver's licenses with government agencies.

Third, the bill will prevent fraud by authorizing the registrar to use facial recognition technology to verify that anyone applying for a driver's license or general ID card does not already hold one.

Finally, the bill will reduce red tape by making minor changes to the application processes for persons applying for copies of their own data from the registrar.

The Standing Committee on Economic Development and Environment conducted a clause-by-clause review of Bill 11 on February 13. And At that meeting, the standing committee adopted three motions to clarify wording in the bill, at the recommendation of the Information and Privacy Commissioner. I have agreed to all three motions.

That concludes my opening remarks, and I would be happy to answer any questions Members may have. Thank you.

Thank you. I will ask the Minister of Infrastructure to go to the witness table and, also, I'd like to get the Sergeant-at-Arms to please escort the witnesses into the chamber.

Thank you. Would the Minister please introduce your witnesses, please.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. On my left, Jeffrey Nichols, senior legislative advisor at the Department of Infrastructure. And on my right, Sue McKinney as the legislative counsel from the Department of Justice. Thank you.

I will now turn to the chair of the standing committee. I will go to the Member from Yellowknife Centre.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Before I begin my remarks, I want to thank you for introducing our guests in the gallery. I happened to meet them earlier during the break. Of course, you mentioned they're from -- some of them are from the great state of California, which is quite a trek to come here, and, of course, the gentleman from the island of Japan. I should say island nation of Japan. So thank you again for acknowledging all our guests on the record.

So, Mr. Chairman, thank you. Bill 11, An Act to Amend the Motor Vehicles Act, received second reading in the Legislative Assembly on October 30th, 2024, and was referred to the Standing Committee on Economic Development and Environment for review.

On February 13th, 2025, the standing committee held a public hearing with the Minister of Infrastructure and completed its clause-by-clause review of the bill. I thank the committee for their efforts in reviewing this legislation. On behalf of the committee, I also wish to thank the Minister for assisting us with our review. And as always, individual committee members may have additional comments on their own. Thank you, Mr. Chairman, for your assistance. Thank you.

Thank you. I will now open the floor to general comments on the bill, Bill 11. Any Members that have questions? Does the committee agree that there are no further general comments; can we proceed to clause-by-clause review of the bill? Committee, agree?

Thank you. Committee, we will defer the number and title until after consideration of the clauses. Please turn to page 1 of the bill. Clause 1, does committee agree?

Thank you. Clause 2, does committee agree?

Clause 3, does committee agree?

Clause 4, does committee agree?