Mr. Speaker, I move, seconded by the honourable Member for Nahendeh, that Bill 83, Liquor Act, be read for the second time.

This bill repeals and replaces the Liquor Act, SNWT 2007, c.15 to make significant changes and updates, including to

• Provide for the appointment of a registrar with responsibility for liquor licensing matters including the issuance, renewal, transfer, suspension and cancellation of licenses;
• Allow for the creation of new classes of liquor licenses in regulations;
• Allow for the creation of classes of retail vendors in regulations;
• Allow for the imposition of monetary penalties by a newly appointed chief inspector;
• Repeal the existing liquor licensing board with a liquor appeals board to hear appeals of decisions of the registrar and the chief inspector;
• Define a single community authority for the purposes of community control matters;
• Create new mechanisms for community control over liquor and provide certain protections for operating businesses;
• Make changes to the length of temporary prohibition orders, their associated timelines and requirements;
• Necessary updates to inspection, investigation and search and seizure provisions;
• Remove mandatory minimum penalties; and,
• Modernize language, including by using gender-neutral pronouns.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker.