Jackson Lafferty

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. I move, seconded by the honourable Member for Range Lake, that Bill 6, An Act to Amend the Residential Tenancies Act, be read for the third time.

Mahsi, Mr. Chair. I have Janice Laycock, to my left, senior policy analyst; and Janis Cooper, legislative counsel, legislation division.

Yes, Mr. Chair. I am pleased to appear before the committee today to review Bill 6, An Act to Amend the Residential Tenancies Act.

The purpose of Bill 6 is to modernize the Residential Tenancies Act, ensure that disputes are resolved more quickly and provide effective remedies to both landlords and tenants. There are also a number of housekeeping items in the bill to correct errors, omissions or outdated references and definitions in the act. Other changes clarify and strengthen provisions to deal with tenants who are involved in illegal activities on rental premises.

These amendments maintain...

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. Further to my Return to Written Question 20-16(2), I wish to table the following document, entitled Active Apprentices by Region and Community.

Document 72-16(2), Active Apprentices by Region and Community, tabled.

Mr. Speaker, we are wrapping up our process of recruiting teachers and principals for the North. We’re focussing on their arrival, whether it be August or September, possibly mostly in August, when they arrive before school starts. That’s a short-term solution we are identifying. The long-term solution will be in the next few years. Mahsi.

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. Certainly, this is one of the key areas we are focusing on as the Department of Education, Culture and Employment: to find suitable and affordable housing units for staff, especially for teachers coming to the North. We certainly want to welcome them with open arms. One way of doing that is working with the various organizations in the community, most specifically the LHOs, the NWT Housing Corporation at the community level and the Department of Human Resources.

We are developing a strategy. I myself, the chairs of the five regional boards, including Yellowknife, and the...

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. I move, seconded by the honourable Member for Range Lake, that Bill 5, An Act to Amend the Maintenance Orders Enforcement Act, be read for the third time.

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. I seek consent to proceed with third reading of Bill 6, An Act to Amend the Residential Tenancies Act.

Yes, Mr. Chair.

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. I appreciate the Assembly has expressed interest in protecting the rights of children whose parents are separating or divorcing. However, the Cabinet will be abstaining from the motion that has been brought forward, and I would like to explain why. I will also provide concepts for Members who are not certain whether they should support this or not.

As you know, we do have acts and laws in place within our jurisdiction of the Northwest Territories. First of all, the NWT Family Law supports the principle that decisions should be made in the best interests of the children. The...