Louis Sebert

Mr. Speaker, it is our intention that all leaseholders will be treated fairly. I think it's important to realize that not all of these equity leases are identical, so it's going to require a lot of work to go through them one by one, but as I mentioned at the outset we are intending to resolve this matter by treating leaseholders fairly and properly. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Certainly, initially what we'll have to do is determine how we are going to be proceeding with the resolution of the equity lease problem. We're hoping to have an overall comprehensive plan that will resolve this very difficult issue. We are going through the process right now and any positions conditionally approved through the forced growth or initiative process will be defended through committee reviews of the 2018-2019 business plans in November and defended through the main estimates process. The first step really in this procedure will be to determine where we're going with this very...

Mr. Speaker, our residents have demonstrated that cannabis is an important issue for them. Since I last spoke of the legalization of cannabis in May, our government has been hard at work undertaking an extensive engagement program with the public and stakeholders to make sure we understand the views of Northerners.

Our engagement, which formally began in July, has included public meetings in regional centres and select small communities. Seven public meetings have been held to date, with two more scheduled for today and tomorrow in Hay River and Behchoko. An online survey has also been made...

Mr. Speaker, I move, seconded by the honourable Member for Hay River South, that Bill 29, Miscellaneous Statute Law Amendment Act, 2017, be read for the second time. This bill corrects inconsistencies and errors in the statutes of the Northwest Territories. The bill also deals with other matters of a minor, non-controversial and uncomplicated nature in the statutes. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Mr. Speaker. I wish to table the following document entitled "GNWT Response to CR 8-18(2): Report on the Review of the 2014-2015 and 2015-2016 Annual Reports of the NWT Information and Privacy Commissioner." Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Mr. Speaker, I move, seconded by the honourable Member for Hay River South, that Bill 28, Interpretation Act be read for the second time. This bill sets out fundamental concepts governing the rest of the Northwest Territories' legislation. It:

sets out key principles of statutory interpretation;

identifies the elements in a legislative text that are to be considered part of the text;

provides standard definitions of commonly-used words and expressions;

provides standard sets of provisions regulating aspects of the operation of all enactments, such as the effective time of commencement, the effect...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I would like to recognize all our guests in the gallery, in particular Steven Cooper, a colleague of mine for many years. I would also like to recognize and thank two of the Pages from Fort Smith: Hannah Porter and Bronwyn Rutherford-Simon. Thank you.

Mr. Speaker, we of course wish to use the limited resources at our disposal in the most effective manner possible. I do note that a very similar question was asked of another Minister in March of this year. The answer at that time was that we didn't think that would be the best use of money and that we would rather focus our money and efforts on prevention and healing. I concur with that.

Yes, Mr. Speaker. The 18th Assembly, of course, has identified family violence as a priority. We do recognize that this is a very serious issue and in fact, a crisis, in the Northwest Territories. Our department, along with other departments, does treat this issue very seriously.

Mr. Speaker, I move, seconded by the Honourable Member for Hay River South, that, Bill 29, Miscellaneous Statute Law Amendment Act, 2017, be read for the first time. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.