Robert C. McLeod

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, the federal proposal I believe is costing the federal treasury about $3 billion. A similar proposal would cost us about $750,000, so it is not something that we are contemplating at this moment.

The $750,000, I mean, that's what this government would save. That money just stays within the government. It goes to a lot of the full fleet of programs we offer across government-wide. As far as the socio-economic government, I'm not sure what the Member expects to come out of that. I would have to look at that and see how much work that would actually be. I can say that, with the small communities, it was the small community employment fund that was recently approved, $4.2 million. We think that would go a long way into helping with the employment in the small communities. I'd have to...

Mr. Speaker, I recognize the fact that these small businesses, they work hard, and they provide a service to consumers, and they keep people employed. As I said before, we believe that we have a system in place that helps to try to grow their business. If there are other ways we can look at it, the carbon tax the Member speaks about and the carbon credit, I mean, that is something that, as I said, I think in this House that we are still looking at. We are trying to mitigate the impacts as much as we can on businesses and people in the Northwest Territories, so it is something we continue to...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I wish to table the following two documents entitled "Inter-Activity Transfers Exceeding $250,000 (April 1, 2017 to June 30, 2017)" and "Northwest Territories Surface Rights Board 2016-2017 Annual Report." Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, we thought that the existing liquor regulations had enough leeway to allow for the sale of beer by the NWT Brewing Company directly to licensees. The board, as an independent quasi-judicial body, did not agree with that interpretation of the regulations and would not allow direct sales. To be fair, Mr. Speaker, the board can only make decisions using the existing legislation and regulations. If they are out of date and no longer relevant, it falls on us to change them. I have directed the department to draft regulations that allow for the sale of NWT...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I have asked the official of the department to review the existing board processes and policies of the NWT Liquor Act regulations. In addition, the department will be reaching out to stakeholders as to how to modernize the board enforcement and decision-making processes to ensure they are transparent and fair. We plan on having the work completed for review by the next fiscal year. We do, however, plan on implementing the changes that we can make in the interim. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Mr. Speaker, I expect the regulation will be in place by the end of October, and the NWT Brewing Company will be able to begin deliveries if I am in a position to sign the regulation. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

---Laughter

Mr. Speaker, the plan is that the review should somewhat modernize the sale and licensing of alcohol in the NWT and provide the NWT Liquor Licensing Board with the necessary tools to do their jobs in a fair and transparent manner, as well as addressing concerns raised by licensees.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I move, seconded by the honourable Member for Hay River South, that Bill 33, Appropriation Act (Infrastructure Expenditures), 2018-2019 be read for the second time. Mr. Speaker, this bill authorizes the Government of the Northwest Territories to make appropriations for infrastructure expenditures for the 2018-2019 fiscal year. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I wish to table the following two documents entitled "Follow-up Letter for Oral Question 852-18(2), Management of Northern Water Resources," and "Follow-up Letter for Oral Questions 864-18(2), Species at Risk Protection of Caribou." Thank you, Mr. Speaker.