Robert C. McLeod

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I move, seconded by the honourable Member for Monfwi, that Bill 1, Tlicho Statutes Amendment Act, be read for the second time.

This bill amends provisions to the Tlicho Community Government Act to ensure consistency with similar provisions in other statutes governing municipalities. This bill also modifies the eligibility criteria for nominations as a candidate for chief or councillor of a community government and modifies the beginning and end dates of the term for council members.

Further, this bill will enable the council of a community government to appoint an...

Mr. Speaker, I seek unanimous consent to return to item 5 on the Order Paper.

---Unanimous consent granted

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I seek unanimous consent to waive Rule 69(2) and have Bill 1 moved into Committee of the Whole. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

---Unanimous consent granted

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Thank you, colleagues. I want to use this opportunity to recognize one of our good, corporate citizens of Inuvik, Mr. Kurt Wainman, owner of Northwind Industries, and I would also like to welcome Mr. Russell Newmark from E. Gruben’s Transport. Welcome, gentlemen.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, 15 youth ambassadors, representing seven NWT communities, travelled with us to Ottawa recently to promote the Northwest Territories at Winterlude as part of NWT Days.

They acted as guides and greeters at various events and as traditional games demonstrators. To say that the youth ambassadors did an outstanding job does not give them enough credit. They impressed both political participants and thousands of others who attended and watched their performances. They were also featured on local and national media for their efforts. Many people approached me to...

Mr. Speaker, I move, seconded by the honourable Member for Monfwi, that Bill 1, Tlicho Statutes Amendment Act, be read for the first time. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

I will commit to trying to get some information out there. The cost of the Credit Disclosure Act, I thought, was a good first step. If the firms are not making the consumers aware of what the potential interest rates are on these, then, to me, that would be a violation of the legislation that was passed by the 16th Assembly and we’d have to follow up on that.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The Member is right; the 16th Assembly did pass the Cost of Disclosure Act, and it basically gives consumers an idea of what the interest rate might be with the companies that are charging. It is a situation we faced on a couple of occasions in the Northwest Territories. Down south it’s a little more widely spread. They are protected under the Criminal Code, because they are not allowed to charge in excess of 60 percent.

We continue to monitor this. We work with our southern counterparts to monitor this. As of this moment, we think the Cost of Disclosure Act and...

Again, we would have to ensure that the firms are following the new piece of legislation that was passed by the 16th Assembly, and if there is a need to… Well, obviously there is a need in some cases to be a bit more vigilant. I will commit to Members on the other side that I will follow up with the department to see what we’re doing on our part to ensure firms are following the legislation that was passed, and that consumers are aware of the potential interest rates they may be charged.

I would have to follow up on that, and with the department, to see if there was any communication with the firms. Once I get that information, I will share it with the Members across.