Shane Thompson

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Your committee wishes to report on its consideration of Bill 45, Corrections Act. Bill 45 received its second reading in the Legislative Assembly on March 11, 2019, and was referred to the Standing Committee on Social Development for review.

Today I am advising the House of committee's wish to extend our review of Bill 45, with the intent to report back to the House by August 16, 2019. The short extension will allow committee to complete its clause-by-clause review, which is scheduled to take place on August 15, 2019, at 7:00 p.m.

Therefore, Mr. Speaker, in accordance...

Mr. Chair, I move, to the extent it is possible before the dissolution of the 18th Assembly and for the public record, that the government provide a response to these recommendations, even of a preliminary nature, that the committee may publicly disclose. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I wish to report to the Assembly that the Standing Committee on Social Development has reviewed Bill 40, Smoking Control and Reduction Act, and Bill 41, Tobacco and Vapour Products Control Act.

Mr. Speaker, the committee wishes to report that Bill 40 and 41 are now ready for consideration in Committee of the Whole as amended and reprinted. Mr. Speaker, I seek unanimous consent to waive Rule 75(5) and have the Bills 40 and 41 move into Committee of the Whole for consideration later today. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

---Unanimous consent granted

Thank you, Mr. Chair. I move that this Assembly recommend that the Department of Health and Social Services ensure the territory's drug plan reflects the importance of smoking cessation aids, including that the plan provides smokers with access to these tools on a timely, as-needed basis. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

As we are moving forward, I just wanted to make sure that people understand that, when we do have residents move out, what I have learned through this whole process is that we have to make sure that their stuff is actually washed and cleaned because, if not, they could bring it back in. I am learning, as the department and the Health Department are educating me on this. The Minister briefly elaborated on this question, but I am going to ask it again: are there any other initiatives that this government has taken to reduce the incidents of bedbug infestations moving forward?

Mr. Chair, I move that the Assembly recommend that the Department of Health and Social Services explore whether the "no smoking" areas around buildings to be prescribed in the new regulations should be expanded. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My questions will be for the Minister responsible for Housing. We have all heard in the news about bedbugs in the community, specifically a nine-plex in the Clusters here. There have been different reports and accounts of what is happening there. Can the Minister tell us exactly what the current situation is? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I move, seconded by the honourable Member for Yellowknife Centre, that Committee Report 24-18(3): Standing Committee on Social Development Report on the Review of Bill 48: Post-Secondary Education Act be received by the Assembly and that Committee Report 24-18(3) be moved into Committee of the Whole for further consideration. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Your Standing Committee on Social Development is pleased to provide this report on the review of Bill 48, Post-Secondary Education Act. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

A provision in Alberta's Tobacco and Smoking Reduction Act requires the Minister to commence a review of the Act within five years after the section comes into force. The Canadian Cancer Society recommended that Bill 41 be amended to require a review of the legislation at least every five years to ensure regular updates and to sustain the effectiveness of initiatives for reducing the harm caused by tobacco.

While the proliferation of vaping products and the high rates of tobacco use and vaping in the NWT are a cause for significant concern, committee believes that...