Debates of May 16, 2007 (day 8)

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, as I mentioned in my Member’s statement, it has been over 20 years since the issue of dealing with legislation governing locksmithing was first brought to the attention of the then-Justice Minister. As I mentioned, it has perhaps been brought to every Justice Minister since then. I am wondering, the first question I would have for the present-day Justice Minister is, locksmithing regulations and legislation, where does it fit in the government’s agenda? Mahsi.

Thank you, Mr. Ramsay. The honourable Minister of Justice, Mr. Bell.

Return To Question 93-15(6): Legislation For The Locksmithing Profession

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. As the Member has indicated, there is a long history here. I have had a chance to go through some of the briefing on this. There was legislation enacted, I believe, in 1991 with respect to locksmithing and the security profession. That was never brought into force, that piece of legislation, and some eight or so years later was repealed. There was an act at that time which repealed several pieces of legislation that were considered to be of lower priority, I suppose, but also the measure was intended to reduce costs. I think it was felt, at that time, that it would cost about $200,000 a year to properly regulate the industry, if I have some accurate numbers here. So it was repealed. There has been some discussion back and forth, some letters from the Association of Communities with respect to the security profession.

It is something that I think we need to consider going forward. There are a number of other professions, as well, that probably need to be regulated or there are groups making the case that need to be regulated. Massage therapy comes to mind. I know that has been raised on the floor of this House, but the long and the short of this, Mr. Speaker, is that we have a very full legislative agenda, only a few months left in the life of this government. There is no conceivable way for us to enact legislation to deal with this occupation before this government is done. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Bell. Supplementary, Mr. Ramsay.

Supplementary To Question 93-15(6): Legislation For The Locksmithing Profession

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. It is unfortunate, I guess, in the way that it is going to fall to the next government. That is probably the fifth or sixth government now that has had to look at this issue. I am wondering how in trying to understand how it is as a government we can let an occupation happen with contravention of the Criminal Code taking place on a daily basis because we don’t legislate that profession. To me, there is something wrong with that. Why isn’t that going to the top or near the top of our agenda? It is something we should target and something we should address. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Ramsay. Mr. Bell.

Further Return To Question 93-15(6): Legislation For The Locksmithing Profession

Mr. Speaker, we would be prepared to sit down with committee and talk about legislative priorities. It is not something the committee has raised as one of the top priorities of the government from their perspective. So we have a number of legislative initiatives that need to be undertaken. There are a number of things that we need to do and know we can’t get done in this government. As I have indicated, there is some past history here. For cost-saving measures, we have moved away from this. Locksmithing is a trade. It is not a certified trade yet in the NWT. It was pulled together with the security profession to give it some sort of critical mass. I don’t know how many locksmiths there would be in the Northwest Territories, but only a few. That is why it was bundled with this other profession, Mr. Speaker. We would be prepared to sit down with the committee and talk about legislative priorities. If this is something we would like to pass on to the next government as a must do and urgent, then we can send that direction. But I would want to talk to committee about that. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Bell. Supplementary, Mr. Ramsay.

Supplementary To Question 93-15(6): Legislation For The Locksmithing Profession

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. In today’s day and age where the onus is on security, I think it is important that the Minister of Justice and the government take security and locksmithing seriously and we move forward. If the Minister wants committee to come forward with a recommendation, then that is something we can do as well, but the government has known about it for 20-plus years, and I believe it is high time we move forward on this piece of legislation, Mr. Speaker. I am not sure if the Minister needs committee’s approval to include it in the transition document for the next government, but if he doesn’t, will he commit to at least getting it on the radar in the transition document for the next government? Mahsi.

Thank you, Mr. Ramsay. Mr. Bell.

Further Return To Question 93-15(6): Legislation For The Locksmithing Profession

Mr. Speaker, I am able to do that. We can do that. We have a number of discussions, some of them formal with committee, some of them informal at a body like Caucus, where we discuss legislative priorities from time to time. There are many avenues that this could be raised to our attention, but I will take the Member’s suggestion on the floor of this House. We will pass this on to the next government. Thank you.