Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I move, seconded by the honourable Member for Inuvik Twin Lakes, that Bill 42, An Act to Amend the Residential Tenancies Act, be read for the second time.
This bill amends the Residential Tenancies Act to reduce the retention period for inspector reports from three years to 18 months, require landlords to provide receipts to tenants and former tenants on request, clarify that subsection 51(5) applies to both tenancies which begin as a fixed term and of periodic tenancies, permit termination of a tenancy agreement in circumstances where family violence has occurred, provide a remedy for improper termination of a tenancy agreement resulting from a notice of rent increase, clarify that a condominium corporation may apply to a rental officer to terminate a tenancy and evict a tenant, provide that a tenancy agreement for subsidized public housing is reinstated when an eviction order is denied, permit orders and decisions of a rental officer to be enforced as a judgment of the Supreme Court, and allow for regulations to establish fees for making applications under the act. The bill also includes a consequential amendment to the Condominium Act.
Thank you, Mr. Ramsay. The motion is in order. To the principle of the bill. Mr. Hawkins.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I certainly do speak in favour of the principle of the bill, but I do feel that the Residential Tenancies Act update is missing some critical components. I’ll just leave it as simple as that, for example, the Hotel Keepers Act allows someone to be let go, removed, and evicted where the update of the Residential Tenancies Act shows that it’s well thought out that people are protected, and I would assume that the update would have considered these types of remedies.
The example I provide to somebody is that there are folks out there who can only rent in certain spots, and in some cases, in our communities, they can only rent in hotels, and some hotels lease residences for month to month but they come with no rights. The Residential Tenancies Act is being updated here and it would have been a great time to amalgamate, actually, the two bills, and it probably would have been to everyone’s great advantage.
A person renting from a landlord has more rights if they rented in my house than they would if they rented at a hotel because they come with no rights. The issue, really, I’m saying that I agree with the updates provided by, I’ve seen the preamble of the bill, and I have no disagreement with that. I just see it as an issue where we’ve missed a real opportunity to give people rights who need them.
In summary, if a person rents month to month from a hotel, they can be evicted at any time, their stuff can be taken, and they have zero rights. Normally, you would suggest to point them to the rental and tenancy office but they have no authority to deal with that particular issue. I’ve dealt with this issue recently and I’ve found that there is a huge gap. I’ll be taking it up with the particular committee, but I did think that I wanted to remind people with the principle of this bill that we have a huge advantage to taking just a small step forward to provide people protection that deserve it. That’s all.
Thank you, Mr. Hawkins. To the principle of the bill.
Question.
Question has been called. The motion is carried.
---Carried
Bill 42 has had second reading and is referred to committee.
Item 20, consideration in Committee of the Whole of bills and other matters. Item 21, report of Committee of the Whole. Item 22, third reading of bills. Mr. Clerk, will you ascertain if the Commissioner of the Northwest Territories, the Honourable George Tuccaro, is prepared to enter the Chamber to assent to bills.
Mr. Speaker and Members of the Legislative Assembly, good afternoon.
I’d like to take a moment to encourage all residents to honour the service and sacrifice made by members of the Canadian Armed Forces as we approach Remembrance Day next Tuesday.
As I look ahead to the coming holiday season and the celebration of Christmas, I would like to wish each and every one of you a joyous and safe holiday season filled with hope, good health, inspiration and time with your families and friends as we enter into the coming New Year of 2015.
