Mr. Speaker, I wish to table the following document, Plain Language Summary for Bill 53, An Act to Amend the Liquor Act. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Minister. Tabling of documents. Minister responsible for Lands.
Mr. Speaker, I move, seconded by the Honourable Member for Range Lake, that Bill 53, an Act to Amend the Liquor Act, be read for the second time.
This bill amends the Liquor Act to continue the Liquor Commission as the Northwest Territories Liquor and Cannabis Commission;
Include the regulation of cannabis in the Commission’s list of duties;
Reinforce the separation of enforcement and adjudication responsibilities under the act by removing the supervision of enforcement actions from the Executive Secretary’s duties;
Remove provisions disqualifying persons from licensing eligibility on the basis of being charged with but not yet convicted of an offence; and.
Clarify the rules pertaining to the personal importation of liquor into the Northwest Territories.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Minister. The motion is in order. To the principle of the bill. Member for Yellowknife North.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I guess the list of amendments are pretty innocuous and I'm not all that opposed to them. But I do want to speak to I think is an absolute priority that this Assembly amend the Liquor Act. I know the department did a What We Heard, did some engagement, and has gotten that feedback from the public which we hopefully will see soon. And it raises some very significant questions about how we're going to update our outdated liquor regime in this territory. Clearly this bill does not do that. But I grow concerned by introducing this amendment to the Liquor Act. It is essentially a concession that we will not make any significant changes to the Liquor Act in the life of this Assembly. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Member for Yellowknife North.
The motion is in order. To the principle of the bill.
Question.
Question has been called. All those in favour? All those opposed? Any abstentions? The motion is carried.
Carried
Bill 53 has had second reading and is referred to a standing committee of the Legislative Assembly for review.
