Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Report on Bill 52, Elevators and Lifts Act. Standing Committee on Economic Development and Environment is pleased to provide the Report on Bill 52, Elevators and Lifts Act, and commends it into the House.
Standing Committee on Economic Development and Environment, Bill 52 Elevators and Lifts Act.
Bill 52 Elevators and Lifts Act is the creation of a standalone Act aimed to align the NWT legislation with other jurisdictions. Bill 52 deals with regulation of the installation, use of, inspection of, elevating devices, including lifts and amusement rides.
The bill was referred to the Standing Committee on Economic Development and Environment (committee) on May 31st, 2022. Public notices were provided to solicit comments on the bill. None were received. Committee held a public hearing and clausebyclause review of the bill with the Minister and departmental officials on September 28th, 2022.
Section 68 of the bill describes a report to be provided to the Minister from the chief inspector. Committee is concerned that the details of this report are vague and there is no requirement that the report would be publicly available. During the public hearing held on the bill, the Minister agreed that the annual report should be made available to the public and that all the contents and details would be prescribed in the regulations.
The Standing Committee on Economic Development and Environment recommends the GNWT make the report as described in section 68 of the Act publicly available including details not limited to number of permits issued and in good standing, number of approvals, orders issued, prosecutions and fines, and inspections, etc.
Section 13 of the Act describes the registry content. The bill outlines committee was concerned about the lack of clarity around the type of information collected in the registry, and how it may be made publicly available. During the review of the bill, it was stated that there is already a registry in place and plans are being developed to make it public. The Minister also committed to share draft regulations with committee to implement the new legislation.
The Standing Committee on Economic Development and Environment recommends that the GNWT proactively disclose the information contained in the registry described in section 13 of the Act by making it publicly available without any fees for access.
The Standing Committee on Economic Development and Environment recommends the GNWT provide a response to this report within 120 days.
This concludes the Standing Committee on Economic Development and Environment Report on Bill 52, Elevators and Lifts Act. Committee would like to thank the Minister and departmental officials in committee’s review of the bill. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Member for Nunakput. Reports of standing and special committees. Member for Nunakput.
