Michael McLeod

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The Member is correct; we had indicated that we would take on a number of initiatives to encourage people to leave their phone alone while they’re driving. It’s our goal to reduce the number of collisions in the Northwest Territories attributed to driver distraction. We have a number of objectives that we’ve set, and that is to have a large percentage of people acknowledging that distracted driving, driving with a phone or other electronic devices can cause harm, and that’s something they shouldn’t do.

We have also an objective to reduce the traffic collisions, by a...

Mr. Chairman, there was a reprint and I don’t believe that was the same document that was just referenced. If we could have Mr. Ian Rennie talk to the issue.

Mr. Chairman, we’re trying to find the reference that the Member is making. He’s asked two questions about talking and removing promotion of hands-free alternatives. I’d like to point out that that’s something we will look at removing. I think it’s a good point that the Member is making and we certainly, by way of providing exemptions, are not intending to promote any type of hands-free electronic devices. However, we recognize in some cases, such as winter roads, that is the only communication device available. So we will be looking very carefully on how and what type of devices can be used.

F...

Mr. Chairman, on my left is Mr. Russell Neudorf, deputy minister of the Department of Transportation. On my right is Ms. Kelly McLaughlin -- sorry, Mr. Chairman, on my right is Ian Rennie, legislative counsel with the Department of Justice.

---Laughter

Yes, Mr. Chairman, I do. Mr. Chairman, I’m pleased to present Bill 16, An Act to Amend the Motor Vehicles Act, which addresses the issue of distracted driving posing a restriction on the use of handheld electronic devices, such as cell phones, music players, tablet devices, and personal digital systems while driving. This bill also proposes a raise in the threshold for mandatory reporting of a collision from $1,000 to $2,000 and provides a mechanism to restrict services for unpaid fines under the Deh Cho Bridge Act.

We will be joining 11 other Canadian jurisdictions in prohibiting the use of...

Yes, Mr. Chair.

We ask the Member to be patient. We will have the information ready as soon as we have confirmation and we know that all the legislation is in place. We will be stepping up our initiatives through the public for information on their legislation, and that information will also be on the website as soon as possible. Thank you.

The campaign is very important to the department or we wouldn’t be doing it. There are a number of strategies and tactics that we have committed to provide. We need to get the information out into the public. Some of it we’ve already started. I certainly can provide a detailed information package to the Member.

We are, as I indicated, providing information to each community in the Northwest Territories. We have a window sticker campaign that is ongoing right now. We have news releases that are being developed on the new distracted driving law when and after the legislation takes effect. We have...

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. With that clarification, I think that’s what we were looking for.

Mr. Chairman, I believe there were a number of motions for amendment.