Thanks, Mr. Speaker. I also have questions for the Minister of Finance. She used to be known as the Minister of Red Tape Production; I don't know if that's still the case.
I know and she knows, and I think this whole government and this whole House knows, that NGO pockets are not deep. You have to often include liquor sales at events and going and getting a liquor license as a one-off for NGOs that may not do events with liquor sales regularly is a complex process.
I've brought this forward to the Minister in the past, and she's told me they're working on it. So I'm wondering if the Minister can give me an update on any timelines that she might have as to whether or not the liquor license folks are looking to bring these pieces into an e-services portal. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Member from Great Slave. Minister of Finance.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Let me jump to the very end there, Mr. Speaker. With respect to e-services, that happens to also fall under the Department of Finance and is something near and dear to my heart that I think lies too far under the radar sometimes in terms of the service benefits it can provide. That said, I don't have a date right now. I would certainly be happy to commit to getting that information, and we'll certainly look to advance to the extent that we can. That should be one of the next areas that we look to move, if possible, to one of the online e-service areas. That is continually evolving.
Again, Mr. Speaker, I will most certainly look at the two branches of the department. I suppose the other piece of that is that the regulation work is underway to finalize the regulations for the new Liquor Act, and one of the things that has been emphasized is to do everything in those regulations to streamline access to licenses in a safe manner. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I look forward to those updates.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I can certainly confirm it is an area that the two departments are working on together, and they are looking to ensure that they are putting forward a package that is aligned and cohesive between the two.
Mr. Speaker, I'm happy to commit to get a detailed timeline on that work. I didn't bring it in front of me here today, but I have heard this issue raised many times. It's not only a matter that affects NGOs. It's one that can hinder the availability of arts programs and festivals and activities that really can bring a lot of life to the community. So I am more than happy to continue working with my colleague and commit that we will get a date to see when the two departments can have a plan and a process and really my goal would be to have it in time for the festival season this spring. Thank you.
Thank you, Minister of Finance. Oral questions. Member from Yellowknife North.
