Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, my questions are for the MACA Minister.
If the GNWT is unable to fund NWT SPCA for crucial services, will it instead consider making spaying and neutering of pets mandatory with exceptions for licensed breeders and dog teams so to reduce the litters and pressure on the NWT SPCA? Thank you.
Thank you, Member from Great Slave. Minister of Municipal and Community Affairs.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. So the Dog Act is administered by municipal and community affairs. MACA is responsible for overseeing the enforcement and operation aspects to the Act, the focus of which is to set out standards of care, prohibition, and distress, abandonment, and running-at-large dogs in Northwest Territories. The Act does not have the authority to make spaying or neutering pets mandatory. Additionally, responsibilities under this Act would need to be addressed through a legislative update. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Oh boy, is the Minister going to love my written questions later today.
Mr. Speaker, will the Minister prohibit the sale of kittens or puppies with exceptions for licensed breeders? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The Dog Act currently governs the treatment, control, and the protection of dogs in the NWT. It includes provisions related to the care of dogs and penalties for neglect or mistreatment. The Act does not apply to other animals such as cats or kittens. It also does not address the licensing of breeders and therefore does not provide the authority to regulate, prohibit the sales of kittens or puppies. To regulate the sale of animals or introduce breeder licensing, new legislation would need to be deployed. This is a resource-insensitive process that would involve policy development and jurisdictional research, legislative drafting, public and stakeholder consultation, and the review and approval through the Legislative Assembly.
Given the significant resources required to the development, implement, and enforce new legislation, the GNWT will continue to focus on existing legislative priorities and areas where there are clear authority and capacity to act. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Minister of Municipal and Community Affairs. Final supplementary. Member from Range Lake.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, will the Minister direct his department to work with communities to build capacity to develop and/or enforce pet containment rules and bylaws? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Community governments have the authority to appoint bylaw officers to manage the activities of dogs under the Dog Act. Through its bylaw officer course, MACA can provide direction to support how to implement Dog Acts in the community. MACA also responds to community government requests as they arise, offering guidance and supports related to enforcement and interpretation of the Act. While MACA remains committed to supporting communities within the existing mandate, the department is not currently planning a broader initiative to build capacity around pet containment rules or bylaws. Developing and delivering such a program would require significant resources and long-term commitment and is not part of the department's current priorities. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Minister of Municipal and Community Affairs. Oral questions. Member from Yellowknife Centre.
