Thank you, Mr. Speaker. A single moment in a Yellowknife apartment building not long ago has ignited an overdue conversation. While the courts will handle the specifics of that particular incident, the truth is undeniable. The NWT is standing at a crossroads of public safety.
Mr. Speaker, for years people have operated in a legislative shadow, in a dark place. Time has come to put the private security industry into the light. Mr. Speaker, the opportunity is here. Look across the map of Canada, from the Pacific to the Great Lakes. Canada has already got gold standard legislation. We're not reinventing the wheel of security legislation. We're just joining the movement, Mr. Speaker.
British Columbia has mandated rigorous licensing, criminal record checks, and a strict code of conduct. Alberta, our southern neighbour, built a powerhouse system of discipline, of oversight, and accountability. Sounds great to me. Ontario has set the bar, Mr. Speaker, with a province-wide training in de-escalation that the legal forces use to ensure people's safety.
So currently, Mr. Speaker, as we all know the Northwest Territories has zero territorial legislation system in place. There's no mandatory training. There's no formal oversight. There's nothing. Our security guards are on the frontline, sometimes high-stakes situations, dealing with mental health crisis issues, they're dealing with complex public safety issues, and yet left without the legal compass to help guide them.
Mr. Speaker, this isn't about red tape. This is about empowerment. We need bold vision, a made-in-the North process. But, Mr. Speaker, on that note, there'll be more.
Mr. Speaker, what we're looking for is we're looking to give workers protection, the public protection and confidence, and prevention through proactive solutions. Mr. Speaker, key legislation could help here. What am I talking about? Well, allow me to expand.
Mr. Speaker, under the Dennis Patterson government, in 1991 they enacted a law called the Locksmiths Security Guards and Security Occupations Act, but it was never proclaimed. What a shame. Mr. Speaker, I'm prepared today, tomorrow, or even during this session, whether it takes a Private Member's bill, a motion, it's time we get this existing act on the books actually into action protecting Northerners. Mr. Speaker, I'll have questions later today. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Member from Yellowknife Centre. Members' statements.
