Yellowknife (June 20/03) - From a new bridge to a tougher stance on drinking and driving, MLAs were kept busy with the reading and passing of bills during the sixth session of the 14th legislative assembly last week.

One bill that received a lot of attention was an act to amend the Motor Vehicles Act.

This act lowers the legal blood alcohol level from .08 to .05.

It also provides for a zero-tolerance for novice drivers.

The act allows RCMP to impose a 24-hour road-side licence suspension for a driver caught with a blood alcohol level between .05 and .08.

The Deh Cho Bridge Act gives permission to the government to negotiate an agreement with the Deh Cho Bridge Corporation over construction and maintenance of a bridge over the Mackenzie River at Fort Providence.

An act to amend the Public Service Act provides equal treatment opportunity for both sexes.

It provides for an equal pay commissioner who will investigate and assist in the resolution of complaints.

An act to amend the Worker's Compensation Act comes as a response to reports and recommendations from various review panels and standing committees of the legislative assembly.

The amendment establishes new directives on management and clarifies some terms used in the act.

It also increases the age when a child is still considered a dependent from 16 to 19.

The act also increases the penalties for contravention of the act.

An act to amend the Labour Standards Act increases the minimum wage to $8.25 an hour and removes distinctions in the minimum wage based on age and place of employment.

Time proved a constraint for a few bills as the legislative assembly didn't get to them. Some will be dealt with at the next sitting, starting September 30, while others will be left over for the new government in November.

Seven bills were sent to the standing committee.

They were: the Family Violence Protection Act, the Waste Reduction and Recovery Act, an act to amend the Safety Act, the Midwifery Profession Act, the Municipal Statutes Replacement Act, the Youth Justice Act and an act to amend the Access to Information and Protection of Privacy Act.

An act to amend the Official Languages Act only reached the first reading.