As the NWT legislature’s first sitting of 2026 began, Yellowknife Centre MLA Robert Hawkins asked the justice minister if he will dust off legislation from the 1990s to regulate security guards in the territory.
Hawkins referenced an act passed in 1991 – but never in force – that would establish a regulation and licensing framework for individuals and businesses that provide locksmith, private investigation, security guard or security alarm services.
The act was repealed in 1998 as part of an omnibus bill that sought to reduce the burden on businesses and barriers to development.
Now, Hawkins wants justice minister Jay Macdonald to look into reinstating it.
“For years, people have operated in a legislative shadow – in a dark place,” Hawkins said in the legislature on Wednesday. “Time has come to put private security industry into the light.”
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Questions about the role of security guards across the territory surfaced after two guards were arrested late last month. They are alleged to have pushed an Elder down a flight of stairs in a Yellowknife apartment building.
Separately, in November, the City of Yellowknife said it would conduct an internal review of the circumstances behind a video published online that appeared to show a security guard pushing someone to the ground in the Yellowknife Public Library.
On Wednesday, Hawkins pointed to legislation in other jurisdictions such as British Columbia, Alberta and Ontario that requires security guards to obtain licences to work in each province.
“Canada has already got gold standard legislation. We’re not reinventing the wheel of security legislation, we’re just joining the movement,” said Hawkins.
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He said such legislation would protect workers and the public.
“Our security guards are on the front line, sometimes high-stakes situations, dealing with mental health crisis issues,” said Hawkins. “They’re dealing with complex public safety issues and yet left without the legal compass to help guide them.”
Answering questions from Hawkins, Macdonald committed to reviewing the old legislation.
“I’m happy to take a look at the act and see what’s involved in bringing it to the floor or to review of committee,” said Macdonald.
In an email to Cabin Radio, Hawkins said that after questions were raised in the legislature, he met with Macdonald to discuss the old legislation.
“He wants the two of us to sit down and find a way to bring it back. Once back, we can fix any misalignments (terminology/etc),” Hawkins wrote.
“To be clear, this isn’t a silver bullet, but it creates some action where there is none if we were to [wait] for the development of a new act, which could take 4-10 years.”
After this article was first published, a spokesperson for Macdonald challenged Hawkins’ characterization of his conversation with the minister. The spokesperson said Macdonald had not agreed to revive or reinstate the old legislation but was open to reviewing it.
