Northwest Territories Security Law & Trespass Course 2026

1. Question 1 sur 25

   Does the Northwest Territories have a law that licenses security guards and security companies?

   • ANo, there is no territorial security licensing law
   • BYes, guards need a territorial Class A licence
   • CYes, but the licence is needed only in Yellowknife
   • DYes, the RCMP issues licences to all security guards
   Voir la réponse

   Réponse: A. No, there is no territorial security licensing law

   Unlike the provinces, the NWT has no private security licensing law. A 2026 Legislative Assembly committee report noted the lack of regulation and called for legislation.

2. Question 2 sur 25

   In its March 2026 report on the trespass bill, what did the Standing Committee on Social Development recommend about private security?

   • AThat the GNWT urgently create a law to regulate them
   • BThat guards be given the same powers as the police
   • CThat guards become RCMP auxiliary members
   • DThat private security companies be banned in the NWT
   Voir la réponse

   Réponse: A. That the GNWT urgently create a law to regulate them

   Recommendation 4 asked the GNWT to urgently legislate to regulate private security companies, including Northern and Indigenous cultural awareness training.

3. Question 3 sur 25

   Since the NWT has no security licensing law, which of these still governs a guard's powers there?

   • AOnly the guard's own judgment
   • BAlberta's Security Services and Investigators Act
   • CNothing; guards in the NWT can do whatever the client asks
   • DThe Criminal Code of Canada, common law and the employer's policies
   Voir la réponse

   Réponse: D. The Criminal Code of Canada, common law and the employer's policies

   The Criminal Code applies across Canada, along with common law, territorial laws and the employer's policies and post orders. Provincial licensing acts do not apply in the NWT.

4. Question 4 sur 25

   A guard in Yellowknife wears a badge and uniform designed to look like an RCMP officer's. Which law can this break?

   • AThe Fire Prevention Act's rules on uniforms
   • BThe NWT Driver's Manual and Motor Vehicles Act
   • CSection 130 of the Criminal Code
   • DNo law, because the NWT has no uniform rules
   Voir la réponse

   Réponse: C. Section 130 of the Criminal Code

   With no territorial uniform rules, the Criminal Code applies: section 130 makes it an offence to use a badge, uniform or equipment in a way likely to make people think you are a peace officer.

5. Question 5 sur 25

   According to the NWT Department of Justice, how was trespass to private property handled before the territory's new trespass law?

   • ABy other laws and the common law, since the NWT had no trespass act
   • BBy the Safety Act's rules on who may be at a work site
   • CBy Ontario's Trespass to Property Act, which applied in the NWT
   • DBy the Fire Prevention Act's rules on entering buildings
   Voir la réponse

   Réponse: A. By other laws and the common law, since the NWT had no trespass act

   The Department of Justice explained that the NWT lacked an act on trespass to private property, so trespass was dealt with through other laws and the common law.

6. Question 6 sur 25

   Before the NWT's trespass bill, what did the territories have for trespass on private property?

   • AOnly Nunavut had a private property trespass act
   • BAll three territories had full trespass acts
   • CAll three used Alberta's Petty Trespass Act
   • DNone did; Yukon's law covers school grounds only
   Voir la réponse

   Réponse: D. None did; Yukon's law covers school grounds only

   The Department of Justice FAQ notes that all provinces have trespass laws, but no territory had a private property trespass law; Yukon's covers school grounds only.

7. Question 7 sur 25

   Criminal Code section 177 makes it an offence to loiter or prowl, without lawful excuse...

   • Aon any public road or highway in Canada
   • Bin any store or shopping mall during the day
   • Cinside a government office during business hours
   • Dat night on another person's property near a dwelling-house
   Voir la réponse

   Réponse: D. at night on another person's property near a dwelling-house

   Section 177 is narrow: it covers loitering or prowling at night on someone else's property near a dwelling-house. It does not cover most daytime trespass at businesses.

8. Question 8 sur 25

   What is the name of the NWT's first trespass law, Bill 34?

   • AThe Trespass to Premises Act
   • BThe Petty Trespass Act
   • CThe Trespass to Property Act
   • DThe Occupiers' Liability Act
   Voir la réponse

   Réponse: C. The Trespass to Property Act

   Bill 34 is the Trespass to Property Act. It was introduced in October 2025, amended by the Standing Committee on Social Development, and received assent on March 6, 2026.

9. Question 9 sur 25

   When does the NWT Trespass to Property Act take effect?

   • AIt took effect in 1988 along with the Safety Act
   • BNever, because it is only a guideline for owners
   • COn a day set by order, so check that it is in force
   • DOnly in Yellowknife, starting on Canada Day each year
   Voir la réponse

   Réponse: C. On a day set by order, so check that it is in force

   Section 14 says the Act comes into force on a day set by order of the Commissioner. It received assent on March 6, 2026, so always check whether it is in force.

10. Question 10 sur 25

    Besides private property, what else does the Trespass to Property Act cover?

    • ASchools and some interests on public land, like leases
    • BOnly public highways and the land beside them
    • CAll Crown land and lakes in the territory
    • DOnly federal buildings such as post offices
    Voir la réponse

    Réponse: A. Schools and some interests on public land, like leases

    The plain-language summary says the bill covers trespass to private property, to schools, and to certain private interests on public lands, such as leases.

11. Question 11 sur 25

    Under the Trespass to Property Act, which way of giving notice that entry is prohibited is allowed?

    • AOnly by a registered letter sent to the person
    • BOrally, in writing, or by a sign visible in daylight
    • COnly by a sign that is lit up at night
    • DOnly by a court order served by a sheriff
    Voir la réponse

    Réponse: B. Orally, in writing, or by a sign visible in daylight

    The committee report explains that notice may be given orally, in writing, or by a sign visible in daylight under normal conditions.

12. Question 12 sur 25

    Under the Trespass to Property Act, which kind of place needs no notice for entry to be prohibited?

    • AA public library
    • BA hotel lobby
    • CA garden or field
    • DA shopping mall
    Voir la réponse

    Réponse: C. A garden or field

    The Act lists premises where no notice is needed, such as a garden or field.

13. Question 13 sur 25

    A letter carrier walks up to the front door of a building you guard. Under the Trespass to Property Act, what is presumed?

    • APeople may come to a building's door for lawful reasons
    • BThe carrier may be arrested as soon as they arrive
    • COnly the RCMP and bylaw officers may approach the door
    • DThe carrier is trespassing without a written pass
    Voir la réponse

    Réponse: A. People may come to a building's door for lawful reasons

    The Act presumes permission to approach a building's door for lawful purposes such as mail delivery.

14. Question 14 sur 25

    Under the Trespass to Property Act, a person who did nothing wrong on arrival is told by the lawful occupier to leave and refuses. What is the result?

    • AThe occupier must first get a court order to remove them
    • BNothing, because only people who cause damage are trespassers
    • CThe person may stay until the business closes for the day
    • DStaying after being directed to leave is an offence
    Voir la réponse

    Réponse: D. Staying after being directed to leave is an offence

    The Act makes it an offence to remain on premises after being directed to leave by the lawful occupier.

15. Question 15 sur 25

    Committee amendments limited the word "occupier" in the Trespass to Property Act. To whom?

    • ATo licensed security guards and their employers
    • BTo the RCMP and municipal bylaw officers
    • CTo lawful occupiers, such as owners or renters
    • DTo anyone who is standing on the property
    Voir la réponse

    Réponse: C. To lawful occupiers, such as owners or renters

    The first committee amendment limited "occupier" to a lawful occupier.

16. Question 16 sur 25

    Which extra penalty was added to the Trespass to Property Act by committee amendment?

    • ARemoval from the Northwest Territories
    • BA lifetime ban from every business in the community
    • CLoss of the person's driver's licence for a year
    • DAn order banning entry to the premises for up to three years
    Voir la réponse

    Réponse: D. An order banning entry to the premises for up to three years

    An amendment added an order prohibiting entry to a premises for up to three years, and made breaching that order an offence.

17. Question 17 sur 25

    A client asks you to put up "No Trespassing" signs on land the client does not own or lawfully occupy. What does the Trespass to Property Act say?

    • AAnyone may post such signs anywhere they like
    • BSigns have no meaning at all under the Act
    • COnly security guards are allowed to post such signs
    • DPosting them without lawful authority is an offence
    Voir la réponse

    Réponse: D. Posting them without lawful authority is an offence

    A committee amendment created a penalty for posting "no trespassing" signs without lawful authority.

18. Question 18 sur 25

    Who enforces the Trespass to Property Act, according to the committee report?

    • AThe RCMP and other peace officers
    • BThe Fire Marshal and the local fire chiefs
    • COnly the owner of the property, through a lawsuit
    • DPrivate security guards, who may lay charges in court
    Voir la réponse

    Réponse: A. The RCMP and other peace officers

    The RCMP remove trespassers, arrest and prosecute. Only peace officers may arrest under the Act, and the Minister may name other classes of peace officers by regulation. Private security was not given enforcement powers.

19. Question 19 sur 25

    How does the Trespass to Property Act treat Indigenous and treaty rights?

    • ATreaty and other agreements take priority over the Act
    • BTreaty rights apply only on weekends and holidays
    • CThe Act does not deal with these rights at all
    • DThe Act overrides all treaty and Indigenous rights
    Voir la réponse

    Réponse: A. Treaty and other agreements take priority over the Act

    The plain-language summary says these agreements take precedence and the Act is interpreted consistently with existing Indigenous and treaty rights.

20. Question 20 sur 25

    Under Criminal Code section 494(2), who may arrest a person found committing a criminal offence on or in relation to property?

    • AAny person who heard about the offence later
    • BThe property owner or possessor, or someone they authorize
    • COnly the employer of the person who did it
    • DOnly a peace officer, such as an RCMP member
    Voir la réponse

    Réponse: B. The property owner or possessor, or someone they authorize

    Section 494(2) gives this power to the owner or lawful possessor, or a person they authorize. The arrest must be made at the time, or within a reasonable time after if a peace officer cannot feasibly make it.

21. Question 21 sur 25

    You lawfully arrest a shoplifter in Hay River. Under section 494(3), what must you do next?

    • AHold them in a back room until the store closes
    • BRelease them after you take their photo
    • CDrive them to the courthouse in your own car
    • DHand them to a peace officer at once, here the RCMP
    Voir la réponse

    Réponse: D. Hand them to a peace officer at once, here the RCMP

    A private person who arrests must deliver the person to a peace officer forthwith. In the NWT, the police service is the RCMP.

22. Question 22 sur 25

    Under section 494(1)(a), what kind of offence must you find a person committing before anyone may arrest them without a warrant?

    • AA parking violation
    • BA breach of store policy
    • CAn indictable offence
    • DA municipal bylaw infraction
    Voir la réponse

    Réponse: C. An indictable offence

    Section 494(1)(a) lets anyone arrest without a warrant a person they find committing an indictable offence.

23. Question 23 sur 25

    Under Criminal Code section 25(1), how much force may a person use when doing something the law authorizes, such as a lawful arrest?

    • ADouble the force the other person is using
    • BAny amount, as long as the arrest is lawful
    • CAs much as is necessary, on reasonable grounds
    • DNone, because private persons may never use force
    Voir la réponse

    Réponse: C. As much as is necessary, on reasonable grounds

    Section 25(1) protects a person acting on reasonable grounds and allows as much force as is necessary for the purpose. Excess force is not protected.

24. Question 24 sur 25

    Criminal Code section 35 (defence of property) can protect a guard who acts for the person in possession of property. What else must be true of the guard's act?

    • AIt must be approved in advance by the RCMP
    • BIt must cause the person no inconvenience at all
    • CIt must take place only after dark
    • DIt must be reasonable in the circumstances
    Voir la réponse

    Réponse: D. It must be reasonable in the circumstances

    Section 35 covers people acting under the authority of the person in peaceable possession, but the act must be reasonable in the circumstances.

25. Question 25 sur 25

    What is a guard's main role when the Trespass to Property Act applies at a site?

    • AGive clear notice, record it and call the RCMP
    • BIssue tickets to trespassers on the spot
    • CHold trespassers until the next business day
    • DLay trespass charges in Territorial Court
    Voir la réponse

    Réponse: A. Give clear notice, record it and call the RCMP

    Under the Act only peace officers, such as the RCMP, may arrest for trespass, and private security was given no enforcement powers. Guards give notice for the lawful occupier, keep notes and call the RCMP.

Clavier : 1–4 pour répondre, Entrée pour la question suivante.