Thank you, Madam Speaker. I move, seconded by the honourable Member for Hay River, the Honourable John Pollard, that Bill 5, Mine Health and Safety Act, be read for the third time.

Thank you, Madam Speaker and colleagues. Madam Speaker, I move, seconded by the honourable Member for Hay River, that Bill 5, Mine Health and Safety Act, be read for the second time. Madam Speaker, this bill replaces the existing Mining Safety Act with a simpler act that emphasizes the duties and responsibilities of persons engaged in mining, including owners, corporate directors, mine managers, supervisors and workers to ensure occupational health and safety. The bill provides for the establishment of occupational health and safety committees for mines and sets out the responsibility of the committees to conduct work site inspections and to participate in inspections conducted by inspectors. The bill requires mine employees to refuse work that could endanger the health and safety of any person. Mine owners may not discipline or discriminate against employees for actions taken in compliance with this act. The bill sets out the powers of inspectors to inspect or search a mine and the duties of persons at a mine to cooperate with the inspection or a search. An inspector may order immediate remedial action to correct deficiencies at a mine and require the stoppage of work until the remedial action is taken. A decision of an inspector may be appealed to the chief inspector with a further appeal to the Supreme Court. The bill also provides for the appointment of a chief inspector and inspectors, sets out the penalties for offences under the act and regulations and provides for the enactment of regulations respecting mine occupational health and safety. Thank you, Madam Speaker.

Thank you, Madam Speaker, and thank you, colleagues. Madam Speaker, I move, seconded by the honourable Member for Hay River, that Bill 5, Mine Health and Safety Act, be read for the first time.