Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Thank you, colleagues. I move, seconded by the honourable Member for Nahendeh, that Bill 10, Budget Measures Implementation Act, 1996-97, be read for the third time. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I move, seconded by the honourable Member for Tu Nedhe, that Bill 10, Budget Measures Implementation Act, 1996-97, be read for the second time.

Mr. Speaker, this bill makes legislative changes to enable the Government of the Northwest Territories to implement the budget for the 1996-97 fiscal year. The bill amends a number of acts and repeals two acts. The amendments and repeal provisions are placed in separate schedules organized by subject matter.

The Deficit Elimination Act is amended to provide that the deficit for the 1996-97 fiscal year must not exceed $45 million. The deficit for the 1997-98 fiscal year must not exceed two per cent of revenues and there must not be a deficit in the 1998-99 fiscal year. If deficit targets are exceeded in either the 1996-97 or 1997-98 fiscal years, the budget must be adjusted by an offsetting amount in the next fiscal year.

The Legislative Assembly and Executive Council Act is amended to replace the Conflict of Interest Commission with a single Conflict of Interest Commissioner who has the authority to conduct hearings into complaints against Members of the Legislative Assembly. The Conflict of Interest Commissioner will have the discretion to refuse to conduct a hearing into a complaint where he or she considers that the complaint is frivolous or was not filed in good faith or where there are insufficient grounds to warrant the hearing.

The Legislative Assembly Retiring Allowances Act is amended to change the vesting period for a pension to four years or a full term of the Legislative Assembly.

The Supplementary Retiring Allowances Act is amended to change the vesting period for a supplementary pension for returning Members to six years or a full term of the Legislative Assembly and to end the supplementary plan in respect of all new and future Members of the Legislative Assembly. An amount equal to the amount contributed by the new Members under the Legislative Assembly Retiring Allowances Act plus interest will be paid out to new Members when they cease their service as Members of the Legislative Assembly.

Both the Legislative Assembly Retiring Allowances Act and the Supplementary Retiring Allowances Act are amended to allow a Member or former Member who does not have a spouse or dependent child to designate a beneficiary to receive a lump sum payment when the Member or former Member dies. This will apply in the case of a Member or former Member who has not received an allowance before he or she dies, as well as in the case of a Member who is receiving an allowance when he or she dies.

It's kind of morbid, isn't it, talking about death?

Regional councils established by the Regional Councils Act are dissolved. Assets and liabilities are transferred to the Government of the Northwest Territories, but the Minister is authorized to distribute assets to municipalities, settlements, bands and other organizations that provide public services within the area previously served by the regional council.

A repeal of the Regional Councils Act will be brought into effect by a Commissioner's order. The Lotteries Act will be consequentially amended at that time to remove a reference to regional councils.

The Charter Communities Act and the Hamlets Act are amended to remove the requirement for ministerial approval of a by-law that levies charges for water supply or for the use of a sewage or drainage system.

The Criminal Injuries Compensation Act is repealed on June 1, 1996. The act will continue to apply to existing compensation awards and to claims that have been made, but not determined, before June 1, 1996.

And I'm putting my colleagues to sleep.

The Legal Services Act is amended to provide that the provision of legal aid may be limited to the payment of disbursements.

The Condominium Act is amended to permit the owner of a leasehold estate in land to establish a condominium.

The Workers' Compensation Act is amended to transfer responsibility for the administration of the Mine Health and Safety Act, the Safety Act and the Explosives Use Act from the Department of Safety and Public Services to the Workers' Compensation Board. A number of minor amendments are made to the Explosives Use Act, the Mine Health and Safety Act and the Safety Act to accord with this transfer of responsibility.

Thank you for your patience, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I move, seconded by the honourable Member for Tu Nedhe, that Bill 10, Budget Measures Implementation Act, 1996-97, be read for the first time. Thank you.