Bill 16, Justice Administration Statutes Amendment Act, 2003

Question has been called. All those in favour? All those opposed? The motion is carried.

---Carried

Bill 16 has had third reading. Bill 21, third reading of bills.

I understand that Her Honour the Commissioner of the Northwest Territories is prepared to enter the Chamber to give assent to bills. Mr. Clerk, would you attend to and escort the Commissioner of the Northwest Territories into the Chamber?

Assent To Bills

Thank you, Mr. Minister. We have a motion. The motion is in order. To the motion.

Mr. Speaker, I move, seconded by the honourable Member for Weledeh, that Bill 16, Justice Administration Statutes Amendment Act, 2003, be read for the third time. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Question has been called. All those in favour, please signify. Thank you. All those opposed? Thank you. The motion is carried.

---Carried

Bill 16 has had second reading and is, therefore, referred to a committee. Item 18, second reading of bills. The honourable Member for Inuvik Twin Lakes, Mr. Allen.

Thank you, Mr. Minister. We have a motion on the floor. The motion is in order. To the principle of the bill.

Mr. Speaker, I move, seconded by the honourable Member for Weledeh, that Bill 16, Justice Administration Statutes Amendment Act, 2003, be read for the second time.

Mr. Speaker, this bill makes minor amendments to six acts that relate to the administration of justice in the Northwest Territories.

1. The Coroners Act - The act is amended to provide that the chief coroner will be paid in accordance with the regulations made under the act. The act is also amended to allow service of summons for coroner's jury duty by mail and by leaving it at the household and to adjust reference to the Yukon territory so as to embrace Nunavut.
2. Corrections Act - The act is amended is extend from 15 to 60 days, the period that an inmate may be released to participate in a correctional extension program.
3. Judicature Act - The act is amended to clarify the powers of the Court of Appeal and the Supreme Court to make rules respecting practice and procedure before the court. The amendments also clarify that the rules may alter or conform to the substantive law as long as they are consistent with other legislation, that the existing rules of each court are valid even if they affect substantive rights.
4. Justice of the Peace Act - The act is amended to adjust the reference to a regional judge of the Territorial Court as this term does not appear elsewhere in legislation.
5. Legal Services Act - The act is amended to remove a limitation that prevents members of the Legal Services Board who are in the Public Service of Canada or the Northwest Territories from being paid the honoraria paid to board members and to provide that board members will receive honoraria and be reimbursed for expenses in accordance with the regulations.
6. Territorial Court Act - The act is amended to extend from 90 days to 120 days:

- the time for the Northwest Territories Judicial Remuneration Commission to deliver its triennial report after its formal commencement on January 1st of the relevant year;

- the time for the Commission to deliver its report where it has accepted a request from the Minister or the chief judge to inquire into matters pertaining to the salaries and benefits of territorial judges;

- and for the Commissioner to implement the recommendations of a report of the commission.

The act is also amended to increase the maximum monetary limit for the civil jurisdiction of Territorial Court judges from $5,000 to $10,000. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Minister. We have a motion. The motion is in order. All those in favour, please signify. All those opposed? Thank you. The motion is carried.

---Carried

Bill 16 has had first reading. Item 17, first reading of bills. The honourable Member for Inuvik Twin Lakes, Mr. Allen.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I move, seconded by the honourable Member for Weledeh, that Bill 16, Justice Administration Statutes Amendment Act, 2003, be read for the first time. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.