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Bill 59, An Act to Amend the Elections and Plebiscites Act

Government Bill

19th Assembly, 2nd Session

Introduced on Oct. 26, 2022

Events

Timeline of key legislative events

  • First Reading
    Completed Oct. 26, 2022 (Debate | Vote)
  • Second Reading
    Completed Oct. 27, 2022 (Debate | Vote)
  • Third Reading
    Completed Nov. 1, 2022 (Debate | Vote)
  • Commissioner's Assent
    Completed Nov. 3, 2022 (Debate)
  • Status

    Bill Text



    Related Votes

    Nov. 1, 2022 Passed Third Reading of Bill 59: An Act to Amend the Elections and Plebiscites Act, Carried
    Oct. 27, 2022 Passed Second Reading of Bill 59: An Act to Amend the Elections and Plebiscite Act, Carried
    Oct. 26, 2022 Passed First Reading of Bill 59: An Act to Amend the Elections and Plebiscites Act

    Discussion & Mentions

    Assent to Bills
    Third Reading Of Bills

    November 3rd, 2022

    Page 5083


    See context

    The Commissioner Of The Northwest Territories Margaret M. Thom

    Mahsi, Please be seated. Good afternoon, Madam Speaker, Premier Cochrane, Ministers, Members of the Legislative Assembly, staff and visitors in the public gallery. [No Translation].

    Thank you, it is always a great feeling and an honour to be here and see all of you. Thank you for your ongoing commitment and hard work on behalf of the people of the Northwest Territories.

    With deep respect, I acknowledge and am reminded that we are on Chief Drygeese traditional territory, home to the Yellowknives Dene, the North Slave Metis, and Inuit. We are grateful to live, to work, to celebrate on your sacred lands and to welcome as visitors.

    I further extend my respect to all Indigenous, Metis, Inuit, and non-Indigenous people who make the Northwest Territories their home. It is my honour to take this moment to remember the dedication and proud service made by current and past brave members of the Canadian Armed Forces.

    Remembrance Day is Friday, November 11th, and it is a day when we remember and honour all who left their homes and families to fight for our country and, more importantly, for our freedoms. Some of these brave men and women never returned home. They died serving Canada.

    As your Commissioner, I will proudly take part in the Remembrance Day ceremony in Hay River this year, and I will remember and honour the fallen and their ultimate sacrifice for our country.

    It is with deep respect and pride that I mention a postage stamp that was issued by Canada Post on October 17th. It shows Sergeant Thomas "Tommy" George Prince in his Korean War uniform. Sergeant Prince is one of Canada's most decorated Indigenous war veterans and was a prominent Anishinaabe activist. He served Canada in World War II and in the Korean War. He died in 1977.

    November 8 is Indigenous Veteran's Day, and on that day, I will remember and honour all Indigenous veterans by participating in the wreath ceremony at Lakeview Cemetery here in Yellowknife.

    As this sitting comes to an end, I would like to wish each and every one of you good health, happiness, prosperity, a time for relaxation and a balanced lifestyle. Enjoy the blessed season that is soon upon us with your families and your constituents.

    In closing, may each of you be gifted with continued guidance and vision as you work together cooperatively for the betterment of all residents of the Northwest Territories. I wish you all safety in your journey home to your loved ones.

    Now, as Commissioner of the Northwest Territories, I am pleased to assent to the following bills:

    • Bill 48, Arbitration Act;
    • Bill 52, Elevators and Lifts Act;
    • Bill 53, An Act to Amend the Liquor Act;
    • Bill 58, An Act to Amend the Legislative Assembly and Executive Council Act, No. 2;
    • Bill 59, An Act to Amend the Elections and Plebiscites Act;
    • Bill 69, Supplementary Appropriation Act (Infrastructure Expenditures), No. 2, 2022-2023;
    • Bill 70, Supplementary Appropriation Act (Operations Expenditures), No. 2, 2022- 2023;
    • Bill 71, Appropriation Act (Infrastructure Expenditures), 2023-2024.

    Masi cho. Thank you. Quyananni. Merci Beaucoup. Koana.

    Recorded Vote
    Third Reading Of Bills

    November 1st, 2022

    Page 5009


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    The Deputy Speaker

    The Deputy Speaker Lesa Semmler

    All those abstaining, please rise. The results of the recorded vote is 15 in favour, one opposed, zero abstentions. The motion is carried. Bill 59 has had third reading.

    ---Carried

    Third reading of bills. Orders of the day. Madam Clerk.

    Recorded Vote
    Third Reading Of Bills

    November 1st, 2022

    Page 5009


    See context

    Clerk Of The House Mr. Tim Mercer

    The Member for Yellowknife North.

    Recorded Vote
    Third Reading Of Bills

    November 1st, 2022

    Page 5009


    See context
    The Deputy Speaker

    The Deputy Speaker Lesa Semmler

    All those opposed, please rise.

    Recorded Vote
    Third Reading Of Bills

    November 1st, 2022

    Page 5009


    See context

    Clerk Of The House Mr. Tim Mercer

    The Member for Hay River South, the Member for Thebacha, the Member for Kam Lake, the Member for Frame Lake, the Member for Nunakput, the Member for Monfwi, the Member for Great Slave, the Member for Nahendeh, the Member for Yellowknife South, the Member for Sahtu, the Member for Range Lake, the Member for Inuvik Boot Lake, the Member for Yellowknife Centre, the Member for Hay River North, the Member for Deh Cho.

    Bill 59: An Act to Amend the Elections and Plebiscites Act, Carried
    Third Reading Of Bills

    November 1st, 2022

    Page 5008


    See context
    The Deputy Speaker

    The Deputy Speaker Lesa Semmler

    Question has been called. All those in favour? Oh, sorry. Is it a recorded -- all right. The Member has requested a recorded vote. All those in favour, please rise.

    Bill 59: An Act to Amend the Elections and Plebiscites Act, Carried
    Third Reading Of Bills

    November 1st, 2022

    Page 5008


    See context

    Some Hon. Members

    Agreed.

    Bill 59: An Act to Amend the Elections and Plebiscites Act, Carried
    Third Reading Of Bills

    November 1st, 2022

    Page 5008


    See context
    The Deputy Speaker

    The Deputy Speaker Lesa Semmler

    To the motion.

    Bill 59: An Act to Amend the Elections and Plebiscites Act, Carried
    Third Reading Of Bills

    November 1st, 2022

    Page 5008


    See context
    Rylund Johnson

    Rylund Johnson Yellowknife North

    Thank you, Madam Speaker. I'd like to, again, rise in my opposition to clause 12 of this bill which will prohibit cannabis sales on polling day. I want to clarify how committee got here.

    They started with a recommendation that said, from the Chief Electoral Officer, as recommended in 2015, this subsection in the Election and Plebiscites Act unfairly penalizes business owners. There is no data available to support a view that the sale of liquor, retail or in establishment, has any bearing in polling day turnout. Most Canadian jurisdictions have eliminated this requirement. And then, somehow, we ended up instead of listening to our Chief Electoral Officer and the Chamber of Commerce and numerous businesses' repeated requests to get rid of liquor on polling day, we are adding cannabis.

    I also want to clarify the committee seems to think and were originally bringing forward that this will bring some consistency. However, this will only prohibit cannabis if passed on territorial election day. You can still sell cannabis on municipal election days, federal election days, and municipal election days.

    Additionally, the Minister of Finance has recently in their liquor legislation review stated that they will remove the requirement on the prohibition of selling alcohol on polling day. This is actually found in the liquor regulations. It does not require legislative amendment. So the Minister can and should make that change any day. But here we are, once again, making it illegal to sell cannabis every day -- every four years once a day for really no reason at all.

    When the Cannabis Act was passed, it did not include this section. There's no intention as far as I can tell by the Liquor Act or the Cannabis Act to prohibit the selling. It is really just this one motion being brought forward today.

    Unfortunately, this morning when I wanted to delete this, I forgot to get a seconder. I have no idea whether I have any support for this or if I am alone but should any Member wish to second a motion deleting clause 12, that would be greatly appreciated or else perhaps this will just go up in smoke. Thank you, Madam Speaker.

    Bill 59: An Act to Amend the Elections and Plebiscites Act, Carried
    Third Reading Of Bills

    November 1st, 2022

    Page 5008


    See context
    The Deputy Speaker

    The Deputy Speaker Lesa Semmler

    Thank you. The motion is in order. To the motion. Member for Yellowknife North.

    Bill 59: An Act to Amend the Elections and Plebiscites Act, Carried
    Third Reading Of Bills

    November 1st, 2022

    Page 5008


    See context
    Rocky Simpson

    Rocky Simpson Hay River South

    Thank you, Madam Speaker. Madam Speaker, I move, seconded by the honourable Member for Hay River North, that Bill 59, An Act to Amend the Elections and Plebiscites Act, be read for a third time. And Madam Speaker, I am requesting a recorded vote. Thank you.

    Bill 59: An Act to Amend the Elections and Plebiscite Act, Carried
    Second Reading Of Bills

    October 27th, 2022

    Page 4884


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    The Speaker

    The Speaker Frederick Blake Jr.

    Question has been called. All those in favour? All those opposed? Any abstentions? The motion is carried. Bill 59 has had second reading.

    ---Carried

    Member for Hay River South.

    Bill 59: An Act to Amend the Elections and Plebiscite Act, Carried
    Second Reading Of Bills

    October 27th, 2022

    Page 4884


    See context

    Some Hon. Members

    Question.

    Bill 59: An Act to Amend the Elections and Plebiscite Act, Carried
    Second Reading Of Bills

    October 27th, 2022

    Page 4884


    See context
    The Speaker

    The Speaker Frederick Blake Jr.

    Thank you, Member for Hay River South. The motion is in the order. To the motion.

    Bill 59: An Act to Amend the Elections and Plebiscite Act, Carried
    Second Reading Of Bills

    October 27th, 2022

    Page 4884


    See context
    Rocky Simpson

    Rocky Simpson Hay River South

    This bill amends the Elections and Plebiscite Act to implement proposed changes identified by the Chief Electoral Officer in their report following the 2019 General Election and the Legislative Assembly's Committee of the Whole after reviewing the Legislative Assembly Standing Committee on rules and procedures report to the Legislative Assembly on February 23rd, 2021, and its motions of March 30th, 2021. Additional amendments are proposed as modernized language. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.