Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Mr. Chairman, the Standing Committee on Legislation reviewed Bill 6, an Act to Amend the Commercial Tenancies Act, at its public meeting on December 7, 1992. The committee would like to thank the Minister of Justice, the Honourable Stephen Kakfwi, and his officials for presenting this bill and responding to the questions and comments of committee Members.

Bill 6 would amend the Commercial Tenancies Act to change the date on which a tenant is required to appear in court after being served with a summons. Currently, the act provides that when a tenant fails to pay rent for commercial property, as agreed under the lease, after receiving a written demand for the rent, the landlord may request that a summons be issued by the Supreme Court. The summons would require the tenant to appear in court to explain why the rent has not been paid and why an eviction order should not be granted.

At present, the summons would require the tenant to appear in court three days after being served with a summons. This is not practical because the court cannot be certain as to the date on which service will take place, and a judge may not be available on the date that the tenant is required to appear. This bill would amend this section to require the tenant to appear in court on the date specified in the summons. The clerk of the court can then set a date when a judge will be available. The bill would retain the three day notice period by requiring that the summons must be served upon the tenant at least three days before the date that is specified for the tenant to appear in court.

The committee supported this amendment and carried a motion on December 7, 1992, that Bill 6 be reported to the House as ready for committee of the whole. This concludes our remarks, Mr. Chairman. I invite other committee Members to make additional comments on this bill should they choose to do so. Thank you.