This is page numbers 115 - 148 of the Hansard for the 12th Assembly, 7th Session. The original version can be accessed on the Legislative Assembly's website or by contacting the Legislative Assembly Library. The word of the day was chairman.

Topics

Bill 5: An Act To Amend The Maintenance Act
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

Page 141

The Chair John Ningark

Thank you. Mr. Minister.

Bill 5: An Act To Amend The Maintenance Act
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

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Stephen Kakfwi

Stephen Kakfwi Sahtu

Mr. Chairman. There is some reason to make suggestions that we are making some moral judgements, perhaps, whether explicitly or implicitly. We could have come forward with legislation that said we want to provide protection for spouses where they are of the same sex. However, I would suggest that it would receive almost no support in this Legislature for that. Unless you unanimously jump up and prove me wrong, I'd be prepared to go back and redraft but that's the indicators I've got so we didn't do it. These provisions, I felt, were required to address hundreds of cases where couples now living common-law have no protection. The Member's not listening so I don't know why I'm bothering to talk to him. He wants to make a speech and then whirl around at his desk and expound to other Members; there should be the same respect accorded to me because I'm proposing the legislation. There are good provisions in this legislation, I believe. I think there's good legislation here and it can provide some protection. It's limited, yes, because its specific amendments. There are other amendments, other proposals that are going to come forward in a larger package

as part of the family law reform but at this time this is what we are proposing and I suggest that we should go ahead with it.

Bill 5: An Act To Amend The Maintenance Act
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

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The Chair John Ningark

Thank you. General comments. Mr. Dent.

Bill 5: An Act To Amend The Maintenance Act
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

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Charles Dent

Charles Dent Yellowknife Frame Lake

Mr. Chairman, I agree wholeheartedly with the Minister that we should go ahead with this legislation. It's unfortunate that he seems to be a little bit sensitive to criticism today but I think that this bill -- and I raised my concerns about this bill at committee so it's not as if he hasn't heard some of them before -- I think that this bill could have been better, it could have protected people better and I'm sorry that it doesn't. Right now, they have no protection so I've always said, yes, we have to proceed with this bill. I certainly don't feel bad for pointing out what I see as weaknesses in this bill. Thank you, Mr. Chairman.

Bill 5: An Act To Amend The Maintenance Act
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

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The Chair John Ningark

Thank you. I guess when Bill 5 has come into force, I think it will be subject to the interpretation by the court of law and thereby subject to an appeal. Mr. Minister, do you have any further comments or response? Clause 4, agreed.

Bill 5: An Act To Amend The Maintenance Act
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

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Some Hon. Members

Agreed.

---Agreed

Bill 5: An Act To Amend The Maintenance Act
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

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The Chair John Ningark

Thank you. I think that concludes this bill. The bill as a whole, agreed?

Bill 5: An Act To Amend The Maintenance Act
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

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Some Hon. Members

Agreed.

---Agreed

Bill 5: An Act To Amend The Maintenance Act
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

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The Chair John Ningark

Does the committee agree that Bill 5, An Act to Amend the Maintenance Act, is ready for third reading?

Bill 5: An Act To Amend The Maintenance Act
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

Page 141

Some Hon. Members

Agreed.

---Agreed

Bill 7: An Act To Amend The Co-operative Associations Act
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

February 15th, 1995

Page 141

The Chair John Ningark

Bill 5 is now ready for third reading. We shall move on to Bill 7, An Act to Amend the Co-operative Associations Act. Mr. Kakfwi, if you wish to introduce your bill, you could do it from your seat. Who is it? Oh, somebody else then. I would like to thank the witnesses, a little bit late, for appearing before the committee. I am told it's Mr. John Todd, from Rankin Inlet. Please proceed, Mr. Todd.

Minister's Introductory Remarks

Bill 7: An Act To Amend The Co-operative Associations Act
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

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John Todd Keewatin Central

Mr. Chairman, recently the Department of Economic Development and Tourism, in conjunction with the Department of Justice, introduced legislation in support of changes to the NWT Cooperative Associations Act.

In order to encourage the formation and growth of northern cooperatives, the Cooperative Associations Act requires certain amendments. Our co-ops need to have improved access to capital in order to expand. In addition, procedures need to be put in place that simplify and streamline the set-up and running of cooperatives.

The amendments presented today will enable our cooperatives to raise needed capital by amending their share structure to allow for preferred shareholders while maintaining control at the local level. These amendments will also update the wording of the act and remove administrative processes which have been bureaucratic and redundant.

During the Standing Committee on Legislation's review of these amendments, two motions were made to revise the proposed act. The first motion moved that the Minister of Justice may appoint a registrar of cooperative associations to carry out the duties set out in this act. The second motion moved that the Minister responsible for Economic Development and Tourism may appoint the supervisor of cooperative associations to carry out the duties set out in this act. The department is pleased to support these motions.

Mr. Chairman, these amendments allow the people of the Northwest Territories to have a direct say in their economic future. When the people in our communities are working together, as they do in local cooperatives, many of the problems that they face can be solved locally and in a manner consistent with the desires of the community, itself. Thank you, Mr. Chairman.

Bill 7: An Act To Amend The Co-operative Associations Act
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

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The Chair John Ningark

Thank you, Mr. Minister. On behalf of the Standing Committee on Legislation which reviewed the bill, I believe Mr. Whitford has some remarks.

Standing Committee On Legislation Comments

Bill 7: An Act To Amend The Co-operative Associations Act
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

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Tony Whitford

Tony Whitford Yellowknife South

Mr. Chairman, the Standing Committee on Legislation has completed its review of Bill 7, An Act to Amend the Co-operative Associations Act.

Bill 7 proposes to amend the current legislation to provide a mechanism for cooperative associations to increase their capital through the issuing of preferred shares. Nevertheless, Bill 7 is primarily composed of amendments of a housekeeping nature.

Bill 7 would amend the legislation to make more specific the step-by-step procedures that are necessary to: obtain certificates of extra-territorial registration; make or modify association by-laws; amend or alter the associations' memorandum of association; and amalgamate associations.

Bill 7 proposes to provide the Minister with the authority to order an inquiry into the affairs of an association and the authority to order the registrar to dissolve an association or appoint an administrator to an association. Currently, these authorities are granted to the Commissioner.

During the standing committee's public review of the amendments contained in Bill 7, the committee noted that the bill did not include an amendment for the Minister to designate the supervisor position and the registrar position. These appointments are currently made by the Commissioner. Members of the standing committee felt that, for consistency and accountability, the Co-operative Association Act should be amended to allow the Minister of Justice and the Minister of Economic Development and Tourism to appoint incumbents to the positions of registrar and supervisor, respectively.

Therefore, the Standing Committee on Legislation recommends that the Cooperative Associations Act be amended to allow the Minister of Justice to appoint the Registrar of Cooperative Associations and the Minister of Economic Development and Tourism to appoint the Supervisor of Cooperative Associations.

This concludes the Standing Committee on Legislation's report on the review of Bill 7, An Act to Amend the Co-operative Associations Act.

Bill 7: An Act To Amend The Co-operative Associations Act
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

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The Chair John Ningark

Thank you. Mr. Whitford, is there a motion? Okay. Before I open the floor for general comments, I would like to ask the honourable Minister, Mr. Todd, if he would like to bring in the witness or witnesses? Mr. Todd.

Bill 7: An Act To Amend The Co-operative Associations Act
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

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John Todd Keewatin Central

Yes, please.

Bill 7: An Act To Amend The Co-operative Associations Act
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

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The Chair John Ningark

Is it agreed?

Bill 7: An Act To Amend The Co-operative Associations Act
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

Page 142

Some Hon. Members

Agreed.

---Agreed

Bill 7: An Act To Amend The Co-operative Associations Act
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

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The Chair John Ningark

Thank you. Mr. Minister, if you recognize the witnesses, could you introduce them to the committee?

Bill 7: An Act To Amend The Co-operative Associations Act
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

Page 142

John Todd Keewatin Central

Sorry?

Bill 7: An Act To Amend The Co-operative Associations Act
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

Page 142

The Chair John Ningark

Mr. Todd, if you recognize your witnesses, would you please introduce them to the committee?

---Laughter

Bill 7: An Act To Amend The Co-operative Associations Act
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

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John Todd Keewatin Central

On my immediate left, is Ms. Carol Whitehouse, who is legal counsel for the Legislative Assembly; and, to my immediate right, is Gary MacDougall, who is the director of legal registries, Mr. Chairman.

Bill 7: An Act To Amend The Co-operative Associations Act
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

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The Chair John Ningark

Thank you very much, Mr. Todd. Bill 7, An Act to Amend the Co-operative Associations Act. General comments from the floor. Shall we go clause by clause?

Bill 7: An Act To Amend The Co-operative Associations Act
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

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Some Hon. Members

Agreed.

---Agreed

Clause By Clause

Qujannamiik. Bill 7, An Act to Amend the Co-operative Associations Act. Clause 1.

Bill 7: An Act To Amend The Co-operative Associations Act
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

Page 142

Some Hon. Members

Agreed.

---Agreed