Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Mr. Chairman, on behalf of the Standing Committee on Legislation, I am pleased to report on Bill 9, An Act to Amend the Legal Profession Act. The Standing Committee on Legislation has completed its review of Bill 9, an Act to Amend the Legal Profession Act. Public hearings were held in Yellowknife on December 13, 1994. The Law Society of the NWT made a presentation to the committee regarding the amendments proposed in the bill.

The main purpose of Bill 9 is to provide for an efficient, timely and less costly scheme for dealing with disciplinary matters of a relatively minor nature. The amendments contained in the bill come at the request of the Law Society of the NWT. The NWT Legal Profession Act came into force in 1978. The model adopted for the conduct of the disciplinary hearings was a three member committee of inquiry. The cost of conducting a typical one day inquiiy runs at approximately $8,000. The committee heard that the time it takes to convene an inquiry under the three member system is considered to be onerous, often taking months to schedule. Therefore, in order to expedite the discipline process and save costs, the Law Society proposed that hearing could be conducted by a sole inquirer into less serious matters.

Where the complaint against a member of the society could result in suspension, disbarement or the imposition of a heavy fine. the matter would still be referred to a full committee of inquiry. In this manner, the rights of members are still protected.

The standing committee did not hear any remarks opposing the proposed amendments and therefore, on December 13, 1994, the standing committee passed a motion that Bill 9, An Act to Amend the Legal Profession Act, be referred to the Legislative Assembly as ready for consideration in committee of the whole. This concludes the report of the Standing Committee on Legislation.