Question.

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

---Carried

Bill 23 has had first reading. Item 17, first reading of bills. Item 18, second reading of bills. Mr. Pollard.

Thank you, Mr. Pollard. The motion is in order. To the principle of the bill.

Question.

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

---Carried

Bill 21 has had second reading. Item 18, second reading of bills. Minister Nerysoo.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I would like to seek consent of the House to proceed with second reading of Bill 25, Education Act.

The Minister is seeking consent to give second reading to Bill 25. Are there any nays? There are no nays. Please proceed, Mr. Nerysoo.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I move, seconded by the honourable Member for Nunakput, that Bill 25, Education Act, be read for the second time. Mr. Speaker, the purpose of this bill is to create a new Education Act and to repeal the existing Education Act.

Thank you. The motion is in order. To the principle of the bill.

Question.

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

---Carried

Bill 25 has had second reading. Item 18, second reading of bills. Mr. Pollard.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I move, seconded by the honourable Member for Nunakput, that Bill 19, An Act to Amend the Elections Act, No. 2, be read for the second time. Mr. Speaker, this bill amends the Elections Act to provide that inmates are not eligible to be candidates in an election. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Pollard. The motion is in order. To the principle of the bill.

Question.

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

---Carried

Bill 19 has had second reading. Item 18, second reading of bills. Mr. Ng.

Mr. Speaker, I seek consent to give second reading to Bill 24.

The Minister is seeking consent to give second reading to Bill 24. Are there any nays? There are no nays. Please proceed, Mr. Ng.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I move, seconded by the honourable Member for Hay River, that Bill 24, Community Employees' Benefits Act, be read for the second time. Mr. Speaker, this bill repeals and replaces the Municipal Employees' Benefits Act and continues the municipal employees benefits program board as the community employees benefits program board under the new act.

The board is a corporation charged with the responsibility for administering pension and other benefit plans on behalf of the employees of employers that participate in the plans. A range of employers that perform public government functions are eligible to apply to participate in benefit plans administered by the board, including municipal and settlement corporations, public agencies, housing associations and authorities, treaty and land claim organizations, and Indian bands and organizations established to implement the division of the territories.

The board must establish trust funds for the benefit of employees participating in benefit plans and must deposit contributions from employers and employees in the trust funds. In the event of the failure of an employer to pay contributions or to fulfil its obligations under the act and the regulations, the board can suspend or terminate the employer's participation in a benefit plan.

The board is required to prepare an annual report each year, which includes financial statements and an auditor's report and, every three years, the board must have an actuarial evaluation to determine if the trust funds are fully funded. If the trust funds are not fully funded, the board must prepare a financial plan outlining how it proposed to return the trust funds to a position where they are fully funded. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you. The motion is in order. To the principle of the bill.

Question.

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

---Carried

Bill 24 has had second reading. Item 18, second reading of bills. Mr. Pollard.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I seek consent of the House to go to second reading of Bill 20, Loan Authorization Act, 1995-96.

The Minister is seeking consent to give second reading to Bill 20. Are there any nays? There are no nays. Please proceed, Mr. Pollard.