Thank you, Mr. Chairman. The Standing Committee on Legislation has completed its review of Bill 19, An Act to Amend the Elections Act, No. 2. The committee held a public hearing on this bill on Monday, March 27, 1995 in Yellowknife. The honourable John Pollard, the Government House Leader, appeared to present the bill at the hearing.

In its report to the House on Bill 15, An Act to Amend the Elections Act, the Standing Committee on Legislation recommended that consequential amendments be made to change the qualifications for persons running for office and for sitting Members of the Assembly. The amendments were required to disqualify inmates from being eligible as candidates in an election or to hold public office, even though they will become qualified electors under the amendments of Bill 15.

Mr. Chairman, therefore, Bill 19 proposes to amend the Elections Act to provide that persons in the correctional institutions are not eligible as candidates in an election. Clause 6(2) of the Legislative Assembly and Executive Council Act states that once an elected Member becomes ineligible to be a candidate, he or she must resign their seat. The committee did not receive any presentations from the public on Bill 19. However, the standing committee was satisfied that the proposed amendment addresses a concern expressed during the debate on Bill 15 and the committee is pleased to support Bill 19.

Mr. Chairman, that concludes the standing committee's report on Bill 19, An Act to Amend the Elections Act, No. 2. On March 27, 1995, the committee passed a motion that this bill be reported to the Legislative Assembly as ready for consideration in committee of the whole. That concludes our report. Thank you.