Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I move, seconded by the honourable Member for Nahendeh, that Bill 4, Children's Law Act, be read for the second time. Mr. Speaker, this bill consolidates and reforms the law respecting children in the Territories by:
- re-enacting the provisions, with minor changes, respecting status of children and the establishment of parentage now set out in the Child Welfare Act;
- allowing a court to order testing to determine paternity;
- requiring that issues of custody be determined in accordance with the best interests of the child concerned, with a recognition that differing cultural values and practices must be respected, and setting out factors that must be considered in determining a child's best interests;
- setting out who is entitled to the custody of a child and allowing a person entitled to custody to appoint another person to have any of his or her custodial rights or responsibilities;
- setting out procedures to apply for, vary and enforce custody and access orders;
- providing for the recognition of custody and access orders made outside the Territories and setting out in what circumstances a court in the Territories should or should not exercise jurisdiction to deal with applications for custody and access;
- setting out the procedures to apply for a guardianship order or an order respecting the disposition a child's property;
- allowing a guardian to appoint another person to be guardian for a limited period of time after the death of the appointer;
- setting out who is obligated to provide support for a child and the considerations to be taken into account by a court in determining the amount and form of support;
- setting out the procedures to apply for and vary child support orders.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker.