Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I am pleased to present amendments to the Elections Act contained in Bill 23. It is fitting that these amendments are being considered today. As noted, it is the second anniversary of our election to this 13th Assembly. The bill before you today is the result of input from a number of sources. It is normal practice after each general election that the Chief Electoral Officer provide a report to the Legislative Assembly on the conduct of the election. After the general election that led to this 13th Legislative Assembly, the CEO provided a report that made a number of recommendations to improve the election process in the Northwest Territories. The CEOs report entitled, Look into the Future, was tabled on May 3, 1996, and was referred to the Standing Committee on Government Operations for review and comment. The report of the Standing Committee on Government Operations was presented in the House and debated in committee of the whole. Subsequently, the House adopted recommendations and provided direction to the management and services board and government to prepare amendments to the Elections Act.
Mr. Chairman, the bill before us today provides amendments that permit voting in the office of the returning officer, provide for mail-in voting, clarify the procedures for enquiring into and prosecuting violations of the Act, clarifying the circumstances under which proxy votes may be used, restrict election related spending in the six-month period preceding the commencement of an election campaign, and provide that a tie vote resulting after recount will be resolved by the holding of a new election. Mr. Chairman, the bill also makes technical amendments, standardizing provisions for posting of notices, changing the day on which nominations close, clarifying the offensive of voting more than once in an election and providing a number of other minor changes to the Act.
Mr. Chairman, the effect of a number of these amendments will extend opportunities to voters to exercise the right to vote. These amendments will, as indicated, allow voting at the office of the returning officer and for mail-in ballots. These are two new methods not presently offered under the NWT Elections Act. The amendments before committee of the whole today have significantly tightened up the circumstances by which an eligible voter may apply for a proxy certificate.
Mr. Chairman, in addition to the recommendations adopted by the Assembly that required the drafting of amendments, there was a recommendation concerning the appointment of a resident CEO for the Northwest Territories. The CEO for Canada, in his report on the election for the 13th Assembly, recommended that firm decisions be reached on a structure for electoral administration for the two new territories, with two electoral offices to be operational by April, 1997.
Mr. Chairman, the Premier on the recommendation of the Standing Committee on Government Operations and the Legislature wrote to the Privy Council office to effect negotiations for the transfer of the financial resources to run elections in the north. I can advise that the negotiations have gone well and the transfer is in its final stages and will need final approval of the federal and territorial Cabinets. Once this is concluded, the Legislative Assembly will be in a position to appoint our first resident Chief Electoral Officer.
Mr. Chairman, each electoral event brings new administrative and legal issues to light and serves as a source of new ideas for improvements. The amendments before you today are offered to improve our electoral system in the north and to ensure it continues to meet the highest standards, thus affording electors in the north the ability to exercise their franchise. Thank you, Mr. Chairman.