Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I move, seconded by the honourable Member for Keewatin Central, that Bill 16, Nunavut Statutes Replacement Act, be read for the second time. Mr. Speaker, this bill adjusts the laws of Nunavut by replacing five statutes that presently establish professional associations and provide for the regulation of the members of those associations. Each of the replacement statutes come into force on April 1, 1999.
The present Certified General Accountants' Association Act is repealed and replaced for Nunavut by the Certified General Accountants' Act. The replacement act:
- authorizes the Certified General Accountants' Association of the Northwest Territories to exercise regulatory powers and functions in Nunavut;
- protects certain designations and acronyms associated with certified general accountants and makes it an offence to improperly use those designations and acronyms; and,
- provides that the assets and liabilities of the Certified General Accountants' Association of the Northwest Territories will be divided in the circumstances and in accordance with the process set out in the Certified General Accountants' Association Act (Northwest Territories).
The present Institute of Chartered Accountants Act is repealed and replaced for Nunavut by the Chartered Accountants' Act. The replacement act: - authorizes the Institute of Chartered Accountants of the Northwest Territories to exercise regulatory powers and functions in Nunavut;
- protects certain designations and acronyms associated with chartered accountants and makes it an offence to improperly use those designations and acronyms; and,
- provides that the assets and liabilities of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of the Northwest Territories will be divided in the circumstances and in accordance with the process set out in the Institute of Chartered Accountants Act (Northwest Territories).
The present Society of Management Accountants Act is repealed and replaced for Nunavut by the Management Accountants Act. The replacement act:
- authorizes the Society of Management Accountants of the Northwest Territories to exercise regulatory powers and functions in Nunavut;
- protects the designation "Certified Management Accountant" and acronym "CMA" associated with certified management accountants and makes it an offence to improperly use that designation and acronym; and,
- provides that the assets and liabilities of the Society of Management Accountants of the Northwest Territories will be divided in the circumstances and in accordance with the process set out in the Society of Management Accountants Act (Northwest Territories).
The present Nursing Profession Act is repealed and replaced for Nunavut by the Nursing Act. The replacement act:
- authorizes the Northwest Territories Registered Nursing Association to exercise regulatory powers and functions in Nunavut,
- protects certain designations associated with the profession of nursing, and makes it an offence to improperly use those designations;
- protects nurses from civil liability where medical aid is provided in an emergency; and,
- provides that the assets and liabilities of the Northwest Territories Registered Nurses Association will be divided in the circumstances and in accordance with the process set out in the Nursing Profession Act (Northwest Territories).
In addition, the Disease Registries Act, Emergency Medical Act, Evidence Act, Labour Standards Act and Mental Health Act are each consequently amended for Nunavut to ensure that references to the Nursing Profession Act will continue to relate to the Northwest Territories Nursing Profession Act, rather than to the Nunavut Nursing Act.
The present Engineering, Geological and Geophysical Professions Act is repealed and replaced for Nunavut by the Engineers, Geologists and Geophysicists Act. The replacement act:
- authorizes the Association of Professional Engineers, Geologists and Geophysicists to exercise regulatory powers and functions in Nunavut;
- provides that only a member, licencee or permit holder of the association may practice professional engineering, professional geology or professional geophysics, or hold themselves out by use of a title or designation or by advertising, as a person qualified to practice one of those professions;
- protects the council, Discipline Committee and executive director of the association and persons acting on their instructions from liability; and,
- provides that assets and liabilities of the association will be divided in the circumstances and in accordance with the process set out in the Engineering, Geological and Geophysical Professions Act (Northwest Territories).
In addition, the Condominium Act is consequently amended for Nunavut to ensure that the reference to the Engineering, Geological and Geophysical Professions Act will continue to relate to the Northwest Territories Engineering, Geological and Geophysical Professions Act rather than to the Nunavut Engineers, Geologists and Geophysicists Act. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.