Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Mr. Chairman, the Standing Committee on Government Operations reviewed Bill 17, Division Measures Act, at its meetings on November 16 and 17, 1998. The committee would like to thank the Honourable John Todd and his officials for presenting the bill and responding to the issues raised by the committee.

Bill 17 would amend several acts and regulations so they may be duplicated in effect for both the Northwest Territories and Nunavut after division. The bill also amends some acts that will not be duplicated. Instead, a new act for Nunavut, corresponding to the NWT act, is included in Bill 16, Nunavut Statutes Replacement Act, together with the amendments in the two bills allowing several existing professional associations to continue to regulate their professions in both the Northwest Territories and Nunavut after division. The associations may choose to divide at any time. Any assets and liabilities at that time will be divided as set out in the act, unless the Nunavut members and the NWT members agree otherwise. Generally, the divisions of assets and liabilities will be based on the ratio of members in each territory. As well, this bill would amend the Legislative Assembly Retiring Allowances Act to allow Nunavut and the future Northwest Territories to establish an advisory body to make recommendations to the management and services board of each territory with respect to the administration of the Retiring Allowances Funds. That act and the Supplementary Retiring Allowances Act will be amended to clarify that Nunavut members have the same entitlements to pensions as the western members.

As well, under the proposed amendments to the Statute Revision Act, the Statute Revision Act will be moved back to include all acts enacted up to March 31, 1999, rather than those up to July 1, 1998. Mr. Chairman, some technical amendments were made to the bill in the committee. Otherwise, Members of the standing committee were satisfied that the amendments proposed in this bill are appropriate to be made in preparation for division. This concludes the Standing Committee's comments on Bill 17, Division Measures Act. Thank you, Mr. Chairman.