Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I move, seconded by the honourable Member for Aivilik, that Bill 7, An Act to Amend the Territorial Court Act, be read for the second time. Mr. Speaker,
This bill reforms the process for appointment and discipline of territorial court judges. It establishes a judicial appointments advisory committee to make recommendations to the Commissioner in Executive Council, respecting the appointment of territorial judges. The advisory committee will be composed of territorial judges, representatives of the Law Society of the Northwest Territories and members of the public must take into account the ethnic and gender composition of the Northwest Territories.
The bill changes the composition of the judicial council and provides for the appointment of lay members to be made by the Commissioner in Executive Council. It also changes the grounds and methods for the discipline of territorial judges, including the removal of territorial judges.
The bill gives the chief judge power to establish a plan for continuing education and a program of performance evaluation for territorial judges.
The bill also repeals the definition youth court judge since it is not used in the body of the act. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.