Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Mr. Chairman, the Justice Statutes Amendment Act makes minor amendments to seven statutes administered by the Department of Justice. These amendments correct errors in these statutes or make minor adjustments to introduce efficiencies or improvements. I will briefly summarize the changes.

1. The Coroner's Act is amended to authorize the coroner to investigate a death even though the body has been destroyed, is in a place from which it cannot be recovered such as deep water, or has been taken out of the Northwest Territories. The amendments would also clarify that only a qualified pathologist may perform an autopsy and would delete the requirement that pituitary glands be removed during an autopsy, as that practice is no longer followed. Finally, the amendment would correct a number of instances where the word "coroner" is misspelled.
2. The Corrections Act is amended to remove reference to "remission of sentence earned by an inmate after July 1, 1978" as there are no longer territorial inmates serving sentences back to that date. A number of references to federal statutes or institutions are also adjusted to reflect federal legislative changes.
3. The Judicature Act is amended to permit the senior judge of the Supreme Court to convene meetings of the judges of that court to consider administration of justice issues. Any cost associated with such meetings would be paid by the federal government under the authority of the Federal Judges Act. This amendment has been requested by the senior judge of the Supreme Court. A mechanism is also put in place so that the references to senior judge of the Supreme Court will be changed to chief justice of the Supreme Court when that position has been created by an amendment to the Federal Judges Act and the bringing into force of the 1995 amendments to the Judicature Act that will ultimately create the position of chief justice of the Supreme Court.
4. Presently the registrar of security has the authority to exempt an applicant from requirements of the Securities Act. The act would be amended to clarify that the registrar of security may make an order exempting an applicant from the requirements of the regulations as well as those of the act.
5. The Societies Act is amended to clarify that one or more deputy registrars of society may be appointed to act on behalf of the registrar of societies.
6. The Statutes Revision Act is amended to provide that the Northwest Territories Statutes Revision will include statutory material enacted before January 1, 2000 rather than before the previous cut-off date of April 1, 1999 and to limit the items that must be included in the report submitted to the Minister of Justice by the statute revision commissioner. Minor errors in the act are also corrected.
7. The Territorial Court Act is amended to make minor amendments to the provisions relating to the Northwest Territories Judicial Remuneration Commission, including extending from 60 to 90 days the time available to the commission to hold an inquiry and submit its report on the salaries and benefits of territorial judges; extending from 60 to 90 days the time available for the government to implement the recommendations of the commission and clarifying that implementation will take place on April 1 of the year the commission report is provided to the Minister. The act also amended to substitute references to the chief justice of the Supreme Court for existing reference to the senior judge of the Supreme Court. These amendments would not come into force until the position of the chief justice of the Supreme Court has been created.

Mr. Chairman, at the appropriate time, I will bring forward a motion to add commencement and transitional provision to amendments to the Territorial Court Act in Bill 8. These provisions are necessary to ensure that an upcoming inquiry of the Northwest Territories Judicial Remuneration Commission can proceed under clear and stable rules. Mr. Chairman, I and my officials would be pleased to answer the committee's questions. Mahsi cho, Mr. Chairman.

Yes, Mr. Chairman.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Mr. Chairman, to my left is Gerry Sutton, he is the acting deputy minister of Justice, and to my right, Mark Aitken, he is the director of legislation division. Thank you.

Agreed.

Agreed.

Agreed.

Agreed.

Agreed.

Agreed.

Agreed.

Agreed.