Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I wish to table the following document entitled Northwest Territories 2001-2002 Public Accounts. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, further to my Return to Written Question 3-14(5), I wish to table the following document entitled Application of the Business Incentive Policy to Tendered Contracts, Department of Public Works and Services, 2001-2002. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Mr. Speaker, I have three notices of motion for the first reading of bills. Mr. Speaker, I give notice that on Friday, October 18, 2002, I will move that Bill 24, An Act to Amend the Workers' Compensation Act, be read for the first time. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Mr. Speaker, I give notice that on Friday, October 18, 2002, I will move that Bill 25, Supplementary Appropriation Act, No. 4, 2001-2002, be read for the first time.

Mr. Speaker, I also give notice that on Friday, October 18, 2002, I will move that Bill 26, Supplementary Appropriation Act, No. 2, 2002-2003, be read for the first time. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

I would like to call the committee of the whole to order. We have several items to deal with. Tabled document 35-14(5) and Bills 15, 18, 19 and 21. What is the wish of the committee? Mr. Dent.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I would like to recommend that the committee consider Bill 15, followed by Bill 18, followed by Bill 19 and then Bill 21.

Does the committee agree?

We will take a short break and start with Bill 15.

-- Break

I would like to call committee of the whole back to order. We are dealing with Bill 15, An Act to Amend the Real Estate Agents' Licensing Act. At this time, I would like to ask the Minister if he has any opening comments. Mr. Minister.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Mr. Chairman, yes, I have opening comments. Mr. Chairman, this bill will amend the Real Estate Agents' Licensing Act to remove the requirement that real estate agents be residents of the Northwest Territories to be licensed. This change complies with the labour mobility provisions of the Agreement on Internal Trade, which the Government of the Northwest Territories signed in 1994. This change also ensures that the Government of the Northwest Territories is not open to a possible court challenge under the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms. Similar changes have already been made, or will be made shortly, in all other Canadian provinces and territories.

The department does not anticipate an increase in the number of southern agencies doing business in the Northwest Territories as a result of this change. The act will still retain specific requirements that agencies maintain a local business office, have Northwest Territories trust accounts and meet Northwest Territories bonding and educational requirements. This information was made available to Northwest Territories agents during initial consultation and again during July of this year when the department received several inquiries about the proposed bill.

Northern real estate representatives acknowledge that all southern jurisdictions are adopting similar changes and as such, they have indicated no further issues with this proposal. I look forward to answering the committee's questions on this bill. Thank you, Mr. Chairman.

Thank you, Mr. Steen. At this time, I would like to ask the committee responsible for overseeing and reviewing Bill 15 if they have any comments. Mr. Roland.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. The Standing Committee on Governance and Economic Development conducted a public review of Bill 15, An Act to Amend the Real Estate Agents' Licensing Act, on August 27, 2002. The committee would like to thank the Minister of Municipal and Community Affairs and his officials for presenting the bill.

The bill would remove the current requirement for a real estate agent to live in the Northwest Territories in order to be licensed to be a real estate agent in this jurisdiction.

The reason for the change is the Northwest Territories' participation in the Agreement on Internal Trade, which came into effect July 1, 1995, with the goal of reducing and eliminating barriers to trade within Canada. While certain programs such as the Business Incentive Policy and Affirmative Action Policy are exempt from the AIT, the residency requirement within the Northwest Territories Real Estate Agents' Licensing Act was the only area in which the Northwest Territories contravened this agreement.

The committee asked whether the Northwest Territories was obligated to pass this legislation. The department stated that the amendment was not only required to comply with the agreement but that the current Real Estate Agents' Licensing Act could be challenged as a violation of the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms Act.

Further, the committee asked if the department had undertaken consultation on the proposed change to the act. The department stated that there are currently six agencies licensed under the act and that all agencies were contacted verbally. The only concern expressed during consultation was a wish to see the current requirement for a real estate agent to maintain a business office in the Northwest Territories be upheld.

Mr. Chairman, following the committee's review, a motion was carried to report Bill 15, An Act to Amend the Real Estate Agents' Licensing Act, to the Assembly as ready for committee of the whole. Additional comments or questions of Members may be posed as we proceed. Thank you, Mr. Chairman.

Thank you, Mr. Roland. At this time, I would like to ask the Minister if he will be bringing in any witnesses. Mr. Steen.

Yes, Mr. Chairman.