Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker,

I MOVE, seconded by the honourable Member for Inuvik Twin Lakes, that Bill 12, An Act to Amend the Elections Act, be read for the second time.

Mr. Speaker, this bill amends the Elections Act to provide for the appointment of a Deputy Chief Electoral Officer, to fix the term for the appointment of returning officers, and to permit returning officers to vote. The minimum election period is shortened from 45 to 28 days, and various provisions are adjusted to accommodate this change.

New provisions are added to require the establishment of a permanent register of electors, to provide that enumeration may take the form of either a comprehensive "basic enumeration" that creates or replaces the information in the register of electors, or a "confirmation enumeration" that revises and updates the existing information. In addition, provisions are added to govern the use of information collected about electors.

Candidates are given the right to access multi-unit residential buildings and may have their photograph reproduced on the ballot paper.

Special ballots and special mobile polls are introduced as new special voting opportunities, and provisions relating to voting in the office of the returning officer and advanced polls are adjusted. Provisions allowing for proxy voting, mobile polls for outpost camps and polls for correctional institutions are repealed.

Electors are afforded the opportunity to decline a ballot and election officers are required to wear an approved badge at a poll.

A refund of the deposit will be paid to candidates who file the required post-election returns and declarations, and requirements are added for the Chief Electoral Officer, as opposed to the Clerk of the Legislative Assembly, to retain such returns and declarations. Certain restrictions are introduced with respect to the placement of campaign signs and persons who place signs on public property are required to remove them after the election.

In addition, a variety of minor improvements or corrections are made to the act. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.