Thank you, Mr. Delorey. The honourable Minister responsible for the Department of Transportation, Mr. Handley -- three little questions.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The BIP registry is kept in the BIP office, which is located in RWED in headquarters. There is a BIP web page where anyone can have access to it and see who is registered and where they are. It is done through Yellowknife, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Minister. The time for oral questions has ended. Item 8, written questions. Item 9, returns to written questions. Item 10, replies to the opening address. Item 11, petitions. Item 12, reports of committees on the review of bills. The honourable Member for Great Slave, Mr. Braden.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I wish to report that the Standing Committee on Social Programs has reviewed Bill 5, An Act to Amend the Adoption Act and Family Law Act, and wishes to report that Bill 5 is ready for consideration in committee of the whole.

Thank you, Mr. Braden. Item 12, reports of committees on the review of bills. Item 13, tabling of documents. The honourable Member for Thebacha, Mr. Miltenberger.

Thank you, Mr. Minister. Item 13, tabling of documents. The honourable Member for Nahendeh, Mr. Antoine.

Thank you, Mr. Minister. Item 13, tabling of documents. Mr. Clerk.

Thank you, Mr. Clerk. Item 13, tabling of documents. Item 14, notices of motion. Item 15, notices of motion for the first reading of bills. Item 16, motions. Item 17, first reading of bills. The honourable Member for Nunakput, Mr. Steen.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker,

I MOVE, seconded by the honourable Member for Nahendeh, that Bill 15, An Act to Amend the Real Estate Agents Licensing Act, be read for the first time. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Minister. We have a motion. The motion is in order. It has been pointed out to me that we lack a quorum. Mr. Clerk, would you sound the bell?

-- Ringing of the Bells

Thank you. We have a motion on the floor. The motion is in order. All those in favour, please signify. Thank you. All those opposed? Thank you. The motion is carried. Bill 15 has had first reading. Item 17, first reading of bills. The honourable Member for Inuvik Twin Lakes, Mr. Allen.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker,

I MOVE, seconded by the honourable Member for Thebacha, that Bill 16, Interjurisdictional Support Orders Act, be read for the first time. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Minister. We have a motion. The motion is in order. All those in favour? Thank you. All those opposed? Thank you. The motion is carried. Bill 16 has had first reading. Item 17, first reading of bills. Item 18, second reading of bills.

Item 19, consideration in committee of the whole of bills and other matters. Bill 12, Minister's Statement 46-14(5), Minister's Statement 47-14(5) and Tabled Document 35-14(5), Committee Report 7-14(5) and Committee Report 8-14(5), with Mr. Lafferty in the chair.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. At this time, we would like to proceed with Bill 12. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Mr. Chairman and members of the committee, I would like to thank you for the opportunity on behalf of all Members to present Bill 12, An Act to Amend the Elections Act. These amendments represent another step in the evolution of the electoral process in the Northwest Territories. The bill proposes to implement a number of important recommendations made by the Chief Electoral Officer in his report, Modernizing Our Electoral Systems, A Report on the Administration of the 1999 General Election, and supported by the Standing Committee on Rules and Procedures in its report during the 4th session. The House adopted the recommendations of the standing committee and the bill before you reflects the direction of Members.

Mr. Chairman, Bill 12 will provide that the electoral event is shortened from 45 to 28 days. This will provide for a more efficient electoral process and be less intrusive in the daily lives of our citizens. In addition, Mr. Chairman, we note the importance of the right to vote given to every citizen in Canada and propose that returning officers here in the Northwest Territories also be afforded that right. We have also recognized, Mr. Chairman, that citizens, while participating in the process, have the right to exercise their displeasure and to that end we have proposed that the electorate have the opportunity to decline their ballot.

The bill, Mr. Chairman, also provides the authority to the Chief Electoral Officer to create a register of electors. This register will be a permanent database containing the information collected during an initial enumeration on each eligible elector who wishes to have his or her name in the register. The register will be in the database from which various types of lists of electors will be produced. The register will be maintained by conducting periodical confirmations of elector information contained in the register, receipt of information for other government departments and the provision of information from individual eligible electors. The sharing of elector information is also provided for in the bill with Elections Canada and municipal and aboriginal governments. Provisions have been added to govern the use of information collected about electors.

Mr. Chairman, the bill also provides for a special mobile poll for those eligible electors who, for reasons of incapacity, are unable to attend the polls, the provision of write-in ballots to be used in conjunction with the revamped voting by special ballot, and adjustments to advance polls and voting in the office of the returning officer.

For candidates, Mr. Chairman, the bill provides the right of access to buildings containing two or more residences between the hours of 9:00 a.m. and 8:00 p.m. during an electoral event; provides that the candidate may have his or her photograph reproduced on the ballot; provides that a candidate may receive a return of their deposit upon the filing of their election expenses within the time provided; restricts the placement of campaign signs on public property; and provides for the removal of campaign signs at the close of the electoral event.

Mr. Chairman, the bill also eliminates the provision of proxy voting, mobile polls for outpost camps and the conducting of polls in correctional institutes. Eligible electors who are incarcerated will vote pursuant to provisions of voting by special ballot.

And finally, Mr. Chairman, the bill contains a number of minor technical and language corrections to improve the act.

In closing, Mr. Chairman, I believe that the amendments being proposed will enhance the effectiveness of the Elections Act and provide to the electorate a greater sense of ownership and trust in the electoral process in the Northwest Territories. Thank you, Mr. Chairman.