Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Eighteen additional motions to amend the bill were passed by the committee at the Minister's request in order to address concerns brought to the department's attention after Bill 25 was introduced. These amendments have the effect of:
- Removing the provisions that would have allowed councils to appoint officers other than the senior administrative officer to report directly to the council.
- Removing the requirement for the Minister to approve bylaws providing for the remuneration of council members. There was a consensus that it should be up to residents to hold councils responsible and to take action if they believe the remuneration is too high.
- Providing that orders made by municipal supervisors apply to "employees or agents" rather than to "all persons interested in or affected by them." There was a concern that the original wording would be too broad and could include, for example, all the community residents.
- Continuing the requirement that each municipal land transaction be made in accordance with both a general land administration bylaw and a bylaw specific to that transaction.
- Requiring that the senior administrative officer attend and record at all council committee meetings. Bill 25 already provided for the senior administrative officer's attendance and recording at council meetings.
- Changing council's bylaw making authority from "wild and domestic animals" to "domestic and feral animals". This was to clarify the intention that the authority was meant to include stray animals, and not wild animals such as bears and wolves.