Mr. Chairman, I wish to present a number of amendments to the Elections Act that if approved, will ensure the efficient administration of the general election later this year. The main purpose of this bill is to remove the provision in the Elections Act, which disqualifies prison inmates serving sentences of two years or more from voting. This amendment is necessary in light of the recent discussions of the Supreme Court of Canada, Sauve versus the Chief Electoral Office of Canada, which found that a similar provision in the Canada Elections Act infringed the right to vote guaranteed by section 3 of the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms. The bill also contains amendments to: provide additional clarification to the section of the act which ensures persons who are incarcerated, attending studies, or undergoing treatment outside the Northwest Territories do not lose their right to vote during their period of absence; adjust the time for a candidate to withdraw their candidacy from 8:00 p.m., on nomination day, to 5:00 p.m.; also, require the Chief Electoral Officer to arrange the printing of the required number of ballots for an electoral district, extend the period in which the Chief Electoral Officer must arrange the publication of notice of an advanced poll in a newspaper and make minor adjustments of a technical nature to the English and French versions of the act. Mr. Chairman, if required and with the assistance of the officials, I would be pleased to answer any questions on these amendments. Thank you.
Joe Handley on Bill 8: An Act To Amend The Elections Act
In the Legislative Assembly on February 27th, 2003. See this statement in context.
Bill 8: An Act To Amend The Elections Act
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
February 26th, 2003
Page 384
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