Does the committee agree that Bill 7 is ready for third reading?
Debates of Feb. 27th, 2003
This is page numbers 365 - 404 of the Hansard for the 14th Assembly, 6th Session. The original version can be accessed on the Legislative Assembly's website or by contacting the Legislative Assembly Library. The word of the day was chairman.
Topics
Bill 7: An Act To Amend The Legislative Assembly And Executive Council Act
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 384
The Chair Leon Lafferty
Bill 7: An Act To Amend The Legislative Assembly And Executive Council Act
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
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Some Hon. Members
Agreed.
---Agreed
Bill 7: An Act To Amend The Legislative Assembly And Executive Council Act
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
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The Chair Leon Lafferty
Bill 7 is now ready for third reading.
---Applause
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
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The Chair Leon Lafferty
Committee is now considering Bill 8. I would like to excuse the Minister and his staff. I would like to thank them. Committee is considering Bill 8 with the Honourable Joseph Handley, the Government House Leader. Does the Minister have opening comments?
Minister's Opening Comments
Bill 8: An Act To Amend The Elections Act
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
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Joe Handley Weledeh
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.
Bill 8: An Act To Amend The Elections Act
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
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The Chair Leon Lafferty
Thank you. The Minister has asked for witnesses. Does the committee agree?
Bill 8: An Act To Amend The Elections Act
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
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Some Hon. Members
Agreed.
---Agreed
Bill 8: An Act To Amend The Elections Act
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
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The Chair Leon Lafferty
Sergeant-at-Arms, please escort the witnesses.
Can the Minister please introduce us to the witnesses?
Bill 8: An Act To Amend The Elections Act
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
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Joe Handley Weledeh
Mr. Chairman, with me are David Hamilton, chief electoral officer; and, Janis Cooper, legislative council with the Department of Justice.
Bill 8: An Act To Amend The Elections Act
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
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The Chair Leon Lafferty
Thank you. General comments.
Bill 8: An Act To Amend The Elections Act
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
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Some Hon. Members
Clause by clause.
Bill 8: An Act To Amend The Elections Act
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
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The Chair Leon Lafferty
Clause by clause. Does the committee agree?
Bill 8: An Act To Amend The Elections Act
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
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Some Hon. Members
Agreed.
---Agreed
Clause By Clause
Bill 8: An Act To Amend The Elections Act
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
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The Chair Leon Lafferty
The committee is considering Bill 8, an Act to Amend the Elections Act. Clause 1.
Bill 8: An Act To Amend The Elections Act
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
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Some Hon. Members
Agreed.
---Agreed
Bill 8: An Act To Amend The Elections Act
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
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The Chair Leon Lafferty
Clause 2.
Bill 8: An Act To Amend The Elections Act
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
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Some Hon. Members
Agreed.
---Agreed
Bill 8: An Act To Amend The Elections Act
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
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The Chair Leon Lafferty
Clause 3.
Bill 8: An Act To Amend The Elections Act
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
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Some Hon. Members
Agreed.
---Agreed
Bill 8: An Act To Amend The Elections Act
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
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The Chair Leon Lafferty
Clause 4.
Bill 8: An Act To Amend The Elections Act
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
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Some Hon. Members
Agreed.
---Agreed
Bill 8: An Act To Amend The Elections Act
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
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The Chair Leon Lafferty
Clause 5.
Bill 8: An Act To Amend The Elections Act
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
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Some Hon. Members
Agreed.
---Agreed
Bill 8: An Act To Amend The Elections Act
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
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The Chair Leon Lafferty
Clause 6.
Bill 8: An Act To Amend The Elections Act
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
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Some Hon. Members
Agreed.
---Agreed