Thank you, Mr. Chairman. The Standing Committee on Social Programs met on Wednesday, June 11, 2003, to review Bill 16, Justice Administration Statutes Amendment Act. This act makes minor amendments to a number of statutes, including the Coroner's Act, Corrections Act, Judicature Act, Justices of the Peace Act, Legal Services Act and Territorial Court Act.
The committee asked whether an amendment to the Legal Services Act to allow members of the public service on the Legal Services Board to receive an honorarium would interfere with the GNWT's current civic leave policy outlined in the FMBS human resource manual. The government stated this amendment would simply allow a possible honorarium to be paid to those on the board in the public service who would be attending meetings of the Legal Services Board on the weekends or other non-working hours. This concludes the committee's opening comments on Bill 16. Individual committee Members may have questions or comments as we proceed. Following the committee's review, a motion was carried to report Bill 16, Justice Administration Statutes Amendment Act, to the Assembly as ready for consideration by Committee of the Whole. Thank you, Mr. Chairman.