Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Mr. Chairman, the purpose of Bill 8, Miscellaneous Statutes Amendment Act, 2004, is to amend various statutes of the Northwest Territories for which minor changes are proposed or errors or inconsistencies have been identified.

In order for an amendment to be included in the bill, it had to meet the following criteria: a, it must not be controversial; b, it must not involve the spending of public funds; c, it must not prejudicially affect the rights of persons; and, d, it must not create a new offence or subject a new class of persons to an existing offence.

Mr. Chairman, departments responsible for the various statues being amended have reviewed and approved the changes.

Most changes proposed in Bill 8 are minor in nature and many consist of technical corrections to the English or French version of a statute.

Other changes have the effect of repealing certain enactments and certain statutory provisions that have expired, lapsed, or otherwise ceased to have effect.

The amendments are of such a nature that the preparation and legislative consideration of individual bills

to correct each statute would be time consuming for the government and the Legislative Assembly.

I will be pleased to answer any questions the committee may have. Thank you, Mr. Chairman.