Could I ask the Minister under this section the amendment that is being proposed here, for the Conflict of Interest Act I guess, the definition of spouse. It says under (7), under that section under (b), "a person who has been living together with the member in a conjugal relationship outside marriage for a period of less than two years." Does it mean they have to be together less than two years or more than two years before this amendment applies to them? Maybe I can ask the Law Clerk for either one of them, I guess.

Thank you, Mr. Zoe. Mr. Minister.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. What this amendment is intended to do is to address the concern that conflicts of interest may well arise where couples live together for less than two years. The fact that they lived together may give rise to the perception of a conflict of interest. This amendment applies both to heterosexual couples and same-sex couples because, right now, for instance, in the Conflict of Interest Act, if a heterosexual couple were to be living together for six months in a conjugal relationship, the same act wouldn't apply to them even though there may be the implication of a conflict of interest because they are living together.

Thank you, Mr. Dent. Mr. Zoe.

You have me really confused now. On the same-sex marriage and unmarried couple, if they are living together more than six months or less than six months or a day or two days, the Conflict of Interest Act would apply to them. If something happens, then they have to fall under that act to determine something. I guess it doesn't matter how long they live together then. Is that the point under the Conflict of Interest Act?

Thank you, Mr. Zoe. Mr. Dent.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. Let's take an example. If a person is a member on a board, like in our Conflict of Interest Act. For instance, if one the Members here...They have to declare the interest of their spouse. What this amendment does is make sure that that condition exists under the Conflict of Interest Act. So a member of a board would have to then be aware and public of the interests of their partner, whether they are same sex or heterosexual. Right now, that is not covered. Right now, the Conflict of Interest Act doesn't provide the same protection to the public that you find in some of our acts. That is the situation that arises, because if two people are living together, there is an expectation that a man and a wife have to meet a certain obligation to declare or to watch for conflicts of interest. Just because people aren't married, they shouldn't have to not worry about declaring that conflict of interest. This is to correct that problem in our laws. It applies equally to heterosexual as well as same sex because it is a problem in our laws with couples right now that aren't married.

Thank you, Mr. Dent. Mr. Zoe.

I have no further questions on clause 1.

Thank you. On clause 1, Mr. Menicoche.

With respect to clause 1, I am having trouble seeing the change. What exactly is it that you are changing here, Mr. Chair?

Thank you, Mr. Menicoche. Mr. Dent.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. Right now, under the Conflict of Interest Act, if two people are married and one person is a member of a board or a council, they have to follow the conflict of interest provision. I will just take an example that I am familiar with: the Legislative Assembly Executive Council Act. Under the conflict of interest provisions here, if a Member is married, they have to declare all of the interests of their

spouse. They have to make sure that there isn't a conflict of interest. However, if the couple is not married, it wouldn't necessarily apply to them. So we are fixing a problem in the law that would apply both to heterosexual and same-sex couples.

Thank you, Mr. Dent. Mr. Menicoche.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. I am having trouble seeing where the change is. Are you replacing a subsection or deleting?

Thank you, Mr. Menicoche. Mr. Dent.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. We are changing the definition of spouse so that it no longer means people who are married, so common-law couples will be included now as well.

Thank you, Mr. Dent. Mr. Menicoche.

Okay, in clause 1, this is the exact wording of the change. Is that what they are doing here, Mr. Chair?

Thank you, Mr. Menicoche. Mr. Dent.

Yes, Mr. Chair.

Thank you, Mr. Dent. Mr. Menicoche.

Thank you.

Clause 1.