Thank you, Mr. Menicoche. The Chair apologizes; I may have missed an item on the Order Paper. I don't know if I called reports of committees on the review of bills, but I will call it anyway. Reports of committees on the review of bills. Notices of motion. Notices of motion for first reading of bills. Motions. First reading of bills. Second reading of bills. Honourable Member for Nunakput, Mr. Pokiak.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I move, seconded by the honourable Member for Yellowknife South, that Bill 14, An Act to Amend the Legislative Assembly and Executive Council Act, No. 2, be read for the second time.

Mr. Speaker, this bill amends the Legislative Assembly and Executive Council Act to revise the current electoral districts. The bill comes into force on the polling day for the general election that follows the dissolution of the 15th Legislative Assembly.

Thank you, Mr. Pokiak. A motion is on the floor. Motion is in order. To the principle of the bill.

Question is being called. All those in favour? All those opposed? The motion is carried.

---Carried

Bill 14 has had second reading. Honourable Member for Nunakput, Mr. Pokiak.

Mr. Speaker, I seek unanimous consent to waive Rule 69(2) and have Bill 14, An Act to Amend the Legislative Assembly and Executive Council Act, No. 2, moved into Committee of the Whole for Monday, October 23rd, 2006. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

The Member is seeking unanimous consent to waive Rule 69(2) and have Bill 14 moved into Committee of the Whole for consideration on Monday. Are there any nays? There are no nays. Bill 14 has had second reading and will be moved into Committee of the Whole for consideration on Monday.

Second reading of bills. Consideration in Committee of the Whole of bills and other matters: Bills 6, 7, 8, 10, 11 and 12, with Mr. Ramsay in the chair.

Thank you, colleagues. I'd like to call Committee of the Whole to order. What is the wish of committee? Mr. Menicoche.

Thank you very much, Mr. Chair. Committee would like to consider Bill 8, Miscellaneous Statutes Amendment Act, 2006, and Bill 10, Forgiveness of Debts Act, 2006-2007.

Mahsi, Mr. Menicoche. We will do that. Does the committee agreed?

Agreed. Thank you, committee. We will do that after a brief recess. Thank you.

---SHORT RECESS

Thank you. I'd like to call Committee of the Whole back to order and we are dealing with Bill 8, Miscellaneous Statutes Amendment Act, 2006. I'd like to now ask the Minister of Justice, the Honourable Brendan Bell, if he'd like to introduce the bill. Mr. Bell.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. The purpose of Bill 8, Miscellaneous Statutes Amendment Act, 2006, is to amend various statutes of the Northwest Territories for which minor changes are proposed or errors or inconsistencies have been identified.

Each amendment included in the bill had to meet the following criteria:

1. a) It must not be controversial;
2. b) It must not involve the spending of public funds;
3. c) It most not prejudicially affect the rights of persons; and,
4. d) It must not create a new offence or subject a new class of persons to an existing offence.

Departments responsible for the various statutes being amended have reviewed and approved the changes.

Most amendments proposed in Bill 8 are minor in nature and many consistent of technical corrections to a statute. Other changes have the effect of repealing certain statutory provisions that have expired or have 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.

We will be pleased to answer any questions the committee may have. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Bell. I will now ask the deputy chairman of Accountability and Oversight, Mr. Braden, to provide the committee's comments on the bill. Mr. Braden.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. The Standing Committee on Accountability and Oversight conducted its public review of Bill 8, Miscellaneous Statutes Amendment Act, on September 5th, 2006, and October 16th, 2006. Following the committee's review, Mr. Chairman, a motion was carried to report Bill 8, Miscellaneous Statutes Amendment Act, to the Assembly as ready for Committee of the Whole. This concludes the committee's opening comments on Bill 8. Individual Members may have additional questions or comments as we proceed. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Thank you, Mr. Braden. I'd now like to ask Minister Bell if he has any witnesses he'd like to introduce.

Yes, thank you, Mr. Chairman.

Does committee agree?

Agreed. Thank you, committee. So moved. The witnesses please, Mr. Bell.

Thank you. Minister Bell, if you could, for the record, please introduce the witness. Thank you.

Mr. Chairman, thank you. With me today, Mark Aitken is the director of legislation, Department of Justice. Thank you.

Thank you, Minister Bell. We'll now move on to general comments on the bill. Are there any general comments on Bill 8? Does committee agree there are no general comments?