Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I know it's a little out of the ordinary, but I would also like to say hello to my daughter Emily who is at home watching, I understand. Daddy won't be home for supper.
---Laughter
I'm sorry. I love you and be nice to your sister.
---Laughter
Mr. Chairman, I am pleased to have an opportunity to speak to Bill 6, which proposes to enact the new Engineering and Geosciences Professions Act. The new act will provide for the continuation of the present Association of Professional Engineers, Geologists and Geophysicists of the Northwest Territories.
As the new Northwest Territories Association of Professional Engineers and Geoscientists, the association is and will continue to be responsible for the regulation of these disciplines in the Northwest Territories and also in Nunavut. The impetus of the bill has come from the association itself, which has noted deficiencies in the existing legislation and has tracked legislative developments related to the regulation of engineers and geoscientists elsewhere in Canada. In the development of the bill, the Department of Justice and the association considered many models for regulation including recent professional regulatory statutes enacted in the Northwest Territories. The resulting bill provides an effective, usable and up-to-date legislative framework for the self-regulation of the engineering and geoscience professions. It serves the needs of engineers and geosciences and also protects the public.
Mr. Chairman, I would like to take the time to note the presence in the gallery of Linda Golding and Lloyd Henderson from the association who were instrumental in helping us develop this legislation.
---Applause
Some of the key provisions of the bill include setting out the powers of the association to manage its affairs including: the powers to hold property; borrow money; make bylaws and elect its governing council; registering members, licensees, members in training and permit holders; setting our rules respecting various aspects of professional practice, including, Mr. Chairman, the use of the titles engineer and geoscience, the use of stamps, the payment of fees set by the association; conducting disciplinary proceedings including the resolution of some disputes by mediation; authorizing the association to accept responsibility for the exercise of powers and functions for the regulations of the professions in Nunavut and providing for certain transitional issues including preserving registrations given and proceedings taken under the former act.
While this bill may be enacted by the Legislature, it may not be brought into force until associated legislation has been enacted by Nunavut. Both the association and our Department of Justice are working with the Government of Nunavut to this end. We expect that Nunavut will introduce its companion legislation in early 2007.
I would again like to acknowledge the efforts of the association in general, and its legislation committee in particular. They have been, as I mentioned, very thorough and collaborative in the development of this legislation. I would also like to thank the Standing Committee on Social Programs for its considered review of the bill. During the course of its hearings, the standing committee recommended an amendment that would extend the limitation period for bringing a prosecution under the act where the evidence necessary to support a charge is not discovered until after the fixed two-year limitation period. Both the association and the Department of Justice support the amendment and, I believe Ms. Lee will bring it forward at the appropriate time.
We would be pleased to consider or any questions committee may have. Thank you, Mr. Chairman.