With that, we’ll take a short break.

---SHORT RECESS

I’d like to call Committee of the Whole to order. Committee has agreed to deal with Bill 8, An Act to Amend the Local Authorities Elections Act. I’d like to ask Minister Robert McLeod if he has opening remarks.

Yes, I do, Mr. Chairman.

Thank you. Go ahead.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Mr. Chairman, I am here to present Bill 8, An Act to Amend the Local Authorities Elections Act.

The amendments included in Bill 8 are intended to update and modernize the legislation to keep pace with the needs of local authorities in the Northwest Territories, and reflect the input of our partners, the NWT Association of Communities and the Local Government Administrators of the NWT. I would like to extend my thanks to these organizations for their advice and assistance, and to the participants on the peer review group who contributed a significant amount of time and energy over several years to the project to amend this legislation.

The most significant amendments authorize municipalities to have options in the election rules for additional voting opportunities, for electronic voting counting, for campaign contribution disclosure, and for deciding tie votes. Other amendments are designed to make elections more manageable, such as a shortened campaign period, automatic recounts, and increased authority of the chief municipal electoral officer to respond to

extraordinary situations that may occur during an election.

I look forward to hearing comments from the Members and answering any questions. Thank you, Mr. Chairman.

Thank you, Mr. McLeod. I’d like to ask the chairman of the Standing Committee on Economic Development and Infrastructure if he has comments. Mr. Ramsay.

Thank you very much, Mr. Chairman. The Standing Committee on Economic Development and Infrastructure held public hearings on Bill 8, An Act to Amend the Local Authorities Elections Act, in Yellowknife, Fort Smith, Ulukhaktok, Inuvik, and Aklavik, during the month of April 2011. A public clause-by-clause review was held on May 10, 2011. Seven minor amendments of a technical nature were made to the bill during the clause-by-clause review. Following the clause-by-clause review a motion was carried to report Bill 8 to the Assembly as ready for consideration in Committee of the Whole as amended and reprinted.

This concludes the committee’s general comments on Bill 8. Individual Members may have additional questions or comments as we proceed.

Thank you, Mr. Ramsay. I would like to ask the Minister now if he would like to bring in witnesses.

Yes, I would, Mr. Chairman.

Thank you, Mr. McLeod. I would ask the Sergeant-at-Arms to please escort the witnesses into the Chamber.

I’d like to ask the Minister to please introduce his witnesses.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I have with me today Mr. Mike Aumond to my left, deputy minister of Municipal and Community Affairs; Mr. David Kravitz is manager of community governance; Mr. Mark Aitken is director of legislation for Department of Justice.

Thank you, Mr. McLeod. We have before us, committee, Bill 8, An Act to Amend the Local Authorities Elections Act. Open for general comments. Any general comments? Detail? Is committee agreed?

We’ll proceed with the clause by clause. To do that we will turn to page 1. Does committee agree to clause 1 through 5?

---Clauses 1 through 57 inclusive approved

Does committee agree to the bill as a whole?

Does committee agree that Bill 8 is ready for third reading?

---Bill 8 as a whole approved for third reading

Thank you, committee, and thank you, Minister. I will ask the Sergeant-at-Arms to please escort the witnesses from the House. Mrs. Groenewegen.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I move that we report progress.

---Carried

I will now rise and report progress.

Can I have the report of the Committee of the Whole, please, Mr. Bromley.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Your committee has been considering Bill 8 and would like to report that Bill 8 is ready for third reading. I move that the report of Committee of the Whole be concurred with.

Thank you, Mr. Bromley. A motion is on the floor. Do we have a seconder? The honourable Member for Nunakput, Mr. Jacobson.

---Carried

Item 22, third reading of bills. Mr. Clerk, orders of the day.

Thank you, Mr. Clerk. Accordingly, this House stands adjourned until Monday, May 16, 2011, at 1:30 p.m.

---ADJOURNMENT

The House adjourned at 12:46 p.m.