Committee, further comments, general comments?

Hearing none, does committee agree we go into detail?

Thank you, committee. We’ll go to page 4 and we’ll go clause by clause. Do you agree?

Clause 1.

---Clauses 1 through 22 inclusive approved

Thank you, committee. Committee, going back to the bill as a whole, the Electronic Transactions Act. Does committee agree?

Does committee agree that Bill 3, Electronic Transactions Act, is ready for third reading?

---Bill 3 as a whole approved for third reading

Thank you, committee. I’d like to thank the witnesses and ask the Sergeant-at-Arms to please escort them from the Chamber.

Next on our list here, committee, is Bill 4, the Miscellaneous Statute Law Amendment Act, 2011. I’d like to call on Minister Lafferty. Would you have opening comments?

Yes, Mr. Chair.

Please go ahead.

Mr. Chair, the purpose of Bill 4, Miscellaneous Statute Law Amendment Act, 2011, 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:

a) it must not be controversial;

b) it must not involve the spending of public

funds;

c) it must not prejudicially affect rights; and

d) it must not create a new offence or subject a

new class of persons to an existing offence.

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

Most amendments proposed in Bill 4 are minor in nature and may consist of technical corrections to a statute. Other changes have the effect of repealing certain enactments or 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.

Mr. Chair, I will be pleased to answer the committee’s questions on Bill 4.

Thank you, Minister Lafferty. I’d like to give the chairman of the Standing Committee on Social Programs the opportunity to also give comments on the bill. Mr. Beaulieu.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Mr. Chairman, the Standing Committee on Social Programs conducted its public review of Bill 4, the Miscellaneous Statute Law Amendment Act, 2011, on May 12, 2011. The committee thanks the Minister and his staff for presenting the bill.

The bill corrects small inconsistencies and errors in various laws in the Northwest Territories. All of the changes proposed are minor in nature and non-controversial.

Following the committee’s review, a motion was carried to report Bill 4, Miscellaneous Statute Law Amendment Act, 2011, to the Assembly as ready for consideration in Committee of the Whole.

This concludes committee’s opening comments on Bill 4. Individual Members may have additional questions or comments as we proceed. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Beaulieu. I’d like to ask the Minister if he wishes to bring in witnesses. Mr. Lafferty.

Yes, I do, Mr. Chair.

Thank you, Minister. I’d like to call on the Sergeant-at-Arms to please escort the witnesses into the Chamber.

If I could ask Minister Lafferty to please introduce your witness.

Mahsi, Mr. Chair. I have Mark Aitken with me, the director of the legislation division within Justice.

Thank you, Minister. Committee, we’re open for general comments on Bill 4, Miscellaneous Statute Law Amendment Act, 2011. General comments? Hearing none, does committee agree we go to clause-by-clause? Agreed?

Thank you, committee. We’ll begin on page 1 of the bill with clause 1.

---Clauses 1 through 27 inclusive approved

Thank you, committee. Does committee agree that this completes Bill 4, Miscellaneous Statute Law Amendment Act, 2011? Bill as a whole?