Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I am going to vote in favour of the motion as put forward by Ms. Bisaro. There was a lot of discussion and controversy over whether or not this clause that people have named a loophole, they’ve named it all kinds of different things. In fact, after listening to so much of the discussion around this particular clause, it’s my opinion that there’s a colossal misunderstanding and people taking extreme positions on what these things mean.

I think it boils down to the difference between the way that a pet dog is treated and the way that a working dog is treated. Both can be treated with respect and in a way that is humane. A lot of the debate, like I said, that I heard was extremes on both sides of that topic and I don’t think that we need to have any provision in there for traditional, or as the Manitoba clause reads, I don’t believe that we need to have that in there. I think that we can agree and the legislation should clearly state that all dogs that will be affected by this new legislation, we’re hoping all dogs don’t go to heaven, but...

---Laughter

...at least not anytime soon. Anyway, I will be voting in favour of the amendment as brought forward by Ms. Bisaro in this motion. Thank you.

Thank you. Next on my list is Mr. Yakeleya.

Mr. Chair, it’s been indicated before that the committee did not go to the smaller communities to hear some discussion around this work. We went to the larger centres. We certainly heard very passionately from the larger centres that we went to, but we did not go to the predominantly smaller communities of Aboriginal people, we did not get their view, really get their view and their definition of this clause. When we did talk about it in committee it was the majority of Members that wanted to go with this section of the legislation. So I’m going to, and this is what we worked out in terms of a compromise, so for myself I’m going to go with the motion on what’s in the legislation. I’m not going to be supporting this motion.

Thank you, Mr. Yakeleya. Next on my list is Mr. Hawkins.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I think when reading clause 4 and we talk about the ownership show, it basically makes sure that the dog is without any distress. I think that really speaks to the whole problem. An animal in distress is an animal in distress, period. I’m convinced that good judgment will prevail in this particular case. I think that I put my faith in the judgment of the courts if someone does bring forward a charge, an ill-directed charge and a charge that I think has fair and unreasonable interpretation of what distress

means. I think any decent northern judge, which I believe in the quality of the bench we have here, but I think anybody here, living here long enough would know what reasonable activity and distress is.

I’m not proposing a new definition by any means, but I know it’s an ambiguous term that someone is going to say that that dog shouldn’t have been outside and it was under duress, or that dog ran too long in a race, or was out chained up too long and it’s duress. I think that I’m convinced common sense will prevail. So I think I’ll have to vote accordingly.

The one thing I would say, though, in all honesty, is as a measure of courtesy I would have appreciated finding out this amendment would have come forward a little sooner than it being dropped on my desk and told to vote one way or the other. I mean, I would have liked to have had more time to hear my colleagues who feel that no change should happen to the act and I certainly would have enjoyed a little more time to take the consideration into seeing the deletion of this. So I would say to the mover, I’m still disappointed on the shortness of how this was now dropped on my desk without any sort of full understanding or impact of this particular motion. The reason I sort of say that is I’m going to have to lean towards the amendment as proposed, because I think at the end of the day common sense should prevail and I think our bench will make sure that that’s a reasonable interpretation, regardless of the activity, whether it’s hunting, trapping, fishing, or even just being tied up outside.

So, Mr. Chairman, that’s my thoughts on this particular thing. I wanted to clearly say how I’m disappointed at how it’s being delivered, the amendment, in this manner. Thank you.

Thank you. Any other Members wish to speak who haven’t already spoken? Okay. Because of my confusion I will go to the mover of the motion to close, because there was some confusion. So I’ll allow the mover of the motion to officially close and I have the discretion to do that. Thank you, committee. Once again my confusion is just gotten straightened out. We don’t go back to the mover of a motion in Committee of the Whole a second time for concluding discussion and debate on a motion. To the motion. Mr. Beaulieu.

Mr. Chairman, I request a recorded vote.

All those opposed?

All those abstaining? Thank you, committee. The results of the vote: seven in favour, nine against. The motion is defeated.

---Defeated

We’re on clause 4.

---Clauses 4 through 12 inclusive approved

Bill 16, An Act to Amend the Dog Act.

To the bill as a whole.

Does committee agree that Bill 16, An Act to Amend the Dog Act, is now ready for third reading?

---Bill 16 as a whole approved for third reading

Thank you, Mr. Minister. If I could please get you to thank your witnesses. Sergeant-at-Arms, if I could please get you to escort them out of the Chamber. What is the wish of the committee? Mrs. Groenewegen.

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

Thank you, Mrs. Groenewegen. I’ll just wait until the Minister gets back to his seat.

---Carried

I will now rise and report progress.

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

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. You’re committee has been considering Committee Report 17-16(5), Report on Bill 16, An Act to Amend the Dog Act; and Bill 16, An Act to Amend the Dog Act, and would like to report progress with five motions being adopted and that Committee Report 17-16(5) is concluded and that Bill 16 is ready for third reading. I move that the

report of Committee of the Whole be concurred with.

Thank you, Mr. Abernethy. A motion is on the floor. Do we have a seconder? The honourable Member for Sahtu, Mr. Yakeleya.

---Carried

Item 22, third reading of bills. The honourable Minister responsible for Justice, Mr. Lafferty.