Thank you, Madam Chair. I am pleased to appear before the committee today to review Bill 7, An Act to Amend the

Judicature Act. I would like to start by thanking members of the Standing Committee on Social Programs for their careful review of the bill.

The Judicature Act governs the jurisdiction of the Supreme Court of the Northwest Territories.

There are two substantive changes to the act. The first adds a new section providing that trade orders obtained against the NWT under the Agreement on Internal Trade may be filed with the clerk of the Supreme Court of the Northwest Territories. Once filed, the order would then be enforceable against the government in the same manner as other orders of the court. The addition of this provision will bring the NWT into line with all other signatories to the Agreement on Internal Trade.

The second substantive amendment expands the authority to make regulations under the act. The current jurisdiction to make regulations is limited to authorizing the reimbursement of expenses of interpreters and witnesses. Although the current regulations allow for fees to be paid to interpreters and witnesses for their services, there is no express authority for those regulations. With the amendments, fees would be authorized for interpreters and witnesses, as well as all others who provide services in the court process.

In addition to the changes I have mentioned, a number of minor housekeeping amendments have also been made.

I would be pleased to answer any questions that the committee members may have regarding Bill 7.