Thank you, Madam Chair. The Standing Committee on Social Programs conducted its public review of Bill 12, An Act to Amend the Human Rights Act, No. 2, on November 1, 2012. The committee thanks the Minister and his staff for presenting the bill. The amendments were made necessary by the federal Safe Streets and Communities Act which set up a system of records suspensions to replace pardons in most instances.
The Canadian Human Rights Act has already been amended to prohibit discrimination based on a conviction for which a records suspension is in place. Bill 12 makes a similar change to our territorial Human Rights Act.
Following the committee’s review, a motion was carried to report Bill 12 to the Assembly as ready for consideration in Committee of the Whole.
This concludes the committee’s opening comments on the bill. Individual Members may have additional questions or comments as we proceed.