Yes, Mr. Chair.
Debates of Oct. 28th, 2013
This is page numbers 3153 – 3192 of the Hansard for the 17th Assembly, 4th Session. The original version can be accessed on the Legislative Assembly's website or by contacting the Legislative Assembly Library. The word of the day was chair.
Topics
Committee Motion 95-17(4): Concurrence Of Tabled Document 137-17(4), Supplementary Estimates (Operations Expenditures), No. 3, 2013, 2014, Carried
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters
Committee Motion 95-17(4): Concurrence Of Tabled Document 137-17(4), Supplementary Estimates (Operations Expenditures), No. 3, 2013, 2014, Carried
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters
The Chair Robert Bouchard
I will ask the Sergeant-at-Arms to escort the witnesses into the Chamber.
Would the Minister please introduce the witnesses?
Committee Motion 95-17(4): Concurrence Of Tabled Document 137-17(4), Supplementary Estimates (Operations Expenditures), No. 3, 2013, 2014, Carried
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters
Glen Abernethy Great Slave
Thank you, Mr. Chair. To my left is Shirley Kemeys-Jones, assistant deputy minister of the Solicitor General branch of the Department of Justice; and, Thomas Druyan on my right, legislative counsel.
Committee Motion 95-17(4): Concurrence Of Tabled Document 137-17(4), Supplementary Estimates (Operations Expenditures), No. 3, 2013, 2014, Carried
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters
The Chair Robert Bouchard
Thank you, Minister Abernethy. I will open up the floor for general comments on Bill 17, An Act to Amend the Protection Against Family Violence Act. There are no general comments. Clause-by-clause review?
Committee Motion 95-17(4): Concurrence Of Tabled Document 137-17(4), Supplementary Estimates (Operations Expenditures), No. 3, 2013, 2014, Carried
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters
Some Hon. Members
Agreed.
Committee Motion 95-17(4): Concurrence Of Tabled Document 137-17(4), Supplementary Estimates (Operations Expenditures), No. 3, 2013, 2014, Carried
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters
Committee Motion 95-17(4): Concurrence Of Tabled Document 137-17(4), Supplementary Estimates (Operations Expenditures), No. 3, 2013, 2014, Carried
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters
Committee Motion 95-17(4): Concurrence Of Tabled Document 137-17(4), Supplementary Estimates (Operations Expenditures), No. 3, 2013, 2014, Carried
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters
Some Hon. Members
Agreed.
Committee Motion 95-17(4): Concurrence Of Tabled Document 137-17(4), Supplementary Estimates (Operations Expenditures), No. 3, 2013, 2014, Carried
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters
The Chair Robert Bouchard
Does committee agree that Bill 17 is ready for third reading?
---Bill 17 as a whole approved for third reading
Committee Motion 95-17(4): Concurrence Of Tabled Document 137-17(4), Supplementary Estimates (Operations Expenditures), No. 3, 2013, 2014, Carried
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters
The Chair Robert Bouchard
Thank you to the Minister and his witnesses. Please escort the witnesses out, Sergeant-at-Arms. Thank you.
Next we have Bill 18, Apology Act. I will call the Minister responsible, Mr. Abernethy.
Committee Motion 95-17(4): Concurrence Of Tabled Document 137-17(4), Supplementary Estimates (Operations Expenditures), No. 3, 2013, 2014, Carried
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters
Glen Abernethy Great Slave
I am pleased to be here today to speak about Bill 18, Apology Act. I would like to thank the Standing Committee on Social Programs for their review of this bill.
This legislation would make an apology or expression of sympathy made by or on behalf of a person inadmissible as evidence of fault or liability in any judicial or quasi-judicial civil proceeding. Nine Canadian jurisdictions have enacted similar legislation.
In the absence of this legislation, people are unsure of the legal consequences of taking the natural human step of making an apology. They fear that an apology can be considered as an admission of guilt, thereby voiding an insurance policy or encouraging a lawsuit.
However, apologies have been called the “key to healing.” An apology has the power to heal wounds and restore a victim’s dignity. A 1999 report by the Law Commission of Canada found that people who have suffered loss, injury or damage were driven by the desire to heal, as opposed to making compensatory claims.
I would be pleased to answer questions that committee members may have regarding Bill 18.
Committee Motion 95-17(4): Concurrence Of Tabled Document 137-17(4), Supplementary Estimates (Operations Expenditures), No. 3, 2013, 2014, Carried
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters
The Chair Robert Bouchard
Thank you, Minister Abernethy. I will go now to the chairman of the Standing Committee on Social Programs, Mr. Moses.
Committee Motion 95-17(4): Concurrence Of Tabled Document 137-17(4), Supplementary Estimates (Operations Expenditures), No. 3, 2013, 2014, Carried
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters
Alfred Moses Inuvik Boot Lake
Thank you, Mr. Chair. The Standing Committee on Social Programs conducted its public
review of Bill 18, Apology Act, on September 18, 2013. A clause-by-clause review was conducted the same day. The committee thanks the Minister and his staff for presenting the bill.
The bill provides an apology made by or on behalf of a person in relation to any civil matter does not constitute an admission of fault or liability by the person or confirmation of a cause of action related to the matter and does not affect insurance coverage available to the person making the apology.
The bill also provides that an apology is not admissible in any judicial or quasi-judicial and civil proceeding and may not be considered or referred to in relation to fault or liability in any such proceeding.
Following committee’s review, a motion was carried to report Bill 18, Apology Act, to the Assembly as ready for consideration in Committee of the Whole.
This concludes the committee’s opening comments on Bill 18. Individual Members may have additional questions or comments as we proceed. Thank you, Mr. Chair.
Committee Motion 95-17(4): Concurrence Of Tabled Document 137-17(4), Supplementary Estimates (Operations Expenditures), No. 3, 2013, 2014, Carried
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters
The Chair Robert Bouchard
Thank you, Mr. Moses. Would the Minister like to bring witnesses into the House?
Committee Motion 95-17(4): Concurrence Of Tabled Document 137-17(4), Supplementary Estimates (Operations Expenditures), No. 3, 2013, 2014, Carried
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters
Committee Motion 95-17(4): Concurrence Of Tabled Document 137-17(4), Supplementary Estimates (Operations Expenditures), No. 3, 2013, 2014, Carried
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters
Committee Motion 95-17(4): Concurrence Of Tabled Document 137-17(4), Supplementary Estimates (Operations Expenditures), No. 3, 2013, 2014, Carried
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters
Some Hon. Members
Agreed.
Committee Motion 95-17(4): Concurrence Of Tabled Document 137-17(4), Supplementary Estimates (Operations Expenditures), No. 3, 2013, 2014, Carried
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters
The Chair Robert Bouchard
Thank you, committee. I’ll ask the Sergeant-at-Arms to escort the witnesses into the Chamber.
Minister Abernethy, please introduce your witnesses.
Committee Motion 95-17(4): Concurrence Of Tabled Document 137-17(4), Supplementary Estimates (Operations Expenditures), No. 3, 2013, 2014, Carried
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters
Glen Abernethy Great Slave
Thank you, Mr. Chair. On my right is Kelly McLaughlin, the director of legislation. On my left is Emily Ingarfield, the policy analyst. Thank you, Mr. Chair.
Committee Motion 95-17(4): Concurrence Of Tabled Document 137-17(4), Supplementary Estimates (Operations Expenditures), No. 3, 2013, 2014, Carried
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters
The Chair Robert Bouchard
Thank you, Mr. Abernethy. We’ll now open the floor to general comments on Bill 18, Apology Act. Clause-by-clause review of the bill?
Committee Motion 95-17(4): Concurrence Of Tabled Document 137-17(4), Supplementary Estimates (Operations Expenditures), No. 3, 2013, 2014, Carried
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters
Some Hon. Members
Agreed.
Committee Motion 95-17(4): Concurrence Of Tabled Document 137-17(4), Supplementary Estimates (Operations Expenditures), No. 3, 2013, 2014, Carried
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters
Committee Motion 95-17(4): Concurrence Of Tabled Document 137-17(4), Supplementary Estimates (Operations Expenditures), No. 3, 2013, 2014, Carried
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters
Committee Motion 95-17(4): Concurrence Of Tabled Document 137-17(4), Supplementary Estimates (Operations Expenditures), No. 3, 2013, 2014, Carried
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters
Some Hon. Members
Agreed.
Committee Motion 95-17(4): Concurrence Of Tabled Document 137-17(4), Supplementary Estimates (Operations Expenditures), No. 3, 2013, 2014, Carried
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters
The Chair Robert Bouchard
Does the committee agree that Bill 18, Apology Act, is ready for third reading?
---Bill 18 as a whole approved for third reading.