Thank you, Madam Chair. I am pleased to appear before the committee today to assist in your review of Bill 59, Estate Administration Law Amendment Act.
The Estate Administration Law Amendment Act is an omnibus bill that would amend four separate acts that deal with estate administration: the Children’s Law Act, the Guardianship and Trusteeship Act, the Intestate Succession Act and the Public Trustee Act.
A primary focus of the proposed amendments is the changes necessary to ensure that existing legislation is consistent with the new Estate Administration Rules of the Supreme Court of the Northwest Territories. Those rules will replace the current Probate Rules, which have been in place for many years. The rules have been under development by a drafting committee, led by the Supreme Court, since September 2009 and are expected to be completed later this year. Bill 59 will eliminate references to the Probate Rules and add regulation-making authorities to address requirements relating to the filing of accounts by trustees. The bill also includes amendments that will increase the amounts that may be paid on behalf of a child where there is no appointed guardian, increase the entitlement a spouse receives where the deceased has surviving children, and allow the Office of the Public Trustee to administer an estate having a value less than $75,000 without obtaining a grant of probate or administration.
The department consulted on the proposed amendments with the Law Society of the Northwest Territories and the Supreme Court of the Northwest Territories. The department also consulted with the public guardian with the Department of Health and Social Services.
I would like to thank the Standing Committee on Social Programs for its careful review of Bill 59, and I am pleased that a motion resulting from that review will be brought forward this afternoon to help improve the bill. I would be happy to respond to any questions Members may have. Thank you.