I am pleased to appear before the committee today as you consider Bill 64, An Act to Amend the Co-operative Associations Act.

The main focus of the proposed amendments to the Co-operative Associations Act is to address existing gaps and to clarify and revise outdated provisions. This will include amendments to eliminate overlapping responsibilities of the supervisor within the Department of Industry, Tourism and Investment and the registrar with legal registries, as well as amendments to enact requirements that correspond more closely with the rules governing other businesses operating in the NWT. The bill also includes a number of non-substantive amendments to ensure consistency with current drafting standards.

The Department of Justice and the Department of Industry, Tourism and Investment consulted on the proposed amendments with Arctic Co-operatives Ltd. on several occasions, as it operates as an umbrella organization encompassing many of the retail co-operatives operating in the Northwest Territories. The departments also provided a consultation draft of the bill with an explanation of the proposed amendments to all 19 existing co-operatives.

I would like to thank the Standing Committee on Social Programs for its review of Bill 64, including very constructive feedback and identification of a number of motions that improve the bill, which will be advanced this afternoon. I look forward to responding to any questions Members may have. Thank you.

Thank you, Minister Ramsay. Now I will turn to the chair of the Standing Committee on Social Programs, Mr. Moses.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. The Standing Committee on Social Programs conducted its public review of Bill 64, An Act to Amend the Co-operatives Association Act, on September 15, 2015. A clause-by-clause review was conducted the same day and the committee thanks the Minister and his staff for presenting the bill.

Bill 64 amends the Co-operatives Associations Act to define the essential characteristics of the co-operative enterprise and improve procedures for incorporation, naming, amalgamation and continuance of co-operative associations. The bill clarifies the responsibilities of directors and members and streamlines the regulatory requirements.

During the course of the review, the Minister agreed to consider the committee’s request for motions to be drafted to amend the bill. The intent of the motions amending each of subclause 26(3) and 34(3) is to accomplish the objective of ensuring that co-operative associations can avail themselves of the services of credit unions as well as banks.

The intent of the motion amending clause 13 of the bill provides limitations to the criteria set out in the bill under which it is permissible for directors to delay the redemption and repayment of monies owing to a person whose membership in a co-operative association is terminated. The committee felt, and the department agreed, that the addition of these limitations improved the bill by better balancing the interests of the co-operative association against those of a terminated member. It was agreed that these three motions will be moved today during our Committee of the Whole considerations of the bill. This was done to exponentially allow the standing committee a clause-by-clause review to proceed at the September 15thmeeting without causing any undue delays.

Upon the committee’s review, a motion was carried to report Bill 64, An Act to Amend the Co-operative Associations Act, to the Assembly as ready for consideration in Committee of the Whole.

This concludes the committee’s opening comments on Bill 64. Individual Members may have questions or comments as we proceed. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Moses. Minister Ramsay, would you like to bring witnesses into the House?

Yes, Mr. Chairman. Thank you.

Sergeant-at-Arms, would you please escort the witnesses into the Chamber.

Thank you. Minister Ramsay, can I get you to introduce your witnesses, please.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. To my right is Mark Aitken, assistant deputy minister, Office of the Attorney General; and to my left is Mr. Gary MacDougall with legal registries.

Thank you, Minister Ramsay. Committee, I will open the floor to general comments on Bill 64. General comments. Does committee agree we go to detail?

Thank you. Does committee agree we will consider clauses in groups where applicable?

I will defer the bill number and title until consideration of clauses. Turn to page 1. Clauses 1 to 10.

---Clauses 1 through 12 inclusive approved

Clause 13. Mr. Dolynny.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. I have a motion. I move that Clause 13 of Bill 64 be amended by renumbering proposed subsections 13(3) and (4) as 13(7) and (8) respectively, and adding the following before those renumbered sections:

Notice of delay

(4) If the directors delay the redemption or payment under subsection (2), the member affected must be notified of the reason for the delay no later than 30 days after the time for redemption where payment has elapsed.

Continuing notice

(5) If the redemption of payment continues to be delayed, the member must be notified each six months of the reason for the continuing delay.

Payment when possible

(6) When the directors determine that the circumstances giving rise to the delay under subsection (2) no longer apply, the amounts owing to the member must be paid within 30 days after that determination.

Thank you.

Committee, the motions are on your desk. The motion is in order. To the motion.

Question has been called. The motion has been carried.

---Carried

Clause 13 as amended.

---Clause 13 as amended approved

Clauses 14 to 25.

---Clauses 14 through 25 inclusive approved

Clause 26. Ms. Bisaro.

Thank you, Ms. Bisaro. Committee, the motions are on your desk. The motion is in order. To the motion.

Question has been called. The motion has been carried.

---Carried