Masi. To the motion as amended. I'll allow the mover to provide closing remarks. Member for Yellowknife Centre.

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, there is no question among the people on this side of the House that money invested in early childhood development yields fantastic returns. We want people to have good school readiness, to graduate from high school, to attain the skills they need to realize their full potential, whatever that looks like for them. We want them to have as many opportunities as possible.

Mr. Speaker, junior kindergarten is not the only way to achieve this goal. There are other ways, and I've mentioned some of them. Aboriginal Head Start is one that has a proven track record and is offered free of charge, so it makes no sense whatever to replace it. I think it's worth reminding the Minister that consultation means that not only are you listening, but you're willing to change the outcome, and so I recommend that the Minister consider whether, in fact, all 49 schools need the same thing, or whether only some of them need the program that he's offering.

I'd like to draw the attention of the Minister to the comments on this side about the need for adequate funding for school boards and district education authorities who are taking on a whole new year of education programming. I've already heard stories about a lack of resources in the schools that are limiting extra-curricular activities, and I think it would be a crying shame to do that at the expense, to have the older children pay for JK, so to speak, to have it at their expense.

I would like to echo my colleague Mr. Nadli's recommendation that we find a way for cooperation and coexistence. That is what I would like to see. I would like to thank all my colleagues who have spoken in support of this motion and request a recorded vote. Mahsi, Mr. Speaker.

Masi. Member has requested a recorded vote. All those in favour of the motion as amended, please stand.

All those opposed, please stand. All those abstaining, please stand. Masi. The results of the recorded vote are 18 in favour, zero opposed, zero abstained. The motion is carried. The motion as amended has been carried.

---Carried

Masi. Motions. Item 18, first reading of bills. Item 19, second reading of bills. Item 20, consideration in Committee of the Whole of bills and other matters, Tabled Document 143-18(2), Tabled Document 163-18(2) and Bills 6 and 8 with Member for Hay River North in the Chair.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Mr. Chairman, committee would like to consider Bill 6, Miscellaneous Statute Law Amendment Act, 2016, and Bill 8, An Act to Amend the Childrens' Law Act. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Thank you, Mr. Beaulieu. Does committee agree?

We'll take a brief recess and consider the bills. Thank you.

---SHORT RECESS

I now call committee back to order. Committee, we have agreed to consider Bill 6, Miscellaneous Statute Law Amendment Act, 2016. I'll ask the Minister responsible for the bill to introduce it. Minister Sebert.

Thank you.

Just have a seat there. He can sit there, right?

All right. Committee, as I stated we've agreed to consider Bill 6, Miscellaneous Statute Law Amendment Act, 2016. I will ask the Minister responsible to introduce the bill. Minister Sebert.

Yes, I am pleased to be here today to present Bill 6 --

---Laughter

Minister Sebert, continue.

-- the Miscellaneous Statute Law Amendment Act, 2016. The purpose of Bill 6 is to amend various statutes of the Northwest Territories for which minor changes are proposed or errors or inconsistencies have been identified. Each amendment included in the bill had to meet the following criteria:

● it must not be controversial;

● it must not involve the spending of public funds;

● it must not prejudicially affect rights;

● it must not create a new offence or subject a new class of persons to an existing offence.

The departments responsible for the various statutes being amended have reviewed and approved the changes.

The amendments proposed in Bill 6 are minor, uncontroversial or non-substantive and many consist of technical corrections to a statute. The amendments are of such a nature that the preparation and legislative consideration of individual bills to correct each statute would be time consuming for the government and the Legislative Assembly. I would like to thank the Standing Committee on Social Development for its review of Bill 6 and would be pleased to answer any questions Members may have regarding the bill.

Thank you, Minister. I will now turn to the chair of the Standing Committee on Social Development, the committee that considered the bill, for opening comments. Mr. Thompson.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. Mr. Chair, the Standing Committee on Social Development concluded its review of Bill 6, Miscellaneous Statute Law Amendment Act, 2016, on October 25, 2016 with a public hearing held here in the Legislative building.

The Miscellaneous Statute Law Amendment Act, 2016 is an efficient, effective and fiscal-sensible mechanism to address minor non-substantial errors and inconsistencies in territorial legislation. Committee members are pleased to support this practical use of the government resources in an open and transparent manner to improve the quality, clarity and consistency of the territorial legislation. Individual Members may have additional comments or questions as we proceed with this consideration of this bill. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Thank you, Mr. Thompson. Minister, would you like to bring witnesses into the Chamber?

Yes, I would.

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

Minister, please introduce your witness to the Chamber.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. My witness is Kelly McLaughlin, the director of legislation.

Thank you, Minister, and welcome. I will now open the floor to general comments on Bill 6. I see no general comments. Does committee agree that we concluded general comments?