Merci, Monsieur le President. I'm pleased to recommend the Health Statutes Amendment Act, Cremation Services, Bill 30, for the consideration of this Assembly. This is a private Member's bill which proposes amendments to the Public Health Act and to the Vital Statistics Act. All Canadian jurisdictions except the Northwest Territories and Nunavut have legislation for cremation. The private Member's bill does not seek to create new powers with respect to cremation. It does not create any new regulatory structure to govern the performance of cremation. Above all, the private Member's bill does not require cremation. It does provide greater clarity for anyone designated to offer funeral services in the Northwest Territories, enabling service providers to include cremations within the existing system. Specifically, amendments to the Public Health Act will create the ability to make regulations for cremation and crematoriums, amendments to the Vital Statistics Act will define cremation and crematoriums and ensure that only a funeral planner can carry out cremations that are to take place in a crematorium.
I would like to thank all MLAs in this House for the unanimous support of the first reading of this bill and second reading. I believe that is good example of how consensus government can work. I look forward to your continued support in a public review of the bill through the Standing Committee on Social Development. Mahsi, Mr. Speaker.