Thank you for that clarification. Mr. Testart, anything further?

Crystal clear, Mr. Chair. Excellent job. Thank you. Nothing further.

Thank you, Mr. Testart. I see no further questions or comments. Committee, we can proceed to a clause-by-clause review of the bill starting on page 5. There are 52 clauses, so I propose that we proceed five clauses at a time. I'll call out clause one through five, et cetera. Does committee agree?

All right, committee. I note there's also one schedule at the end.

---Clauses 1 through 52 inclusive and Schedule 1 approved

Thank you, committee. To the bill as a whole. Does committee agree that Bill 28, reprint, Interpretation Act is now ready for third reading?

Bill 28 is now ready for third reading. Does committee agree that this concludes our consideration of Bill 28?

Thank you, committee. Thank you again to the Minister. Thank you to your witnesses. Sergeant-at-Arms, you may escort the witnesses from the Chamber.

Committee, next we have agreed to consider Bill 29, Miscellaneous Statute Law Amendment Act, 2017. I will once again turn to the Minister responsible for the bill to introduce it. Minister Sebert.

Mr. Chair, I am here to present Bill 29, Miscellaneous Statute Law Amendment Act, 2017.

The purpose of Bill 29 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; and

• It must not create a new offence or subject a new class of persons to an existing offence.

Departments responsible for the various statutes being amended have reviewed and approved the changes. The amendments proposed in Bill 29 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 29 and would be happy to answer any questions Members may have regarding Bill 29.

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

Thank you, Mr. Chair. Mr. Chair, the Standing Committee on Social Development concluded its review of Bill 29 on the Miscellaneous Statutes Law Amendment Act, 2017 on August 22nd, 2017, with a public hearing held here at the Legislative Assembly building. Housekeeping bills such as this ensure that territorial legislation is subject to regular review for consistency and liability. The committee is pleased to support the department's work. Individual Members may have additional comments or questions as we proceed with the consideration of this bill. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Thank you, Mr. Thompson. I see that the Minister has witnesses. Sergeant-at-Arms, would you please escort the witnesses into the Chamber. Minister, please introduce your witness.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. Laura Jeffrey, legislative counsel, to my left. Thank you.

Thank you, Minister. I will open the floor to general comments on Bill 29. General comments? Seeing none, we can proceed to a clause-by-clause review. There are 16 clauses. I propose that we consider the bill five clauses at a time. Does committee agree?

Thank you, committee. Clauses 1 through 5.

---Clauses 1 through 16 inclusive approved

Thank you, committee. To the bill as a whole. Does committee agree that Bill 29, Miscellaneous Statutes Law Amendment Act, 2017 is now ready for third reading?

Thank you, committee. Bill 29 is ready for third reading. Does committee agree that this concludes our consideration of Bill 29?

Thank you, committee. Thank you, Minister. Thank you to the witness. Sergeant-at-Arms, you may escort the witness from the Chamber. Ms. Green.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. Mr. Chair, pursuant to section 77(1) of the Legislative Assembly and Executive Council Act, I wish to advise the House that I have a conflict of interest in Bill 30, Health Statutes Law Amendment Act. This bill amends the Public Health Act to clarify that the Commissioner may make regulations respecting cremation and crematoria. Mr. Chair, my spouse is a funeral planner and, as such, has a private interest in this bill. I will now excuse myself from the Chamber during consideration of this matter. Thank you.