Masi. All those abstaining, please stand. The results of the recorded votes: seven in favour, 11 against, zero abstention. The motion is defeated.

---Defeated

Motions. Item 18, first reading of bills. Minister for Municipal and Community Affairs.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I move, seconded by the honourable Member for Range Lake, that Bill 31, Northwest Territories 911 Act, be read for the first time. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Masi. The motion is in order. The motion is non-debatable. All those in favour? All those opposed? The motion is carried.

---Carried

Masi. Bill 31 has had its first reading. First reading of bills. Minister of Health and Social Services.

Masi. The motion is in order. The motion is non-debatable. All those in favour? All those opposed? The motion is carried.

---Carried

Masi. Bill 32 has had its first reading. First reading of bills. Item 19, second reading of bills. Minister of Justice.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I move, seconded by the honourable Member for Hay River South, that Bill 30, An Act to Amend the Human Rights Act, be read for the second time. This bill amends the Human Rights Act to:

• consolidate the office of the Human Rights Commission and the office of the Director of Human Rights into a single agency, the Human Rights Commission;
• clarify the public interest mandate of the commission;
• provide that restorative principles are to be applied to human rights protections and processes in the Northwest Territories;
• provide for the carriage of complaints by the commission, in recognition of its public interest mandate;
• add gender expression as a prohibited ground of discrimination; and
• adjust terminology in the French version relating to gender identity.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Masi. The motion is in order to the principle of the bill.

Question has been called. All those in favour? All those opposed? The motion is carried.

---Carried

Masi. Bill 30 has had its second reading. Member for Nahendeh.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I seek unanimous consent to waive rule 89(3) and have Bill 30, An Act to Amend the Human Rights Act, referred to the Standing Committee on Government Operations. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

---Unanimous consent granted

Masi. Second reading of bills. Item 20, consideration in Committee of the Whole of bills and other matters: Bill 20, Ombudsperson Act; Committee Report 10-18(3), Standing Committee on Government Operations Report on the Review of Bill 20: Ombudsperson Act; Minister's Statement 19-18(3), Aurora College Foundational Review Process; Minister's Statement 103-18(3), Marine Transportation Services, with Member for Hay River North in the chair.

I now call Committee of the Whole to order. What is the wish of committee? Mr. Testart.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. Committee would like to consider Committee Report 10-18(3), Report on the Review of Bill 20: Ombudsperson Act, and Bill 20, Ombudsperson Act. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Thank you, Mr. Testart. Does committee agree?

Thank you, committee. First, a brief recess.

---SHORT RECESS

I will call Committee of the Whole back to order. Committee, the first document that we have agreed to consider is Committee Report 10-18(3), Standing Committee on Government Operations Report on the Review of Bill 20, the Ombudsperson Act. I will go to the chair of the Standing Committee on Government Operations for opening comments. Mr. Testart.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. Yesterday the Standing Committee on Government Operations reported on its review of Bill 20 as a substantive report. That report was read into the record, and I am happy to answer any questions that Members of this committee have on that report, but otherwise, I will have the record speak for itself. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Thank you, Mr. Testart. I will open the floor to general comments on the report. Just so everyone is aware, the committee report contains recommendations. Generally, those recommendations are moved as motions by the chair of the committee. Mr. Testart.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. I move that this Assembly recommends that the Minister responsible for Public Engagement and Transparency work closely with the Office of the Clerk of the Legislative Assembly and the newly appointed Ombud to ensure the timely development and launch of a robust public awareness campaign to support the opening of the Office of the Ombud and increase residents' understanding of services the office provides and how to access them. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Thank you, Mr. Testart. There is a motion on the floor. To the motion.

Question has been called. All those in favour? All those opposed?

---Carried

Mr. Testart.