This is page numbers 5353 - 5396 of the Hansard for the 19th Assembly, 2nd Session. The original version can be accessed on the Legislative Assembly's website or by contacting the Legislative Assembly Library. The word of the day was know.

Some Hon. Members

Question.

The Deputy Speaker

The Deputy Speaker Lesa Semmler

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

---Carried

Motions. Notice of motion for the first reading of bills. First reading of bills. Second reading of bills. Consideration in Committee of the Whole of bills and other matters, Bill 23, Bill 29, Bill 57, Bill 61, Committee Report 40-19(2), Minister's Statement 264-19(2), Tabled Document 681-19(2), Tabled Document 694-19(2), and Tabled Document 813-19(2), with Member for Deh Cho in the chair.

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The Chair

The Chair Ronald Bonnetrouge

I now call Committee of the Whole to order. What is the wish of committee? Member for Frame Lake.

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Kevin O'Reilly

Kevin O'Reilly Frame Lake

Merci, Monsieur le President. Committee wishes to deal with Bill 57, Miscellaneous Statute Law Amendment Act, 2022; and, Tabled Document 813-19(2), 2023-2024 Main Estimates, with Industry, Tourism and Investment. Mahsi, Mr. Chair.

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The Chair

The Chair Ronald Bonnetrouge

Mahsi, committee. We shall take a short recess.

---SHORT RECESS

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The Chair

The Chair Ronald Bonnetrouge

Committee, we have agreed to consider Bill 57, Miscellaneous Statute Law Amendment Act, 2022. I will ask the Minister of Justice to introduce the bill.

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R.J. Simpson

R.J. Simpson Hay River North

Thank you, Mr. Chair. I am here today to present Bill 57, Miscellaneous Statute Law Amendment Act, 2022.

The purpose of Bill 57 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:

  1. it must not be controversial;
  2. it must not involve the spending of public funds;
  3. it must not prejudicially affect rights; and
  4. 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 brought forward in this bill.

The proposed amendments are minor, uncontroversial or non-substantive, and many consist of technical corrections. 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.

This concludes my opening remarks and I would be pleased to answer any questions the Members have. Thank you.

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The Chair

The Chair Ronald Bonnetrouge

Mahsi, Minister. Minister, would you like to bring witnesses into the Chamber?

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R.J. Simpson

R.J. Simpson Hay River North

Yes, I would.

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The Chair

The Chair Ronald Bonnetrouge

Does committee agree?

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Some Hon. Members

Agreed.

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The Chair

The Chair Ronald Bonnetrouge

Sergeant-at-arms, please escort the witnesses into the Chamber. Mahsi.

Please introduce your witness.

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R.J. Simpson

R.J. Simpson Hay River North

Thank you. With me, I have Christina Duffy, director of legislation division with the Department of Justice. Thank you.

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The Chair

The Chair Ronald Bonnetrouge

I will now turn to the chair of the Standing Committee on Social Development, the committee that reviewed the bill, for any opening comments on Bill 57. MLA for Kam Lake.

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Caitlin Cleveland

Caitlin Cleveland Kam Lake

Thank you very much, Mr. Chair. Mr. Chair, Bill 57, Miscellaneous Statute Law Amendment Act, 2022, received second reading in the Legislative Assembly on October 20th, 2022, and was referred to the Standing Committee on Social Development for review.

On February 13th, 2023, the Standing Committee on Social Development held a public hearing with the Minister of Justice and completed its clause-by-clause review of the bill. Individual Members may have additional comments or questions at this time. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

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The Chair

The Chair Ronald Bonnetrouge

Mahsi. I will now open the floor to general comments on Bill 57.

Has committee agreed that there are no further general comments or no comments at all?

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Some Hon. Members

Agreed.

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The Chair

The Chair Ronald Bonnetrouge

Can we proceed to a clause-by-clause review of Bill 57, Miscellaneous Statute Law Amendment Act, 2022?

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Some Hon. Members

Agreed.

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The Chair

The Chair Ronald Bonnetrouge

Where possible, I will call the clauses in groups of five. Does committee agree?

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Some Hon. Members

Agreed.

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The Chair

The Chair Ronald Bonnetrouge

Committee, we will defer the bill number and title until after consideration of the clauses.

Please turn to page 1 of the bill.

---Clauses 1 to 43 inclusive approved

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The Chair

The Chair Ronald Bonnetrouge

We will now return to the bill number entitled Bill 57, Miscellaneous Statute Law Amendment Act, 2022. Does committee agree?

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Some Hon. Members

Agreed.

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The Chair

The Chair Ronald Bonnetrouge

Committee, to the bill as a whole, does the committee agree that Bill 57, Miscellaneous Statute Law Amendment Act, 2022, is now ready for third reading?