Thank you, Madam Premier. Oral questions. Written questions. Returns to written questions. Replies to the commissioner's address. Petitions. Reports of committees on the review of bills. Reports of standing and special committees. Tabling of documents. Minister responsible for Environment and Climate Change.

Mr. Speaker, I wish to table the following two documents: Environmental Rights Act Annual Report 2022-2023; and, the NWT Surface Rights Board Annual Work Plan and Budget (Core Funding) for 2023-2024. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Minister. Tabling of documents. Minister responsible for Education, Culture and Employment.

Thank you, Minister. Tabling of documents. Minister responsible for infrastructure.

Mr. Speaker, I wish to table the following document: 2022 Annual Report on the Legislative Assembly Under the Transportation of Dangerous Goods Act. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Minister. Tabling of documents. Notices of motion. Motions. Notices of motion for the first reading of bills. Minister responsible for Finance.

Mr. Speaker, I give notice that on Wednesday, May 31st, 2023, I will present Bill 92, An Act to Amend the Petroleum Products and Carbon Tax Act, No. 3, to be read for the first time. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Minister. Colleagues, we will take a short recess.

---SHORT RECESS.

Colleagues, we will continue. Notices of motion for the first reading of bills. First reading of bills. Member for Kam Lake.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I wish to present to the House Bill 90, An Act to Amend the Legislative Assembly and Executive Council Act, No. 5, to be read for the first time. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Member for Kam Lake. First reading of bills. Member for Frame Lake.

Merci, Monsieur le President. Mr. Speaker, I wish to present to the House Bill 91, An Act to Amend the Petroleum Products and Carbon Tax Act, No. 2, to be read for the first time. Mahsi, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Member for Frame Lake. First reading of bills. Second reading of bills. Consideration in committee of the whole of bills and other matters, Bill 23, 29, and 79, Minister's Statement 264-19(2), Tabled Document 681-19(2), with Member for Inuvik Twin Lakes in the chair.

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

Merci, Madame la Présidente. Committee wishes to consider Bill 79. Mahsi.

Thank you. Does committee agree?

Thank you, committee. We will take a short recess and resume with Bill 79.

---SHORT RECESS.

I now call Committee of the Whole back to order. Committee, we've agreed to consider Bill 79, An Act to Amend the Judicature Act. I will ask the Minister of Justice to introduce the bill.

Thank you, Madam Chair. I am here today to present Bill 79, An Act to Amend the Judicature Act.

The purpose of Bill 79 is to bring the Northwest Territories into compliance with the Canadian Free Trade Agreement; and, to make unrelated improvements to the functioning of the Court of Appeal.

The Canadian Free Trade Agreement is an intergovernmental agreement between the Canadian provinces and territories which has replaced the former Agreement on Internal Trade. The Government of the Northwest Territories signed the new agreement in April 2017 and is now obligated to make changes to our legislation which will ensure trade orders of a presiding body or compliance panel established under the agreement have, once filed, the same force and effect as an order of our superior court. This amendment will come into effect retroactively to January 1st, 2019.

During engagement with the judiciary, two unrelated additional changes were suggested that could help improve the functioning of the Court of Appeal. The Act will be amended to provide that a Court of Appeal judge who ceases to hold office may still grant judgment on pending matters within a certain timeframe. It will also be amended to provide that if a judge who has sat on a Court of Appeal panel is unable to continue with a case, the other two judges may render judgment on the appeal if it is unanimous. This will reduce the need for cases to be re-heard should a presiding judge become unavailable to conclude a case in these circumstances.

This concludes my opening remarks, and I will be pleased to answer any questions that committee members may have. Thank you.

Thank you. Minister, would you like to bring witnesses into the chamber?

Yes, I would.

Thank you. Sergeant-At-Arms, please escort the witnesses into the Chamber.

Minister, please introduce your witnesses.