Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Mr. Chairman, the Standing Committee on Social Programs conducted its public review of Bill 10, Exemptions Act, on February 17, 2010. The committee would like to thank the Minister and his staff for presenting the bill.
The bill repeals and replaces the existing Exemptions Act. In the new act, property categories that are exempt from legal seizure are expanded to include types of property essential for subsistence of the debtor and his or her dependents. The Public Service Garnishee Act is also amended.
Following discussions which took place during the public review, the committee will be moving an amendment to include trapping in the description of subsistence activities included in the bill.
Following the committee’s review, a motion was carried to report Bill 10, Exemptions Act, to the Assembly as ready for consideration in Committee of the Whole.
This concludes the committee’s opening comments on Bill 10. Individual Members may have additional questions or comments as we proceed. Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
Thank you, Mr. Beaulieu. I’d like to ask the Minister of Justice if he will be bringing in any witnesses. Mr. Lafferty.
Yes, Mr. Chair.
Does committee agree the Minister brings in his witnesses?
Agreed.
Sergeant-at-Arms, please escort the witnesses in.
Mr. Minister, can you introduce your witnesses, please?
Mahsi, Mr. Chair. Mr. Chair, to my right is Ian Rennie, legislative counsel, legislation division. To my left is Mike Reddy, senior policy analyst, policy and planning division. Mahsi.
Thank you, Mr. Minister. Welcome, witnesses. General comments on Bill 10, Exemptions Act. Detail? Can we turn to page 1, Bill 10, Exemptions Act, clause 1.
Agreed.
Clause 2, Mr. Bromley.
Thank you, Mr. Chair. I have a motion with respect to the Exemptions Act.
I move that clause 2 of Bill 10 be amended by striking out “hunting or fishing for food” in proposed paragraph 2(1)(e) and substituting “hunting, trapping or fishing for food.”
Motion is being circulated. Motion is in order. To the motion.
Question.
Question is being called.
---Carried
Clause 2 as amended.
Agreed.
Clause 3.
---Clauses 3 through 12 inclusive approved
The bill as a whole, as amended.
Agreed.
Does committee agree that Bill 10 as amended is ready for third reading?
Agreed.
Bill 10 as amended is ready for third reading.
With that, I’d like to thank the Minister, thank the witnesses. Sergeant-at-Arms, could you escort the witnesses out?
The next item we agreed to deal with is Committee Report 5-16(4), Report and Review of the 2008-2009 Human Rights Commission Annual Report. With that, I’d like to pass it over to Mr. Menicoche.
Thank you very much, Mr. Chair. On Thursday, February 11, 2010, the Standing Committee on Government Operations tabled its report 5-16(4) on the Review of the Human Rights Commission 2008-2009 Annual Report, which includes two recommendations. It was read into the record by members of the standing committee and a motion was passed that moved the report into Committee of the Whole. Thank you, Mr. Chair.
Mr. Menicoche.
Mr. Chair, I move that this committee recommends that the Government of the Northwest Territories include the Human Rights Commission in its Human Resources Manual, Section 810 – Civil Leave, thus making board members who are GNWT employees eligible for civic leave with pay to attend meetings.
Thank you, Mr. Chair.
The motion is being circulated. Motion is in order. To the motion.
Question.
Question is being called.
---Carried
Mr. Menicoche.
Thank you, Mr. Chair. I move that this committee recommends that the Government of the Northwest Territories provide a comprehensive response to this report within 120 days.
The motion is being circulated. Motion is in order. To the motion.
Question.
Question has been called.
---Carried
Does committee agree that Committee Report 5-16(4) is concluded?
Agreed.
Committee Report 5-16(4) is concluded. What is the wish of the committee? Mrs. Groenewegen.
Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I move that we report progress.
---Carried
Can I have the report of Committee of the Whole, please, Mr. Krutko?
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, your committee has been considering and Bills 2, 4, 5, 7, 10 and Committee Report 5-16(4), Report on the Review of the 2008-2009 Human Rights Commission Annual Report, and would like to report progress, with four motions being adopted and Committee Report 5-16(4) is concluded and that Bills 2, 5, 7 are ready for third reading and that Bills 4 and 10 are ready for third reading as amended. I move that the report of Committee of the Whole be concurred with. Mahsi.
Thank you, Mr. Krutko. Do we have a seconder? The honourable Member for Monfwi, Mr. Lafferty.
---Carried
Mr. Speaker, orders of the day for Friday, February 26, 2010, 10:00 a.m.:
Prayer
Ministers’ Statements
Members’ Statements
Returns to Oral Questions
Recognition of Visitors in the Gallery
Acknowledgements
Oral Questions
Written Questions
Returns to Written Questions
Petitions
Reports of Standing and Special Committees
Reports of Committees on the Review of Bills
Tabling of Documents
Notices of Motion
Notices of Motion for First Reading of Bills
Motions
First Reading of Bills
Bill 12, Supplementary Appropriation Act (Infrastructure Expenditures) No. 4, 2009-2010
Bill 13, Appropriation Act (Operations Expenditures), 2010-2011
Bill 14, Supplementary Appropriation Act (Operations Expenditures ) No. 3, 2009-2010
Bill 15, Supplementary Appropriation Act (Infrastructure Expenditures) No. 1, 2010-2011
Second Reading of Bills
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters
Bill 3, Medical Profession Act
Bill 11, An Act to Amend the Workers’ Compensation Act
Minister’s Statement 47-16(4), Transfer of the Public Housing Rental Subsidy
Report of Committee of the Whole
Third Reading of Bills
Bill 2, Forgiveness of Debts Act, 2009-2010
Bill 4, An Act to Amend the Child and Family Services Act
Bill 5, An Act to Amend the Commissioner’s Land Act
Bill 7, An Act to Amend the Summary Conviction Procedures Act
Bill 10, Exemptions Act
Prorogation
Thank you, Mr. Clerk. Accordingly, this House stands adjourned until Friday, February 26th, at 10:00 a.m.
---ADJOURNMENT
The House adjourned at 4:18 p.m.
