Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I think when reading clause 4 and we talk about the ownership show, it basically makes sure that the dog is without any distress. I think that really speaks to the whole problem. An animal in distress is an animal in distress, period. I’m convinced that good judgment will prevail in this particular case. I think that I put my faith in the judgment of the courts if someone does bring forward a charge, an ill-directed charge and a charge that I think has fair and unreasonable interpretation of what distress means. I think any decent northern judge, which I believe in the quality of the bench we have here, but I think anybody here, living here long enough would know what reasonable activity and distress is.
I’m not proposing a new definition by any means, but I know it’s an ambiguous term that someone is going to say that that dog shouldn’t have been outside and it was under duress, or that dog ran too long in a race, or was out chained up too long and it’s duress. I think that I’m convinced common sense will prevail. So I think I’ll have to vote accordingly.
The one thing I would say, though, in all honesty, is as a measure of courtesy I would have appreciated finding out this amendment would have come forward a little sooner than it being dropped on my desk and told to vote one way or the other. I mean, I would have liked to have had more time to hear my colleagues who feel that no change should happen to the act and I certainly would have enjoyed a little more time to take the consideration into seeing the deletion of this. So I would say to the mover, I’m still disappointed on the shortness of how this was now dropped on my desk without any sort of full understanding or impact of this particular motion. The reason I sort of say that is I’m going to have to lean towards the amendment as proposed, because I think at the end of the day common sense should prevail and I think our bench will make sure that that’s a reasonable interpretation, regardless of the activity, whether it’s hunting, trapping, fishing, or even just being tied up outside.
Thank you. Any other Members wish to speak who haven’t already spoken? Okay. Because of my confusion I will go to the mover of the motion to close, because there was some confusion. So I’ll allow the mover of the motion to officially close and I have the discretion to do that. Thank you, committee. Once again my confusion is just gotten straightened out. We don’t go back to the mover of a motion in Committee of the Whole a second time for concluding discussion and debate on a motion. To the motion. Mr. Beaulieu.
Thank you, Mr. Beaulieu. Hold on one second. The Member has requested a recorded vote. All those in favour of the amendment?
Ms. Bisaro, Mr. Bromley, Mr. Ramsay, Mrs. Groenewegen, Mr. Beaulieu, Mr. Hawkins, Mr. Jacobson.
All those opposed?
Mr. Yakeleya; Mr. Lafferty; Ms. Lee; Mr. Miltenberger; Mr. Roland; Mr. McLeod, Deh Cho; Mr. McLeod, Inuvik Twin Lakes; Mr. McLeod, Yellowknife South; Mr. Menicoche.
All those abstaining? Thank you, committee. The results of the vote: seven in favour, nine against. The motion is defeated.
---Defeated
We’re on clause 4.
---Clauses 4 through 12 inclusive approved
Bill 16, An Act to Amend the Dog Act.
Agreed.
To the bill as a whole.
Agreed.
Does committee agree that Bill 16, An Act to Amend the Dog Act, is now ready for third reading?
---Bill 16 as a whole approved for third reading
Thank you, Mr. Minister. If I could please get you to thank your witnesses. Sergeant-at-Arms, if I could please get you to escort them out of the Chamber. What is the wish of the committee? Mrs. Groenewegen.
Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I move that we report progress.
Thank you, Mrs. Groenewegen. I’ll just wait until the Minister gets back to his seat.
---Carried
Can I have the report of Committee of the Whole, please, Mr. Abernethy.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. You’re committee has been considering Committee Report 17-16(5), Report on Bill 16, An Act to Amend the Dog Act; and Bill 16, An Act to Amend the Dog Act, and would like to report progress with five motions being adopted and that Committee Report 17-16(5) is concluded and that Bill 16 is ready for third reading. I move that the report of Committee of the Whole be concurred with.
Thank you, Mr. Abernethy. A motion is on the floor. Do we have a seconder? The honourable Member for Sahtu, Mr. Yakeleya.
---Carried
Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. I move, seconded by the honourable Member for Range Lake, that Bill 14, An Act to Amend the Conflict of Interest Act, be read for the third time.
The motion is in order. To the motion.
Question.
Question has been called.
--Carried
The honourable Minister responsible for Municipal and Community Affairs, Mr. Robert McLeod.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I move, seconded by the honourable Member for Yellowknife South, that Bill 15, An Act to Amend the Fire Prevention Act, be read for the third time.
The motion is in order. To the motion.
Question.
Question has been called.
---Carried
The honourable Minister responsible for Finance, Mr. Miltenberger.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I move, seconded by the honourable Member for Inuvik Boot Lake, that Bill 17, An Act to Amend the Income Tax Act, be read for the third time.
The motion is in order. To the motion.
Question.
Question has been called.
---Carried
The honourable Minister responsible for Municipal and Community Affairs, Mr. Robert McLeod.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I move, seconded by the honourable Member for Deh Cho, that Bill 18, An Act to Repeal the Settlements Act, be read for the third time.
The motion is in order. To the motion.
Question.
Question has been called.
---Carried
The honourable Minister responsible for Municipal and Community Affairs, Mr. Robert McLeod.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I move, seconded by the honourable Member for Monfwi, that Bill 19, Municipal Statutes Amendment Act, be read for the third time.
The motion is in order. To the motion.
Question.
Question has been called.
---Carried
