Thank you, Mr. Chair. Mr. Chair, this motion simply lays out the definitions that clarify later amendments that will be proposed. Quite plainly, it speaks to what a political party is, what a registered political party is, and what an authorized representative is in terms of the regulations that will be proposed under the act.
Again, this provides absolute certainty to Northerners and, in particular, those who are subject to either the GNWT's code of conduct or other statutes that make explicit reference to Territorial political parties without defining them. This clarifies that issue and clearly defines what a political party is and the difference between a group of people who have formed one and an officially registered one that can participate in elections.
They are simple definitions, Mr. Chair. I look forward to the debate on them. I would like to request a recorded vote. Thank you.
The Member for Kam Lake.
All those opposed, please rise.
The Member for Tu Nedhe-Wiilideh, the Member for Nahendeh, the Member for Frame Lake, the Member for Yellowknife Centre, the Member for Deh Cho, the Member for Inuvik Boot Lake, the Member for Range Lake, the Member for Great Slave, the Member for Yellowknife South, the Member for Inuvik Twin Lakes, the Member for Hay River South, the Member for Hay River North, the Member for Sahtu, the Member for Yellowknife North.
All those abstaining, please rise.
The Member for Thebacha.
The results of the recorded vote: one in favour, 14 opposed, one abstention. The motion is defeated.
---Defeated
With that, Members, we will call a short recess. Thank you.
---SHORT RECESS
Thank you, committee. We will now call the Committee of the Whole back to order. Committee, we were on clause 2. We will continue. Does committee agree?
Agreed.
Thank you. We will now do the majority in groups.
---Clauses 3 to 33 inclusive approved
Thank you. Mr. Testart.
Thank you, Mr. Chair. I know which way the wind is blowing on this amendment, so I won't belabour the point too much, but for the purposes of posterity, I wish to make sure these amendments make their way into the official record so that we can see clearly what was being proposed and clearly how these amendments were designed to create options for our residents.
There are a few more amendments I will move as well for the same purposes, but we don't have to belabour the point, and I won't be asking for recorded votes. Thank you.
Sorry, Mr. Chair. I did not request a recorded vote.
The Member for Kam Lake and the Member for Yellowknife North.
All those opposed, please rise.
The Member for Tu Nedhe-Wiilideh, the Member for Nahendeh, the Member for Frame Lake, the Member for Yellowknife Centre, the Member for Deh Cho, the Member for Inuvik Boot Lake, the Member for Range Lake, the Member for Great Slave, the Member for Yellowknife South, the Member for Inuvik Twin Lakes, the Member for Hay River South, the Member for Thebacha, the Member for Sahtu.
All those abstaining, please rise. The results of the recorded vote are two in favour, 12 opposed, zero abstentions. The motion is defeated.
---Defeated
Clause 60. Does committee agree?
Agreed.
Agreed? Thank you. Committee, just to be sure we have it on the record, I wanted to go back to several clauses where motions were defeated to ensure we agree. Committee, clause 34. Does committee agree?
Agreed.
Clause 36, does committee agree?
Agreed.
Thank you. We will now return to clause 61 to 74. Does committee agree?
Agreed.
Agreed? Thank you. Committee, to the bill as a whole, does committee agree?
Agreed.
Does committee agree that Bill 24, An Act to Amend the Elections and Plebiscites Act, is now ready for third reading? Does committee agree?
Agreed.
Bill 24 is now ready for third reading. Does committee agree that this concludes our consideration of Bill 24?
Agreed.
Agreed. Thank you. Thank you, Mr. O'Reilly. Thank you to your witnesses. Sergeant-at-Arms, please escort the witnesses from the Chamber. Thank you, committee. Mr. Beaulieu, what is the wish of committee?
Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Mr. Chairman, I move that the chair rise and report progress. Thank you, Mr. Chair.
Thank you. There is a motion to rise and report progress. Does committee agree?
Agreed.
Thank you. I will now rise and report progress.
