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Bill C-39

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RECOMMENDATION

Her Excellency the Governor General recommends to the House of Commons the appropriation of public revenue under the circumstances, in the manner and for the purposes set out in a measure entitled ``An Act to replace the Yukon Act in order to modernize it and to implement certain provisions of the Yukon Northern Affairs Program Devolution Transfer Agreement, and to repeal and make amendments to other Acts''.

SUMMARY

The purpose of this enactment is to replace the current Yukon Act in order to modernize it, by reflecting responsible government in Yukon and renaming a number of public institutions to reflect current practice, and to provide the Legislature of Yukon with new powers over public real property and waters.

The enactment includes a preamble stating that Yukon has a system of responsible government that is similar in principle to that of Canada. It also contains details on the relationship between the Commissioner of Yukon and the Executive Council which are consistent with the conventions of modern government in Canada.

The enactment renames the ``Council'' as the ``Legislative Assembly of Yukon'', the ``Commissioner in Council'' as the ``Legislature of Yukon'' and ``ordinances'' as ``laws of the Legislature''. The enactment reaffirms the Auditor General of Canada as the auditor of the Yukon Government, but also makes provisions for the Yukon Government to appoint its own independent auditor at a future date to be fixed by the Governor in Council.

New powers are provided as part of the implementation of a number of provisions of the Yukon Northern Affairs Program Devolution Transfer Agreement, which provides for the transfer of the administration and control of most public real property and water rights in Yukon to the Commissioner. The enactment includes provisions for the repeal of federal legislation governing the property and rights being transferred.