BILL 3

An Act to Amend the Provincial Court Act

Her Majesty, by and with the advice and consent of the Legislative Assembly of New Brunswick, enacts as follows:

1 Subsection 2(3) of the Provincial Court Act, chapter P-21 of the Revised Statues, 1973, is amended by striking out “ten” and substituting “7”.

2 Section 12 of the Act is amended

(a)  by repealing subsection (2) and substituting the following:

12(2) An oath or affirmation shall be taken and subscribed or made and subscribed before

(a)  the Chief Justice of New Brunswick, in the case of the chief judge and the associate chief judge, and

(b)  the chief judge, in the case of any other judge.

(b)  by adding after subsection (2) the following:

12(2.1) A person before whom an oath is taken and subscribed or an affirmation is made and subscribed shall file the oath or affirmation in the office of the Minister without delay.

3 Subsection 23(1) of the Act is amended by adding after paragraph (e.1) the following:

(e.2)  exempting persons or bodies from fees for services provided by the court;

4 Section 1 does not apply to the appointment of the person who holds the office of chief judge or associate chief judge if the appointment was made before the commencement of this section.