EdinburghNLP/nunavut-hansard-plusplus huggingface dataset:
Why? There are practical reasons. They have to sign a whole lot of papers everyday and discuss with a number of people who are in the headquarters.
The necessity and practicality of these PYs must be in Iqaluit.
This is going to continue to escalate if it’s separate from the hospital staff because they have hospital staff.
If it continues to be in Pangnirtung, or anywhere else, it doesn’t matter; it could be Cape Dorset, it could be Pond Inlet; it’s no help to patients who go over to the hospital here in Iqaluit.
I would urge the government; I’m not asking a question by the way, I would urge the government to reconsider to see if they can make a significant reduction in those over-budgets.
Bill 17. Health and Social Services. Operations and Maintenance.
Treatment. Mr. Tootoo.
Just for the record, I believe it was for the 2006-07 year, that we were told that finally all government departments were going to be in the black. I believe that was after year end, and then we found out after that the Department of Health was going to be over budgeted.
Is that what this amount is covering for?
Chairman: Thank you, Mr. Tootoo. Minister Simailak.
I’m pretty sure that was after year end, when we were told that everyone’s going to be in the black. I’m just wondering if the Minister of Finance can give us an indication of why it took so long for the Department of Health to realize that they were going to be over expended.
It’s basically the accruals from all of that takes a while to get through the system.
Again, we were told that year end or after year end that everyone was going to be in the black.
When did you find out when they were finalized, how much longer after that did you guys realize that they were going to be over by $1,007,000?
We have been trying to get all books closed off by the end of June. With this over expenditure, we did not find out until the month of October.
So, is the minister indicating that they didn’t realize how much they were going to be over until six months after year end, is that correct?
Not previously authorized. $1,007,000.
Chairman: Thank you. Total Treatment.
Chairman: Thank you. Total Department. $1,007,000.
Operations and Maintenance Appropriation. $1,007,000.
Chairman: To Bill 17 in your legislation binder.
Supplementary Amounts Appropriated for the Fiscal Year Ending March 31, 2007. Vote 1.
Total Operation and Maintenance. $1,007,000.
Chairman: Total Supplementary Appropriation. $1,007,000.
Chairman: Are you agreed to Bill 17 as a whole?
Chairman: Are you agreed pursuant to Rule 62(2) that Bill 17 can immediately be placed on the order paper of the day for third reading?
Chairman: Thank you. Bill 19.
Bill 19 – An Act to Amend the Income Tax Act, No. 2 – Consideration in Committee
I am pleased to speak to Bill 19, An Act to Amend the Income Tax Act, No. 2.
This bill is designed to update our Income Tax Act to ensure that it is in keeping to the recent changes made to the Income Tax Act (Canada).
It is our objective to effectively and efficiently administer the tax system for Nunavut to ensure that it is fair, socially progressive, fiscally prudent and economically competitive compared to other jurisdictions within Canada.
Mr. Chairman, Nunavummiut have been taking advantage of these positive tax changes initiated by the Government of Canada since the time that they were introduced.
As is the case in all jurisdictions, we must now update our Nunavut Income Tax Act to reflect the new taxation measures.
This bill will address three areas that need to be updated.
The first item to be updated is the medical expenses tax credit. Changes to the Income Tax Act (Canada) for this credit were made for the 2004 and 2005 taxation years.
Prior to 2004, individuals who had medical expenses for dependents that made more than the basic amount had their medical credits reduced. In 2004, the system was changed to allow for the medical expenses for other dependants, other than dependant children under 18 years of age, to be claimed in the same way as for the individuals.
The only difference was the imposition of a $5,000 ceiling per other dependant. In 2005, the cap on medical expenses for other dependents was raised to $10,000.
Our legislation needs to be updated to reflect the new rules even though the changes in the rates and eligibility have been incorporated in the Nunavut Income Tax and Benefit Return since 2004.
The second item to be updated, Mr. Chairman, is the dividend tax credit. The federal government has increased the gross-up of dividends for large corporations to 45 percent and changed its dividend tax credit to 19 percent.
Our legislation needs to be updated to reflect the new rules. This change will provide a 6.2 percent dividend tax credit for large corporations. The existing four percent dividend tax credit for smaller corporations whose dividends are grossed-up by only 25 percent will remain unchanged.
This change was effective for the 2006 taxation year and has been reflected in the Nunavut Income Tax and Benefit Return since 2006.
The third item to be updated are the tax brackets. The tax brackets used to calculate the personal income taxes for Nunavummiut have been amended in the past to reflect changes in the federal tax brackets.
Normally, the tax brackets are increased by an annual indexing provision in the Income Tax Act that is done automatically.
However, since the tax brackets for 2004 were increased beyond the annual indexing amount through the Federal Budget, it is necessary for greater clarity to explicitly state the tax brackets for 2005 and 2006 to show that the annual indexing continues to work as expected with the new brackets.
Do you have any other witnesses that you’d like to bring to the table, Minister?
Chairman: Thank you. (interpretation) Sergeant-at-Arms, please escort… (interpretation ends) Oh, you already have him.
Minister, please introduce your witness again. Minister Simailak.
The witness is Peter Ma, Deputy Minister of the Department of Finance.
I think that Mr. Ma is swifter than we thought.
Mr. Chairman, the Standing Committee on Government Operations and Accountability has carefully scrutinized Bill 19, An Act to Amend the Income Tax Act, No. 2.
Mr. Chairman, the standing committee recognizes that the purpose of Bill 19 is to amend the territorial Income Tax Act to reflect changes in the federal Income Tax Act relating to tax brackets, tax credits for medical expenses, and deductions from taxable dividends. These changes will benefit Nunavummiut and the standing committee supports them.
Mr. Chairman, during his appearance before the standing committee, members encouraged the minister and his officials to carefully monitor changes in the Federal Tax legislation that impact Nunavummiut and to introduce appropriate legislation as required.
Mr. Chairman, that concludes my opening comments. The standing committee recommends the passage of Bill 19 to all members.
Bill 19, in your white legislation binders.
Bill 19, An Act to Amend the Income Tax Act, No. 2.
Does the committee agree to Bill 19 as a whole?
Is the committee agreed that pursuant to Rule 62(2) that Bill 19 can immediately be placed on Orders of the Day for third reading?
Chairman (interpretation): Thank you, Minister Simailak and Mr. Ma. Do you have closing remarks?
Hon. David Simailak: Thank you, Mr. Chairman. (interpretation) I would like to thank my officials, Peter Ma, and other officials who have helped me when we were preparing this.
I would also like to say, Mr. Chairman, I would like to welcome all the individuals in the Gallery. My younger son is here, Craig, from Baker Lake, and I’m very proud of him because he’s a member of the hamlet council and the committee is also here. They brought back the community hall, it was just used for a bingo hall, and now, the young people are using it again.
Welcome to the Legislative Assembly Gallery.
(interpretation ends) We are dealing with Bill 12.
I would like to ask the Minister responsible for Community and Government Services, Ms. Brown., to make her opening remarks.
Bill 12 – Emergency Measures Act – Consideration in Committee
Hon. Levinia Brown (interpretation): Yes, I have opening remarks. Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
Chairman: Thank you, Minister. (interpretation) Please proceed.
Hon. Levinia Brown (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Chairman. (interpretation ends) The Emergency Measures Act is the result of extensive consultation with the communities through their representatives on the Nunavut Association of Municipalities, the Nunavut Association of Municipal Administrators and Regional Mayors’ Meetings.
We would also to like thank the standing committee for their valuable comments and suggestions that have resulted in a better document being brought forward.
The Act is part of an ongoing commitment by the Department of Community and Government Services to update and modernize legislation under our portfolio.
The passing of a modern Emergency Measures Act will assist our government in meeting the complex challenges in emergency management of incidents such as 9-11 and may I suggest climate change, which may result in more extreme weather conditions that affect our communities.
Mr. Chairman, every day we hear of some type of emergency happening throughout Canada and around the world.
With this legislation, Nunavut will be in a better position to respond to emergencies in Nunavut.
We are not isolated from world events because of our remoteness; in fact, climate change may soon place us on the front lines dealing with natural disasters affecting our citizens.
Our remoteness requires all Nunavummiut to take an active role in being prepared, and also requires that the government has a comprehensive Emergency Management Act.
I want to thank you, Mr. Chairman and colleagues, for this opportunity to present the proposed changes in this bill before the House.
Hon. Levinia Brown (interpretation): On my left is Ed Zebedee, our Director for Protection Services from Community and Government Services, and also Thomas Druyan, working as Legal Counsel.
Chairman: Thank you, Minister. (interpretation) Welcome. (interpretation ends) Does the chair of the standing committee have comments?
Mr. Curley: Yes, I do. (interpretation) Can I go ahead?
The Standing Committee on Infrastructure, Housing and Economic Development has carefully scrutinized Bill 12, the proposed new Emergency Measures Act.
The standing committee is in support of the principle of Bill 12, which is to replace the Civil Emergency Measures Act, a statute which was inherited upon division in 1999.
Mr. Chairman, Bill 12 establishes the framework for preventing, preparing for and responding to emergencies in the territory.
Mr. Chairman, members enjoyed a productive dialogue with the minister during her appearance before the standing committee and through exchanges of correspondence on issues of concern.
The standing committee worked with the minister to develop a number of amendments to the bill.
Amendments to ensure that the notice of a declaration or termination of a state of emergency will be published in the Nunavut Gazette, the territory’s official publication of record;
An amendment to remove a provision with respect to municipalities incurring a debt to the territorial government in circumstances where it incurs costs in preparing an emergency management program on behalf of a municipality; and
An amendment to more clearly define the circumstances in which the costs incurred in the course of a search and rescue operation may be reimbursed.
Mr. Chairman, during its scrutiny of Bill 12, the standing committee raised a number of operational and implementation issues with the minister. These included:
The importance of providing draft regulations made under the Act to the standing committee for its review and comment;
Mr. Chairman, the importance of ensuring that the annual reports prepared by the minister on the operation of the Act and subsequently tabled in the Legislative Assembly include a comprehensive range of information for the benefit of elected MLAs and the public;
The importance of developing a new policy to replace the former Disaster Assistance Policy, which expired in 2001.
This policy enabled the territorial government to provide financial assistance to community governments, small businesses or residents who suffered damage as a result of a disaster;
The importance of ensuring that the provisions in the Act which provide for fines or incarceration for contraventions are used only in the most extreme of circumstances;
The importance of developing and tabling in the Legislative Assembly the GN’s Territorial Pandemic Plan; and
The importance of developing detailed contingency plans to deal with the destruction of power generation facilities, especially in the larger communities with higher demand for power and more complex infrastructure requirements.
Mr. Chairman, that concludes my opening comments. The standing committee recommends the passage of Bill 12 to all members. (interpretation) Thank you.
Chairman: Thank you, Mr. Curley. Are there any general comments?
There being none, go to Bill 12 in your Legislation binder.
Bill 12, Emergency Measures Act. Reprint.
Chairman: Clause 15?
Chairman: Thank you. Clause 20?
Chairman: Clause 24?
Chairman: Clause 25?
Chairman: Clause 26?
Chairman: Clause 27?
Chairman: Clause 28?
Chairman: Clause 29?
Chairman: Clause 30?
Chairman: Clause 31?
Chairman: Clause 32?
Chairman: Clause 33?
Chairman: Clause 34?
Chairman: Clause 35?
Chairman: Clause 36?
Chairman: Clause 37?
Chairman: Clause 38?
Chairman: Clause 39?
Chairman: Clause 40?
Chairman: Clause 41?
Chairman: Does the committee agree to Bill 12 as a whole?
Chairman: Thank you. Are you agreed pursuant to Rule 62(2) that Bill 12 can immediately be placed on the Orders of the Day for third reading?
Thank you, Minister. (interpretation) If you have any closing comments, you may do so, Minister Brown.
Thank you, Members, my staff, and also those in the Gallery.
Someone’s been working really hard typing all this up and I would like to thank them.
Thank you, Mr. Druyan and Mr. Zebidee.
We’ll now go to another bill.
I would now like to ask the Minister responsible for EIA to make his opening remarks. Minister Okalik.
Bill 18 – An Act to Amend the Access to Information and Protection of Privacy Act and Related Statutes – Consideration in Committee
Hon. Paul Okalik (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Chairman. (interpretation ends) I am pleased to be here today to discuss with the Committee of the Whole proposed amendments to the Access to Information and Protection of Privacy Act and other consequential amendments to other legislation.
On December 31, 2007 subsection 4(2) of the Access to Information and Protection of Privacy Act will come into force.
Subsection 4(2) will make the Access to Information and Protection of Privacy Act, ATIPP for short, prevail over any other Act where there is an inconsistency or conflict, unless another Act expressly provides that it will prevail over the ATIPP Act.
In anticipation of the coming into effect of subsection 4(2), a review of all territorial statutes was carried out for the purpose of identifying potential conflicts between the ATIPP Act and other territorial Acts. Where potential conflicts have been identified under the ATIPP Act and other legislation, the Acts and specific provisions were reviewed to determine whether an amendment is required to provide which Act will prevail.
I would be pleased to review with the committee the proposed amendments and to answer any questions that my colleagues may have. (interpretation) Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
Chairman (interpretation): Thank you, Minister Okalik. (interpretation ends) Do you have witnesses you would like to bring to the table? Minister Okalik.
Hon. Paul Okalik (interpretation): Certainly.
Chairman (interpretation): My goodness.
(interpretation ends) Minister, please introduce your witnesses for the record.
With me are, as you know, on my left is my Deputy Minister and our Secretary to Cabinet, David Omilgoitok, and to my right is our Manager of Access to Information and Privacy, Marylin Scott.
Welcome to Committee of the Whole. (interpretation ends) Does the Chair of the Standing Committee on Government Operations have opening comments?
Mr. Tootoo: Yes, I do. Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
First, I would like to welcome the minister’s officials to the witness table.
Mr. Chairman, the Standing Committee on Government Operations and Accountability has carefully scrutinized Bill 18, An Act to Amend the Access to Information and Protection of Privacy Act and Related Statutes.
Mr. Chairman, the standing committee recognizes that the purpose of Bill 18 is to address the coming into force on December 31, 2007, of subsection 4(2) of the Access to Information and Protection of Privacy Act.
The standing committee was pleased to see the government move forward with this initiative, given that a number of extensions to this deadline were approved during the First Legislative Assembly.
Mr. Chairman, that concludes my opening comments. The standing committee recommends the passage of Bill 18 to all members.
There being none, go to Bill 18 in your Legislation binder.
Bill 18, An Act to Amend the Access to Information and Protection of Privacy Act and Related Statutes. Reprint.
Does the committee agree to Bill 18 as a whole?
Do members agree pursuant to Rule 62(2) that Bill 18 can immediately be placed on the Orders of the Day for third reading?
Chairman: Thank you, Minister Okalik, Ms. Scott, and Mr. Omilgoitok. Minister do you have any closing remarks?
Hon. Paul Okalik (interpretation): Hooray!
Chairman: We have quorum.
Chairman: Order, please. We have a motion on the floor to report progress and the motion is not debatable.
I have returned to my seat.
Members, going back to Orders of the Day.
Your committee has been considering Bills 12, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, and 19, and would like to report that Bills 12, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, and 19 are immediately ready for third reading.
And, that two committee motions were adopted.
Thank you, Member for Nattilik, Ms. Aglukkaq.
Before we go back to the Orders of the Day, members, earlier today, the Minister of Energy moved a motion to move Bill 13 into Committee of the Whole.
I have reviewed the relevant Rules, including Rules 45(2)(g), 68(2), and, although not referred to by the minister, Rule 91(3)(b).
As members will recall, standing committees have, in both the First and Second Assemblies, recommended that bills not proceed any further and be permitted to fall off the order paper.
In all of these cases, no attempt was made to have the bills proceed further, and the Bills subsequently died at prorogation.
This is the first time in our short history as a legislature that the government has made efforts to have a bill proceed, notwithstanding the recommendation of a standing committee.
Our Rules do not clearly provide the exact process to be followed in circumstances such as this.
I would invite the Standing Committee on Rules, Procedures and Privileges to consider undertaking a review of this issue.
Briefly stated, the issue is not whether the minister can move a motion to order a bill into Committee of the Whole.
It is clear that he can do this.
The issue is whether notice is required for such a motion.
The general rule is that all motions require 48 hours notice.
However, our Rules do provide for specific exceptions to this general rule.
These exceptions are explicitly described in the Rules.
Rule 68(2) provides that the sponsor of a Bill may, without notice, move that a bill be ordered into the Committee of the Whole in circumstances where 120 days have passed since the bill received second reading and no motion to extend the period for review has been passed by the House.
I would note that this new provision in our Rules was introduced in 2005.
In reviewing the Report of the Standing Committee on Rules, Procedures and Privileges that was delivered in the House on May 2, 2005, I note that it stated:
“At present the rules are ambiguous with respect to how to advance the bill to the next stage of the legislative process in the event that the standing committee does not report back within the 120-day period.”
Rule 68(2) was clearly intended to address the concern of what to do in the event of a committee’s failure to report.
The rule does not clearly contemplate the circumstances before us today where the committee has reported back to the House and made a clear recommendation to the House that the bill not proceed further.
I have given careful consideration to this matter and in the absence of clear direction in the Rules I have made a decision which favours procedural fairness.
The purpose of providing notice is to ensure that all members have adequate time to consider the matter before the House and decide issues on their merits.
I find that notice must be given for the motion.
As noted earlier, the procedure to be followed in these matters is not clear and I do not fault the minister for not following the procedure that I have prescribed.
The minister will have the opportunity to provide notice of his motion when the session resumes in February.
Bill 12 – Emergency Measures Act – Third Reading
Hon. Levinia Brown (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Speaker. (interpretation ends) I move, seconded by the Honourable Member for Baker Lake, that Bill 12, Emergency Measures Act, be read for the third time.
The motion is carried Bill 12 has had its third reading.
Bill 14 – Supplementary Appropriation (Capital) Act, No. 2, 2007-2008 – Third Reading
I move, seconded by the Honourable Member for Iqaluit East, that Bill 14, Supplementary Appropriation (Capital) Act, No. 2, 2007-2008, be read for the third time.
The motion is carried and Bill 14 has had third reading.
Bill 15 – Supplementary Appropriation (Operations & Maintenance) Act, No. 2, 2007-2008 – Third Reading
I move, seconded by the Honourable Member for South Baffin, that Bill 15, Supplementary Appropriation (Operations and Maintenance) Act, No. 2, 2007-2008, be read for the third time.
Speaker (interpretation): Thank you, Minister. The motion is in order. All those in favour.
Opposed. The motion is carried and Bill 15 has had third reading.
Bill 16 – Appropriation (Capital) Act, 2008-2009 – Third Reading
I move, seconded by the Honourable Member for Rankin Inlet South/Whale Cove, that Bill 16, Appropriation (Capital) Act, 2008-2009, be read for the third time.
All those opposed. Thank you. Bill 16 has had third reading.
Bill 17 – Supplementary Appropriation (Operations & Maintenance) Act, No. 4, 2006-2007 – Third Reading
I move, seconded by the Honourable Member for Nattilik, that Bill 17, Supplementary Appropriation (Operations and Maintenance) Act, No. 4, 2006-2007, be read for the third time.
The motion is carried and Bill 17 has had third reading.
Bill 19 – An Act to Amend the Income Tax Act, No. 2 – Third Reading
I move, seconded by the Honourable Member for Amittuq, that Bill 19, An Act to Amend the Income Tax Act, No. 2, be read for the third time.
The motion is carried and Bill 19 has had its third reading.
Bill 18 – An Act to Amend the Access to Information and Protection of Privacy Act and Related Statutes – Third Reading
Hon. Paul Okalik (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Speaker. (interpretation ends) I move, seconded by the Honourable Member for South Baffin, that Bill 18, An Act to Amend the Access to Information and Protection of Privacy Act and Related Statutes, be read for the third time.
The motion is in order. (interpretation) All those in favour.
The motion is carried and Bill 18 has had its third reading.
Before we proceed with the Orders of the Day, Mr. Clerk, please ascertain if the Commissioner of Nunavut is ready to enter the Chambers to give assent to bills.
Bill 04 – Workers’ Compensation Act – Assent
Bill 12 – Emergency Measures Act – Assent
Bill 14 – Supplementary Appropriation (Capital) Act, No. 2, 2007-2008 – Assent
Bill 15 – Supplementary Appropriation (Operations & Maintenance) Act, No. 2, 2007-2008 – Assent
Bill 16 – Appropriation (Capital) Act, 2008-2009 – Assent
Bill 17 – Supplementary Appropriation (Operations & Maintenance) Act, No. 4, 2006-2007 – Assent
Bill 18 – An Act to Amend the Access to Information and Protection of Privacy Act and Related Statutes – Assent