EdinburghNLP/nunavut-hansard-plusplus huggingface dataset:
The Standing Committee was pleased to hear about the efforts of the Chief Electoral Officer and his staff in the first Nunavut election to put more public education information into the hands of voters.
However, we also heard a number of concerns.
For example, there were four pamphlets produced on different matters that were mailed to all Nunavut post office boxes.
However, because they all looked almost identical with their green covers, many people didn't realize they were different documents and didn't read all of them.
The pamphlets also contained a lot of information and a busy layout, making it difficult for some voters.
It was suggested that these could be improved.
The radio ads were well received and clearly more effort can be made in this regard in terms of public service announcements about rights and responsibilities under the Act, dates on which election events will occur, etc.
Ads on television were new and encouraged voter turnout.
The Standing Committee is hopeful that there will be more use of the Internet for public education during future elections in Nunavut.
In particular, an Elections Nunavut website enabling voters to download forms and information will be very useful and other jurisdictions have developed such sites.
However, particular effort will need to be made by the Government of Nunavut to ensure that Internet technology is available in every community.
Elections Nunavut will need to ensure that election officials are trained to help people access it.
When meeting with Elections Canada, the Standing Committee was shown several packages that have been developed for school age children and high school students on elections.
These packages have been prepared in Inuktitut and the Standing Committee urges that these or similar packages be incorporated into the core curriculum for our students.
As well, several people suggested that specific curriculum be developed for both elementary and high school students on elections in Nunavut.
One person suggested that programs be developed to involve youth during elections, such as assisting election officials as a practicum or community service credit.
The Standing Committee strongly supports these suggestions.
The youth are our future and we need to infuse in them a high regard for the democratic process and their responsibilities as future electors.
Recommendation #53: That a key core function of the Elections Nunavut office should be public education on election procedures and the rights and responsibilities of voters, candidates and election officials;
Recommendation #54: That Elections Nunavut should work in consultation with the Department of Education to ensure elections are part of the curriculum for elementary and high school students.
(xi) Right to Vote of Election Officials
The current law prohibits Returning Officers from voting.
The CEO's report notes that this may be a violation of their rights under the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms.
Under an earlier law, the Returning Officer would have only voted to break a tie.
However, the Elections Act was amended previously so that should a tie vote result after a judicial recount, a by-election would now be held, so there does not appear to be a reason to prevent these people from voting.
A ballot is confidential and so long as election officials carry out their role with impartiality and integrity, the Standing Committee supports their right to vote as all other citizens.
Recommendation #55: That the Elections Act be amended so that all election officials, including the Chief Electoral Officer and Returning Officers, may exercise their right to vote if they are eligible voters.
(xii) Election Financing - Ensuring Equal Access
During a plebiscite prior to division, Nunavut voters narrowly defeated a proposal which would have seen two representatives from each electoral district - one woman and one man.
As a result of that plebiscite, the number of electoral districts was increased to 19, with one person being elected to each electoral district.
Of the 19 elected representatives in the first Nunavut election, there were 18 men and 1 woman.
During our community consultation meetings, only one person in one community commented on this issue, suggesting that more women should be encouraged to run for the Legislative Assembly.
However, the Standing Committee subsequently received a written representation on this matter, suggesting that one way of encouraging more women to run would be to increase the spending limit to specifically enable child care expenses to be included.
Another suggestion was to increase the spending limit to allow for expenses that may be related to disabilities.
As noted earlier in the report, the Standing Committee respects the voters in Nunavut to decide who is the best person to represent their community in the Legislative Assembly of Nunavut.
The Standing Committee also agrees that in order to ensure equality of access, these types of expenses should be allowed as election expenses and they should not be included in the ordinary election spending limits that apply to all candidates.
Recommendation #56: That the election spending limits allow for reasonable expenses, as determined by the CEO, that are incurred by a candidate for childcare during the election period.
These spending limits would be above the election spending limit of $30,000 currently in effect for all candidates.
Recommendation #57: That the election spending limits allow for reasonable expenses, as determined by the CEO, that are incurred by a candidate during the election period, in order to accommodate the needs of a candidate with disabilities.
The CEO also made a number of recommendations regarding election financing in his Nunavut report, as well as in his NWT report that the Standing Committee supports.
Recommendation #58: That the CEO's recommendation be supported; that the refund of a candidate's deposit no longer depend on the number of votes that the candidate receives, but rather on the candidate filing a completed return on his or her election expenses and contributions within the required 60-day period.
Recommendation #59: That election financing rules and limits apply as soon as the election date is announced in the Legislative Assembly and that more clarification be provided on what constitutes election expenses and contributions, including in-kind contributions.
(xiii) Electoral Boundaries
During the Nunavut Association of Municipalities meeting, a number of Mayors and SAOs raised the suggestion that each community should have its own representative.
However, during the meetings with Hamlet Councils and communities, the matter was only raised in one community: Kugaaruk.
Kugaaruk is in the electoral district of Akulliq, which also contains the community of Repulse Bay.
Kugaaruk is in a unique situation insofar as the two communities represented are themselves in two different regions, Kitikmeot and Kivalliq.
Although the Government of Nunavut is trying to ensure that service delivery will be Nunavut- wide, the actual administration of both government services and Regional Inuit Organizations is still based on regions, and this poses some difficulties for the Member and for these two communities that are in the same electoral district.
During the Standing Committee's meetings with Elections Canada, the Committee was advised that many jurisdictions use an independent Electoral Boundaries Commission to review electoral boundaries after every two or more elections or following a census.
Recommendation #60: That a process be developed by the Legislative Assembly of Nunavut to examine the electoral boundaries of the riding of Akulliq to determine how the communities of Kugaaruk and Repulse Bay could be contained in electoral districts within each region of Kitikmeot and Kivalliq, keeping the existing total of 19 seats in the Legislative Assembly.
Recommendation #61: That legislation providing for an Electoral Boundaries Commission should be re-enacted for Nunavut to conduct a review of the electoral boundaries during the life of the 2nd Legislative Assembly of Nunavut, taking into consideration the population statistics from the 2001 Census and community concerns.
New Technology and Elections
Although there are no roads linking communities in Nunavut, the information highway is clearly impacting how we deliver services, including elections.
As the Standing Committee learned, electronic means of distributing information and forms, updating voters’ lists and even electronic voting are being used across Canada.
Candidate websites and discussion forums on the Internet are providing new opportunities for debate and campaigning.
New technology is also being developed to make it easier to use Inuktitut in databases, such as voters’ lists, as well as new transliteration software between syllabics and Roman orthography.
All of this holds great promise for a jurisdiction such as Nunavut.
At the same time, there are increasing concerns about the use of the Internet in spreading false information about candidates, as well as privacy concerns about the Internet use of voters’ lists and other personal information.
For example, a concern was raised about postings about candidates on the Internet in the first Nunavut election.
In order for Nunavut to take advantage of electronic possibilities for elections, as well as be on top of emerging problems, the Standing Committee is of the opinion that there must be flexibility in the Elections Act to allow the Chief Electoral Officer to use his or her judgment to move quickly in the circumstances.
While conventional legal remedies such as lawsuits for libel and slander may be used in addressing problems with the Internet, the Standing Committee is aware that these are difficult for many people to effectively access in Nunavut.
The Standing Committee was also advised that the climate for regulating conduct on the Internet is an evolving one, involving users, servers, government and many others.
Rather than trying to predict the best approach to take us into the future, the Standing Committees believes that the Elections Act should be sufficiently broad to capture conduct which violates the spirit of fair election practices, no matter what the medium, even if we acknowledge that at times, enforcement may be difficult.
Elections Nunavut should participate in national forums where many of these issues are being monitored and discussed and make further recommendations for more specific legislation as the need arises.
The Standing Committee recognizes that the Elections Act and Elections Nunavut can help set a framework and climate for respectful conduct during elections, but in the rapidly changing world of new technology, there will always be gaps.
Laws and regulations cannot match the ability of the public itself to set standards for appropriate conduct on the part of candidates, through the power of the ballot box.
Recommendation #62: That the Elections Act provide flexibility for the use of new technologies in the administration of elections on a trial basis by the Chief Electoral Officer, subject to review by the Legislative Assembly.
Recommendation #63: That the Elections Act clarify certain offences on broadcast media to include the Internet and electronic media, and ensure that any other conduct which would be an offence under the Act, includes the use of the Internet and electronic media.
Recommendation: #64: That the CEO and the working group explore the use of new technology in the production of voters’ lists and other electoral information in Inuktitut.
Other Recommendations in the CEO’s Report
The CEO made a large number of recommendations for changes to detailed sections of the Elections Act in his reports for both Nunavut and NWT.
The Standing Committee reviewed all of these and agrees with many of the CEO’s recommendations for change.
However, many of the Standing Committee’s decisions are contained in the subsequent section of the report.
Recommendation #65: That any specific recommendations of the Standing Committee contained in section 6 of this report entitled “Response to Recommendations in the Chief Electoral Officer’s Report”, be acted upon in any revisions to the Elections Act.
Response to Recommendations in the Chief Electoral Officer's Report
(i) Recommendations contained in Report entitled "Election of the First Nunavut Legislative Assembly - 1999 - A New Beginning"  CEO Recommendation
Standing Committee Response
Reference to Standing Committee Report  That an enumeration be conducted in the communities of Bathurst Inlet and Umingmaktok and that each community be designated as a polling division. [p.53]
See Recommendation #41
That returning officers be given the authority to hire an additional enumerator in a polling division where extenuating circumstances exist. [p.53]  Agree.
Recommend development of permanent voters’ list, which may eliminate enumeration need.  That a review be undertaken to determine the acceptability and cost of developing and maintaining a permanent list of electors as an alternative to door to door enumeration. [p.53]
Recommend development of permanent list of electors for Nunavut.
See Recommendations #13-#16  That consideration be given to increasing the maximum number of electors allowed per polling division. [p.53]
Recommend increasing maximum number to 450 electors per polling division.  See Recommendation #38
That a review of the hours of operation and location of advance polls be undertaken. [p.54]
Recommend in communities that do not have office of Returning Officer, for minimum of three hours.
See Recommendations #28 and #29  That a review be conducted to evaluate the need of continuing with proxy voting considering the other voting opportunities available to the electorate. [p.54]
Agree. Recommend that proxy voting be dealt with more directly by election officials
See Recommendation #30  That returning officers be given the right to vote at territorial elections. [p.54]
Agree. Recommend that all election officials be given right to vote, including CEO and returning officers.
See Recommendation #55  That the Legislative Assembly consider options on the administration of future electoral events, including the appointment of a Chief Electoral Officer and that the Legislative Assembly ensure that adequate financial and human resources are in place. [p.55]
Recommend creation of central elections office and working group from NTI, Elections Canada and other jurisdictions and organizations that administer elections in Nunavut. Recommend competency-based appointment process to select stand-alone Chief Electoral Officer.
See Recommendations #5, #6 and #8-#12  That the refund of a candidate's nomination deposit no longer depend on the number of votes that the candidate receives but rather on the candidate filing a completed return on his or her election expenses and contributions. [p.55]
Agree.  See Recommendation #58
CEO Recommendation
Reference to Standing Committee Report  That the preliminary list of electors for all polling divisions in a multi-electoral district community be posted in a central location in addition to the requirement to post in each polling division. [p.55]
See Recommendation #36  That the Nunavut Elections Act be amended to permit the establishment of a central returning officers' office in a multi-electoral district community. [p.55]
See Recommendation #37  That the Nunavut Elections Act be amended to permit the establishment of a central polling place in a multi-electoral district community. [p.55]
See Recommendation #40
That the Tariff of Fees be reviewed in advance of the next general election in Nunavut.[p.55]  Agree.
See Recommendation #5
That a review be undertaken to determine the need for elector transfer certificates to permit electors who move after revision day to vote in their new electoral district.[p.55]  Agree.
Recommend the development of elector transfer certificates.  See Recommendation #17
That a general review be undertaken, prior to the next general election in Nunavut, for the investigation and prosecution of electoral infractions.[p.55]
See Recommendations #47-#49  That a protocol be developed, prior to the next general election in Nunavut, for the investigation and prosecution of electoral infractions. [p.55]
Agree. Recommend that the development of this protocol should be undertaken by the working group.
See Recommendations #50-#52  That paragraph 51(3)(c) of the Nunavut elections Act be amended to read, "is a member of the Parliament of Canada or of the Legislative Assembly of a province or territory, during the time that he or she is a member".[p.55]
That section 3 of the Mail-in Voting Regulations be amended to permit the receipt of applications for mail-in ballots to be no later than 5 p.m. on Monday the 21st day before polling day.[p.55]
Agree with extending time limit. Recommend that no deadline be placed on applications, other than the mail-in ballot must be received by 5:00pm on the day prior to polling day.
See Recommendations #1 and #32 re: mail-in ballots and #34  That section 57 of the Nunavut Elections Act be amended to provide that a candidate may submit his or her photograph by electronic means.[p.55]
See Recommendation #62
There are a large number of recommendations in the report that were developed by Returning Officers in a meeting following the election.[p.48-50]  Recommend supporting any recommendations for better training for election staff, more clarity in materials and ease of administration.
Refer to Chief Electoral Officer and working group for further consideration.
(ii) Recommendations contained in Report entitled, "Election of the Fourteenth Legislative Assembly of the NWT – 1999: Modernizing our Electoral System"
Standing Committee Response  Reference to Standing Committee Report
That the Elections Act be amended to prescribe the purpose and the length of time for which an elector may claim a temporary absence from his or her electoral district. [p.17 NWT]
Agree.  See Recommendation #26 re: students
That section 32 of the Elections Act be repealed. [p.17 NWT]
Disagree. But section 32 needs to be clarified for Nunavut.
That a review be undertaken to determine the acceptability and cost of developing and maintaining a permanent list of electors for the Northwest Territories.[p.17 NWT]
As in Nunavut report – Agree. The CEO also suggests exploring joint ventures, partnerships and the sharing of this information with various organizations and other levels of government.
The Standing Committee supports this for Nunavut.  See Recommendation #13-#16
That Elections NWT develop an Automated Enumeration Data Entry and Retrieval System. [p.18 NWT]  Agree.
Recommend the development and use of data software which is readily accessible in Nunavut.  See Recommendation #15
That the nomination period be reduced to 5 days.[p.18 NWT]  Agree.
See Recommendation #22  That subsection 51(4) be amended to provide that every person referenced in paragraph 51(3)(a) may seek a leave of absence, without pay, to seek nomination as a candidate and to be a candidate at an election.[p.18 NWT]
Recommend that any person should be able to seek a leave of absence from employment or appointment with GN or any other organization or level of government operating within Nunavut, to seek nomination as a candidate and to be a candidate at an election.  That a candidate may withdraw their nomination up to 5:00pm on nomination day.[p.18 NWT]
That the requirement for the Chief Electoral Officer to designate a specific day as revision day be repealed and substituted with the designation of a revision period.[p.19 NWT]  Agree.
That candidates be required to submit a photograph with their nomination paper.  That the photograph of the candidate appear on the ballot.
That the requirement to provide photo placards be discontinued.[p.19 NWT]
That the Chief Electoral Officer provide write-in ballots for voting by mail.[p.19 NWT]  Agree.
See Recommendation #32
That advance polls no longer be held in communities where the returning officer is located.
That the Elections Act be amended to provide that advance polls be held between the hours of 12:00 noon and 8:00 pm.[p.20 NWT]
Agree. Recommend that advance polls be a minimum of 3 hours, in communities where there is no returning officer located.
See Recommendation #28  That proxy voting should no longer be offered.[p.20 NWT]
Disagree. Recommend that proxy voting be dealt with more directly by election officials.
See Recommendation #55  That returning officers be given the right to vote at territorial elections.[p.20 NWT]
As in Nunavut report. Agree.
See Recommendation #56  That the Elections Act be amended to provide that the returning officer may, with the prior approval of the Chief Electoral Officer, establish a special mobile voting station for eligible electors residing at a hospital, health facility, senior citizen's home or confined to their home for medical or mobility reasons.[p.20 NWT]
Agree.  See Recommendation #33 and #34
That section 213 of the Elections Act respecting the closure of licensed premises during the hours of voting on polling day be repealed.[p.21 NWT]
Liquor outlets should continue to be closed during the hours of voting on polling day.  That candidates who file within the required 60-day period have their deposit refunded upon the receipt of their return respecting election contributions and expenses.[p.21 NWT]
That Chief Electoral Officer undertake a comprehensive review of elections financing and report back to the Legislative Assembly with his findings.  Agree.
The Committee reviewed elections financing issues and endorses the current approach. However, it recommends clarifying election expenses and contributions and simplifying and providing more support to candidates in filing forms.
See Recommendation #59
CEO Recommendation  Standing Committee Response
Reference to Standing Committee Report
That the length of an electoral event be reduced from 45 days to 35 days.[p.21 NWT]  Agree.
See Recommendation #21
That the Elections Act be amended to provide for the establishment of a central polling place in any community with multiple electoral districts.[p.22 NWT]  As in Nunavut Report.
Agree.  See Recommendation #39 and #40
That the Elections Act be amended to provide that the Chief Electoral Officer may authorize the establishment of a central office or provide for the sharing of an office by two or more returning officers in a community with multiple electoral districts.[p.22 NWT]  As in Nunavut Report.
Agree.  See Recommendation #37
That the Elections Act be amended to provide that an alphabetical preliminary list of electors be provided, by electoral district, in any multi-electoral district community and posted in a central location within the community.[p.22 NWT]  Agree.
See Recommendation #36
That the Elections act be amended to provide that candidates receive a copy of the official list of electors for their electoral district.[p.22 NWT]
Agree.  See Recommendation #15
That the Elections Act be amended to provide that elected members of the Legislative Assembly receive a copy of the final list of electors for their electoral district.[p.22 NWT]
Agree.  That the Elections Act be amended to clarify when a candidate may erect or post an election sign and broadcast or advertise an election announcement.[p.22 NWT]
Agree.  See Recommendation #48 and #49 and #63
That the Elections Act be amended to provide that a candidate is prohibited from erecting, posting or placing an election campaign sign on the premises or property where a polling station is located.[p.22 NWt]  Agree.
That the Elections Act be amended to provide that all election campaign signage must be removed within ten days following polling day.[p.22 NWT]
Agree.  That the Elections Act be amended to provide mandatory access to apartment complexes by enumerators, candidates and their representatives.[p.22 NWT]
That the Elections Act be amended to provide that a returning officer may, with the prior approval of the Chief Electoral Officer, appoint an additional enumerator for a polling division.[p.22 NWT]  As in Nunavut Report.
Agree.  That section 38 of the Elections Act be amended to provide that a notice of a disabled elector be given to the Chief Electoral Officer.[p.22 NWT]