EdinburghNLP/nunavut-hansard-plusplus huggingface dataset:
We want to see arenas in Nunavut communities being used well, but unfortunately, a lot of times, the heating system or cooling system is not functioning well. We would like to see the arena open.
I can say to you that our staff and the hamlet are working together currently to get the arena running again in Taloyoak.
I appreciate the minister for providing a response.
I would like to ask: when will this hockey arena be available for public use?
This is a question that’s continually raised by the young people of Taloyoak.
I cannot state at this time when the hockey arena will be renovated.
We are dealing with this particular issue in the community.
Once all of the repairs and renovations have been completed, we imagine that the hockey arena would be available for use in the months ahead. At least that’s the outcome we would like to see.
I know that will be the case, but I just cannot predict the day that this will be completed.
Ms. Ugyuk (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I also thank the minister for his response.
Now, when the contractors are not completing a project on time, it causes the community to wait.
Sometimes it’s only at the end of the construction project that they know it will be delayed.
I believe there has to be a stronger administrative effort by CGS to manage these projects.
Sometimes it’s only at the very last minute that a lot of these problems will surface and some of these contractors don’t always work with the local communities. That results in delays in the project.
Again, our youth in Taloyoak have had to suffer from bad ice and they were able to actually win in a hockey tournament, even though they didn’t have good access to the hockey arena. They are getting impatient waiting for the renovations to the hockey arena.
I believe that it would be a lot simpler to complete these if they were done in a different way.
I would like to understand if your departmental officials will be going to Taloyoak to check up on this project.
As I stated, projects that have to be undertaken in Nunavut tend to be quite numerous.
We wish to see these projects completed smoothly. It would be more preferable to see these projects continue to the end.
A lot of members would then not have to ask questions about certain projects.
However, in any kind of project, there are hurdles and barriers that have to be overcome. The contractors are trying to do the best job that they can to complete the projects. Some projects that may have been progressing will run into a hurdle and causes a slowdown.
I believe you can handle some of these matters that are outside of our purview. This is more the case where materials are broken. Murphy’s Law comes into play at times and that’s just part of life.
It’s unfortunate that the renovation of the hockey arena has not yet been completed, but what I can tell the member is that our officials and the contractors are trying to resolve these problems and we expect that they will resolve them.
This is becoming a priority issue. I will inform the member as well as the local hamlet what the status of this project is and what our expected completion dates are. When I have been provided more information about the status of this project, I will provide that information to you and the young people in Taloyoak.
I understand the reasoning for these delays. However, if it’s causing any kind of delays in the construction, you have to try to resolve them. If there is a secondary hurdle, then we shouldn’t have to reach that plateau.
These arenas are very important community gathering spots.
When we continue to see problems after problems surface that are causing a delay to the completion of hockey arena, it is not good. Since you are responsible for these projects, I would like to invite you to come and see that.
I don’t have a question at this time; just a request.
Question 375 – 3(3): Update on Liquor Task Force (Elliott)
My questions are for the Minister of Finance and are based around the liquor task force.  In the winter sitting, I had asked a number of questions regarding what was happening with the task force, and when legislation was actually going to be coming in the House.
At that point, he said that there were a couple of communities that hadn’t been visited yet and were not part of the consultation process.
I was just wondering if, since that time, those communities have been consulted and whether all communities across Nunavut have been able to put their input into the changes that we’re looking at for the Liquor Act.
Minister responsible for the Department of Finance and the Nunavut Liquor Commission, Minister Peterson.
I thank Mr. Elliott for the question. Mr. Speaker, first of all, I would just like to take the opportunity to thank all the task force members for the tremendous work that they have done over the last two years.
I am very happy to tell the member that the task force has fulfilled the commitment it made to this House, and have visited all the communities in Nunavut and received very good input from many members in the communities, hamlet councils, town hall meetings, alcohol education committees, and many more.
Since all communities have been visited and all communities have been able to put their input in through consultations, could the minister provide an update with some of the key findings from what the communities were saying?
Minister responsible for Finance and the Nunavut Liquor Commission, Minister Peterson.
Mr. Speaker, as you can appreciate, there was quite a diverse range of opinions on what the task force members were hearing.  I had the opportunity to participate in three town hall meetings and it was very interesting to hear what people said.
Some people wanted all alcohol to be banned in Nunavut. Some wanted more liquor stores. Some people in Iqaluit wanted to have the opportunity to purchase liquor at the warehouse here and vice versa for the folks in Rankin Inlet.
So the folks in Rankin Inlet wanted the same.
There were a lot of discussions on how we should deal with bootleggers; increasing the fines, increasing the sentences for bootleggers, run bootleggers out of jail. There was quite a range of discussion.
Mr. Speaker, I had hoped to have an opportunity during this spring sitting to table a report that the task force gave me. It’s called the “what we heard” report. That’s what they heard.
It will give people an opportunity to read for themselves what all the communities are saying. We are still waiting for a report from them on recommendations for how the government and this House should proceed with respect to following up on the recommendations in the community consultations.
Again, in the winter sitting, I was asking questions about when the report would be completed. It’s nice to know that we will be able to have time over the summer to review that report, as the minister committed to tabling it in the House.
My next question is in regard to a timeline. I know I have been accused in the past of being too detailed and going into the weeds with questions. I, myself, as a regular member, have said there are concerns about timelines in terms of the amount of time we have left in our mandate under this Assembly to get the work done with the number of bills that seem to be piling up.
So if the minister could provide us with a timeline.
Hon. Keith Peterson: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I thank Mr. Elliott again for his question.
I really appreciate Mr. Elliott’s concerns for this issue and all the MLAs for their concerns about alcohol.
You read about the issues related to alcohol just about everyday. Member Ugyuk alluded to it today on family violence. We have heard it from the RCMP and at monthly meetings of hamlet councils and city council that alcohol is pretty much the fuel that triggers all the violence in Nunavut.
With respect to the timelines, it’s very difficult to say what the timelines are. I still have to get the report. As I said earlier, Mr. Speaker, this is just the “what we heard” report.
It’s quite a lengthy document. I’m going to table that.
I didn’t commit; I said that I hope to table it this week. I didn’t commit to tabling it.
I really do hope I can table it. It is very worthwhile reading.
I’m sure the media and others will be interested in reading it. I still have to get the report on what they recommend and then we have to review that. I’ll have to take that to cabinet for their advice and input on how to proceed.
I’m well aware of the timeline left in the mandate of this government. As we said before, the Liquor Act is a priority to deal with in the term of this government.
Again, I’m just concerned in terms of the fact that we have 17 months left.
I don’t know how to word it, but your partial commitment to tabling something that might be done or possibly not be done, and then the recommendations coming out, it’s going to be October before we actually see that.
Again, it just raises concerns within my mind [that] we need to see a piece of legislation before us so that we can properly review it as regular members and possibly put it through a committee and Committee of the Whole to go out to the communities as well to review it.
As the clock keeps going, we will be down to a year by the time October rolls around and [February], when the winter sitting happens.
Again, what type of a timeline does the minister have in terms of introducing this bill into the House for first, second, and eventually third reading?
Minister of Finance and the Nunavut Liquor Commission, Minister Peterson.
Again I thank Mr. Elliott for his comments.
Mr. Speaker, it was very difficult for me to speed up the process. As I told Mr. Elliott, I made a commitment early in the start of the task force that it would visit every community in Nunavut and every community would have an opportunity to speak to the task force.
I am very proud of the task force. They made six attempts to get into one community and that’s a testament to their dedication, fulfilling my commitment to this House and to Nunavummiut. We have to get their recommendations first before I can explain the legislative process and the timelines.
I said I hope to table the “what we heard” report this week and I’m fairly certain that I’ll be able to do that. I’m not committing to it, but I’m fairly certain I can do that and it will go from there.
Members will note that the clock has expired on the time allotted for question period. Moving along in our orders of the day.
Written Question 018 – 3(3): Vacant Staff Housing Units (Enook)
During the winter sitting of the Legislative Assembly, I posed a written question to the Minister responsible for the Nunavut Housing Corporation concerning the issue of vacant staff housing units.
Mr. Speaker, I was disappointed that the return that was tabled last week in the House did not fully answer my questions, so I am going to ask essentially the same questions again today to the new Minister responsible for the Nunavut Housing Corporation. The questions are:
Broken down by community and type of unit, how many Government of Nunavut staff housing units were vacant for a period of three or more consecutive months during the 2009-2010, 2010-11, and 2011-12 fiscal years?
Item 12. Reports of Standing and Special Committees on Bills and Other Matters.
Committee Report 019 – 3(3): Bill 19, Family Support Orders Enforcement Act – Reprint (Ningeongan)
I wish to report that Bill 19, Family Support Orders Enforcement Act, has been reviewed by the Standing Committee on Legislation and that the bill, as amended and reprinted, is ready for consideration in Committee of the Whole.
The member is seeking unanimous consent for the report of the standing committee on Bill 19 to be referred immediately to the Committee of the Whole.
There are none and Bill 19 is referred to Committee of the Whole.
Committee Report 020 – 3(3): Bill 33, An Act to Amend the Labour Standards Act (Ningeongan)
I wish to report that Bill 33, An Act to Amend the Labour Standards Act, has been reviewed by the Standing Committee on Legislation and that the bill is ready for consideration in Committee of the Whole.
Mr. Speaker, I seek unanimous consent to waive Rule 68(6) and have Bill 33 immediately moved into Committee of the Whole.
The member is seeking unanimous consent for the report of the standing committee on Bill 33 to be referred immediately to the Committee of the Whole.
There are none. Bill 33 is referred to Committee of the Whole.
Tabled Document 192 – 3(3): Discussion Paper: Impacts on Caribou and Inuit Harvesting of Caribou in AREVA’s Draft Environmental Impact Statement for the Proposed Kiggavik Uranium Mine (Aupaluktuq)
I have the honour today of tabling a document presented by the Baker Lake Hunters and Trappers Organization. The document is titled “Discussion Paper: Impacts on Caribou and Inuit Harvesting of Caribou in AREVA’s Draft Environmental Impact Statement for the Proposed Kiggavik Uranium Mine.”
Tabled Document 193 – 3(3): Schedule for the Student Loan Fund, Year Ending March 31, 2011 (Aariak)
I am pleased to table the Schedule for the Student Loan Fund for the year ending March 31, 2011.
Tabled Document 194 – 3(3): Member’s Correspondence of April 4, 2012 to the Minister Responsible for the Nunavut Housing Corporation (Enook)
I wish to table a copy of my April 4, 2012 correspondence to the Minister responsible for the Nunavut Housing Corporation concerning the response that I received to my written question of February 22, 2012.
This correspondence makes it clear why I resubmitted the same written question earlier today.
Tabled Document 195 – 3(3): Minimum Wage Annual Report for 2011 (Shewchuk)
Tabled Document 196 – 3(3): Nunavut Law Foundation’s Annual Report for 2010 (Shewchuk)
Tabled Document 197 – 3(3): Nunavut Law Foundation’s Annual Report for 2009 (Shewchuk)
Tabled Document 198 – 3(3): Nunavut Law Foundation’s Annual Report for 2008 (Shewchuk)
I have several documents to table.
Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to table the Minimum Wage Annual Report for 2011.  Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to table the Nunavut Law Foundation’s annual reports for the years 2008, 2009, and 2010.
Bill 40 – Representative for Children and Youth Act – Notice
I give notice that on Wednesday, June 6, 2012, that Bill 40, Representative for Children and Youth Act, be read for the first time.
Bill 38 – An Act to Amend the Access to Information and Protection of Privacy Act – Second Reading
I move, seconded by the Hon. Member for Arviat, that Bill 38, An Act to Amend the Access to Information and Protection of Privacy Act, be read for the second time.
Mr. Speaker, this bill amends the Access to Information and Protection of Privacy Act by allowing time for the translation of documents, allowing inactive requests to be deemed abandoned, allowing individuals to request the Information and Privacy Commissioner to review the collection, use, and disclosure of their personal information, and requiring public bodies to notify the Information and Privacy Commissioner where a breach of privacy has occurred.
The motion is carried and Bill 38 has had second reading and is referred to the Standing Committee on Legislation.
Bill 39 – An Act to Amend the Judicature Act – Second Reading
I move, seconded by the Hon. Member from Kugluktuk, that Bill 39, An Act to Amend the Judicature Act, be read for the second time.
Mr. Speaker, the bill adds court security provisions that allow the sheriff and deputy sheriffs to provide security screening and to control access to court facilities.
The motion is carried and Bill 39 has had second reading and is referred to the Standing Committee on Legislation.
Minister’s Statement 155 – 3(3) and Bills 19 and 33 with Mr. Enook in the Chair.
>>House recessed at 15:33 and Committee resumed at 15:58
In Committee of the Whole, we have the following items to deal with: Bill 19, Bill 33, and Minister’s Statement 155 – 3(3).
We wish to deal with Bill 19, followed by Bill 33, and if we conclude the review of Bill 33, we will report progress.
Bill 19 – Family Support Orders Enforcement Act – Consideration in Committee
We will continue with the agenda.
I would now like the Minister of Justice to make his opening comments.
I am here today to discuss Bill 19, the Family Support Orders Enforcement Act.
The Family Support Orders Enforcement Act is designed to strengthen our family support enforcement regime and to ensure families and children receive the support they require and deserve.
This Act will allow all of our families to enjoy a higher standard of living and will hold those responsible for providing support to their children accountable.
The proposed Family Support Enforcement Office will have new powers to enforce court-ordered support orders, including tools which are already available in every other province and territory.
As you will recall, Minister Peterson tabled this bill in the spring 2011 session of the Assembly to provide Nunavutmiut, legal organizations, Inuit organizations, and yourselves an opportunity to review and prepare for the proposed provisions in the bill.
That is the conclusion of my opening comments.
I thank you, Mr. Chairman, and I look forward to any questions committee members may have.
Chairman (interpretation): Thank you, Minister Shewchuk. (interpretation ends) Do you have witnesses that you would like to bring to the table? Minister Shewchuk.
Chairman (interpretation): Does the committee agree to bring the witnesses?
I never caught that translation, but I do believe that you said, “Would you like to introduce your witnesses,” so that’s what I will do.
To my right, I have the Deputy Minister of Justice, Norman Tarnow, and to my left, I have the Director of Court Services, Mr. Dwayne Twerdin.
Chairman: Thank you, Minister Shewchuk, and good mind reading.
Mr. Twerdin and Mr. Tarnow, welcome to the witness table. (interpretation) Does the chair of the standing committee have comments?
Mr. Ningeongan: Mr. Chairman, I do. Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
As Chair of the Standing Committee on Legislation, I am pleased to make some brief opening comments as we begin consideration of Bill 19, Family Support Orders Enforcement Act.
The standing committee recognizes that the intent of the bill is to replace the territorial Maintenance Orders Enforcement Act with a new statute. The standing committee recognizes the importance of timely payment of child and spousal support.
The standing committee notes that the new legislation will come into force on a day or days to be fixed by order of the Commissioner on the recommendation of cabinet.
Such orders are published in the Nunavut Gazette.
The standing committee encourages the minister to develop a communications plan to ensure that Nunavummiut who are payers or recipients of support are made aware of the new legislation and their respective obligations and entitlements.
The standing committee also encourages the minister to begin the practice of tabling an annual report in the Legislative Assembly on the administration of the new legislation.
This information will be of benefit to all members in evaluating the success of the legislation in achieving its goal of collecting and enforcing payment of support orders in Nunavut.
During the standing committee’s clause-by-clause consideration of Bill 19, a number of technical amendments were made to it.
These amendments were made at the request of the minister.
Mr. Chairman, that concludes my opening comments. The standing committee recommends the passage of Bill 19, as amended, to all members.
Are there any comments to the opening comments?
I think Mr. Ningeongan, Chair of the Standing Committee on Legislation, spoke for us all that we believe the passage of the bill is very important for the people of Nunavut.
Ms. Ugyuk (interpretation): I, too, am grateful that this bill is before us.
There are a lot of mothers who are looking after their children and sometimes need help. I am very happy that this bill will go a long way towards that.
If there are no more, we will now proceed to Bill 19.
I believe all members have a copy.
Before we proceed, I wish to remind members of the two rules we follow as Committee of the Whole, which I need not mention, Rules 77(1) and 77(2). I believe we know both rules by rote.
I have the English version in front of me, so I will read it accordingly in English. (interpretation ends) Bill 19, Family Support Orders Enforcement Act. Reprint. (interpretation) We will go clause by clause.
Chairman (interpretation): Clause 52.
Chairman (interpretation): Clause 53.
Chairman (interpretation): Clause 54.
Chairman (interpretation): Clause 55.
Chairman (interpretation): Clause 56.
Chairman (interpretation): Clause 57.
Chairman (interpretation): Clause 58.
Chairman (interpretation): Clause 59.
Chairman (interpretation): Clause 60.
Chairman (interpretation): Clause 61.
Chairman (interpretation): Clause 62.
Chairman (interpretation): Clause 63.
Chairman (interpretation): Clause 65.
Chairman (interpretation): Clause 66.
Chairman (interpretation): The next page starts with clause 66, but it’s just repeating the last clause from the previous page.
We will go to page 53.
I haven’t asked for agreement yet. Clause 67.
Chairman (interpretation): Clause 68.
Chairman (interpretation): Clause 69.
Chairman (interpretation): Clause 70.
Chairman (interpretation): Clause 71.
Chairman (interpretation): Clause 72.
Chairman (interpretation): Clause 73.
Chairman: Do members agree to Bill 19, reprint, Family Support Orders Enforcement Act, [as a whole]?
Chairman: Do members agree, pursuant to Rule 62(2), that Bill 19 is immediately ready to be placed on the orders of the day for third reading?  Some Members: Agreed.
First, I would like to thank you and your committee for, actually, the extensive review that we have done in standing committees previous to this appearance.  Also, I would like to thank the input from all the communities across Nunavut, the hamlets and councils, NTI, and other stakeholders in this Act.
This is a very important Act to Nunavut. It is definitely going to benefit families and children within Nunavut.
I would really like to thank too my staff that have drafted this and contributed to putting it together, that is, all the legal people with me and Mr. Twerdin, the Director of Court Services, who was very substantially involved in creating this.
I thank you and your committee. I believe this legislation will do nothing but benefit Nunavutmiut.
Chairman: Thank you, Mr. Minister. I would like to continue and ask you, Mr. Minister, for your opening remarks on Bill 33.
I am here today to also discuss An Act to Amend the Labour Standards Act. This bill extends job protection to Nunavutmiut who serve in the Canadian Rangers or as Canadian Forces Reservists. Through amendments to the Labour Standards Act, the bill ensures the security of jobs of reservists and rangers when they are on duty.
Mr. Chairman, we all value the vital public service that our rangers and reservists perform. These outstanding Nunavutmiut volunteer their time and their expertise to ensure the safety and security of their fellow Nunavutmiut and Canada. This bill will ensure that a reservist or ranger does not have to choose between their employment and their duty.
I look forward to any questions the committee may have in this regard.
Do you wish to bring in witnesses or are they the same officials? Mr. Minister.
I will switch one of my witnesses, with your permission.
Chairman: Thank you, Mr. Minister. (interpretation) Sergeant-at-Arms, please escort one in and one out.
Thank you, Sergeant-at-Arms. (interpretation ends) Mr. Minister, for the record, please introduce your witness.
My new witness at the table is Mr. Stephen Mansell, who is the Director of Policy and Planning with the Department of Justice.
Welcome, Mr. Mansell.
Mr. Ningeongan (interpretation): Yes, Mr. Chairman. (interpretation ends) Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
As Chair of the Standing Committee on Legislation, I am pleased to make some brief opening comments as we begin consideration of Bill 33, An Act to Amend the Labour Standards Act.
The standing committee strongly supports the principle of Bill 33, which is to provide an entitlement to leave for Canadian Rangers and Canadian Forces Reservists during periods of service.