EdinburghNLP/nunavut-hansard-plusplus huggingface dataset:
The Standing Committee would encourage the Government to take full advantage of the Information and Privacy Commissioner's offer to assist in providing training to GN staff.
The Standing Committee would like to see these initiatives completed within the 2001-2002 fiscal year.
Recommendation 2:
That the Access to Information and Protection of Privacy Act be amended to create a presumption that recommendations made by the Information and Privacy Commissioner be deemed to be accepted thirty days after the recommendation is made, unless, prior to that, the head of the public body issues a different decision.
The Standing Committee agrees with this recommendation, and would recommend that amendments to the Act to effect this change be introduced during the 2001-2002 fiscal year.
Recommendation 3:
That the Act be amended to provide that all notices required under the Act be delivered personally to the recipient, or be "served" in some other fashion which allows verification of the date of delivery, and that the thirty-day reply period begin only after service has been so effected.
The Standing Committee notes that the Act was amended in the fall of 2000 to change the provisions related to the service of documents.
The Standing Committee would welcome comments by the Information and Privacy Commissioner in her next annual report as to the efficacy of these amendments.
Recommendation 4:
That the Act be amended to provide clear statutory authority for the Information and Privacy Commissioner to review complaints related to violations of personal privacy, and to make recommendations.
Recommendation 5:
That the Act be amended to:
i) provide the Information and Privacy Commissioner with the power to subpoena documents and witnesses;
ii) impose penalties for failure to comply with the time limits outlined in the Act; and
iii) provide for the withholding of performance bonuses from heads and deputy heads of public bodies that consistently fail to meet deadlines
The Standing Committee agrees with the recommendation to provide the Information and Privacy Commissioner the power to subpoena documents and witnesses, and would recommend that amendments to the Act to effect this change be introduced during the 2001-2002 fiscal year.
With respect to the possible range of sanctions that could be applied to departments or senior officials who do not comply with deadlines, the Standing Committee agrees with the principle that for legislation to be effective, consequences for failure to adhere to its provisions must be clear.
However, the Standing Committee would note that Ministers are already accountable to the Assembly as a whole, and would note that elected Members are not eligible for monetary bonuses.
The Standing Committee agrees with the recommendation to introduce such penalties suggested by the Information and Privacy Commissioner as allowing for the right to disallow fees otherwise payable by an applicant in the event of late responses.
Recommendation 6:
That municipalities in Nunavut be subject to the Access to Information and Protection of Privacy Act.
The Standing Committee took note of the Information and Privacy Commissioner's comments with respect to past abuses of personal information by municipal governments in the NWT.
It is also supportive of the principle that government at any level -- federal, provincial, territorial or local -- must be open and accountable to its citizens.
However, the Standing Committee would be concerned about imposing precipitous change upon municipalities at a time when many of them are struggling with a wide range of serious capacity issues.
The territorial government is itself only starting to establish adequate access to information and protection of privacy procedures and training programs across its departments.
The ability of municipalities to adapt overnight would appear limited.
The Standing Committee would recommend that the Government of Nunavut amend the Act to make municipalities subject to its provisions, but that this change should not immediately come into force.
The Department of Community Government and Transportation will need to work with the Department of Executive and Intergovernmental Affairs to provide adequate training and support to municipal officials.
The Standing Committee would recommend that the Government aim to implement this change within a three-year period.
Recommendation 7:
That the Government of Nunavut review the current list of departments, boards, agencies and other bodies that fall under the jurisdiction of the Act with a view to ensuring that it reflects the organizational changes that have occurred since April 1, 1999.
It would note that further problems will arise in regard to this issue with respect to the establishment of the Nunavut Power Corporation on April 1, 2001.
Although the Northwest Territories Power Corporation (NTPC) is included as a public body in Schedule A of the Access to Information and Protection of Privacy Regulations, the new Nunavut Power Corporation is not.
Ambiguity also exists with respect to such new bodies as Committees of Council.
The Standing Committee would recommend that the regulations be revised within the first quarter of the 2001-2002 fiscal year to include bodies established by the Government of Nunavut since April 1, 1999.
The Standing Committee also agrees with the Information and Privacy Commissioner's view that the Public Utilities Board (or any successor body) should be included under the Act.
Recommendation 8:
That the Government of Nunavut consider introducing legislation to respond to the recent passage of Bill C-6 (Personal Information Protection and Electronic Documents Act) by the Parliament of Canada.
The Standing Committee agrees with this recommendation, and would encourage the Government to work with the Information and Privacy Commissioner to develop legislation that will respond to this federal initiative during the life of the First Assembly.
Thank you. At this time I will pass the report back to Member Tootoo.
Mr. Tootoo: Thank you, Mr. Speaker and I would like to thank my honourable colleague for Quttiktuq for helping with this report. It is quite long and I am glad that I didn’t have to read it all by myself.
Mr. Speaker, the Standing Committee on Government Operations and Services Further Recommends:
1) That the Information and Privacy Commissioner conduct at least one public education session on the Act in each region of Nunavut in 2001-2002;
2) That the Information and Privacy Commissioner work with the Department of Health and Social Services to identify appropriate mechanisms to provide public education to the general public concerning their privacy rights with respect to the issue of health records and medical testing;
3) That the Information and Privacy Commissioner work with the Department of Justice to identify appropriate mechanisms to provide training to Community Justice Committees in the area of CJCs' management of confidential personal information concerning offenders;
4) That the Government of Nunavut publish annual statistics on the number of requests made to public bodies under the Act, including the languages in which information is requested;
5) That the Government of Nunavut ensures that the Information and Privacy Commissioner is formally consulted during the course of developing or amending legislation that impacts access or privacy issues, including legislative change resulting from reviews performed by such bodies as the Nunavut Law Review Commission; and
6) That the Government of Nunavut periodically update the Legislative Assembly on progress made in reviewing the statutes of Nunavut prior to the coming into force of subsection 4(2) of the Act.
The Standing Committee was pleased to have the opportunity to meet with the Information and Privacy Commissioner to discuss her first annual report.
The Standing Committee took careful note of the Information and Privacy Commissioner's view that privacy issues will increasingly grow in prominence over the coming years.
For its part, the Standing Committee is hopeful that the Information and Privacy Commissioner will be able to help raise the public's awareness of their rights under the Act, and to do so in a manner that takes into account the linguistic and cultural uniqueness of Nunavut.
The Standing Committee looks forward to the Government of Nunavut's response to the concerns and recommendations raised during the course of this review, and looks forward to an ongoing and productive relationship with the office of the Information and Privacy Commissioner.
Mr. Speaker, that concludes the report of the Standing Committee but I will finish by saying that the members look forward again to the government’s response to the report in the coming months as requested by the Standing Committee pursuant to Rule 91(5) and Mr. Speaker, I move that the report be received by the House.
Speaker: Thank you Mr. Tootoo and Ms. Williams.
Do the members agree that the review of the 1999/2000 Annual Report of the Information and Privacy Commissioner of Nunavut be received by this House.
The report has been received by the Assembly. Item 12. Reports of Committees on the Review of Bills.
Item 12. Reports of Committees on the Review of Bills. Reports of Committees on the Review of Bills.
Tabling of Documents. Mr. McLean.
Tabled Document 001 – 1(5): Provincial & Territorial Minimum Wage Rates Across Canada
I would like to table this document, “Provincial and Territorial Minimum Wage Rates Across Canada”.
Tabled Document 002 - 1(5): Responses to Petitions 1-1 (4) to 4-1 (4)
I wish to table the following responses for petitions 1-1 (4) to petition 4-1 (4).
Item 14. Notices of Motions.
Item 15. Notices of Motion for First Reading of Bills.
Bill 1 – Appropriation Act 2001/2002 - Notice
Hon. Kelvin Ng: Mr. Speaker, I give notice that on February 27, 2001, I shall move that Bill 1, Appropriation Act 2001/2002 be read for the first time.
Speaker: Thank you, Mr. Ng. Item 12.
Item 16. Motions. Motions.
Meeting of full caucus at 2:00 p.m. this afternoon in the boardroom.
Orders of the Day for Monday February 26, 2001:
>>House adjourned at 12.13 p.m.
Monday February 26, 2001
Pages 81 - 132
Minister of Health and Social Services; Minister Responsible for the Nunavut Power Corporation
Minister Responsible for the Nunavut Housing Corporation; Minister of Public Works and Services
Members' Statements 4
Reports of Standing & Special Committees 4
Notices of Motions 4
Motions 4
Monday February 26, 2001 4
008 – 1(5): Youth Anti-Tobacco Initiative (Picco) 4
033– 1(5): Inuit Qaujimajatuqangit Funding (Iqaqrialu) 4
034 - 1(5): Economic & Social Crisis in Canada (McLean) 4
035 - 1(5): Rankin Inlet Suicide Prevention Events (Thompson) 4
036 – 1(5): Decentralization & Employment (Irqittuq) 4
037 – 1(5): Inuit Qaujimajatuqangit & Simon Nattaq (Anawak) 4
038 – 1(5): Progress of Inuit Qaujimajatuqangit Integration (Arvaluk) 4
039 - 1(5): Ice Sculptors from Kimmirut (Akesuk) 4
040 - 1(5): Miner Training Kugluktuk (Havioyak) 4
041 - 1(5): Simon Nattaq’s Hunting Accident (Picco) 4
042 - 1(5): Medical Boarding Home in Cambridge Bay (Alakannuark) 4
043 - 1(5): Canadrill/Northmart Funspiel (Tootoo) 4
044 - 1(5): Snowmobile Fire in Gjoa Haven (Puqiqnak) 4
023 - 1(5): Anti-Smoking Week (Nutarak) 4
024 - 1(5): Update on Manitoba/Nunavut Power Grid (McLean) 4
025 - 1(5): Incremental Cost for Rankin Inlet Session (Tootoo) 4
026 - 1(5): Subsidy for Polar Bear Skins (Puqiqnak) 4
027 - 1(3): Insurance Coverage for Inmates’ Survivors (Irqittuq) 4
028 - 1(5): Kitikmeot Health Facility and Boarding Home (Alakannuark) 4
029 - 1(3): Polar Bear Study (Iqaqrialu) 4
030 - 1(3): Winnipeg Inuit Centre Contract (Arvaluk) 4
031 - 1(5): Update on Funding for Transportation Strategy (Williams) 4
032 - 1(5): Status of Firearms Registration Licences (Havioyak) 4
007 - 1(5): Kivalliq Dental Services (McLean) 4
002 – 1(5): Review of the 1999-2000 Annual Report of the Languages Commissioner of Nunavut 4
003– 1(5): Terms of Reference of the Special Committee to Review the Official Languages Act (Nutarak) 4
001 – 1(5): Special Committee to Review the Official Languages Act (Nutarak) 4
Monday February 26, 2001  Nunavut Hansard
Speaker: Good afternoon, Mr. Premier and members.
Some of the members will know the clocks are not functioning.
That does not mean that you have endless time for statements.
So you’ll have to keep an eye this way and we will let you know when time is up and the same thing with question period.
Minister's Statement 008 – 1(5): Youth Anti-Tobacco Initiative
Hon. Ed Picco: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Good afternoon. Mr. Speaker as you may be aware the Department of Health & Social Services launched a tobacco reduction media campaign in December 2000.
The campaign included a series of newspaper, radio and TV advertisements and a series of posters that graphically illustrates the effects of smoking. Mr. Speaker, since then the department has been working on a series of initiatives designed to pull together resources from around the country to overcome some of the devastating health effects of tobacco use among Nunavummiut.
Mr. Speaker for instance, working with Pauktuutit, we delivered a nicotine addiction counselling workshop that was attended by nearly 30 health workers and community workers from across Nunavut.
Our department has been working collaboratively with other departments including the Department of Education, Nunavut Municipalities, the RCMP, and provincial ministries including the BC Ministry of Health in developing a long-term strategy for tobacco reduction in Nunavut.
We are also doing everything we can to work closely with local champions.
In fact this may be the most effective way there is to influence the decisions that people make.
Mr. Speaker, many of our children are starting to smoke at a very young age.
In the upcoming months the Department of Health and Social Services plans to focus more intensely on youth initiatives such as a Nunavut-wide school poster contest and a new television ad.
This advertisement will be designed and produced with the assistance of local youths dedicated to promoting non-smoking in their communities.
In fact Mr. Speaker, a growing number of young people want to get involved in initiatives to reduce smoking in their communities. We want to work with them and build on their desire to take action.
One such young man is Mr. Jeremiah Ikkidluak from Kimmirut.
Jeremiah is a Grade 9 student and was chosen to represent Nunavut at the first Kids Against Tobacco Youth Summit in Richmond, BC, this past week.
This Summit is designed by youth and for youth to share new skills, ideas, and strategies for them to take action against smoking in their schools and communities.
Mr. Speaker, Jeremiah is returning from the Summit this afternoon and I'm looking forward to congratulating him after hearing his views about this important issue.
Qujannamiik. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Member's Statement 033– 1(5): Inuit Qaujimajatuqangit Funding
I apologize for my voice, it's quite different as you can notice.
I don't see my two minutes here so, I think you should just let me go for as long as I want.
Mr. Speaker, I rise today to talk about Inuit Qaujimajatuqangit.
Mr. Speaker, we used to be under the Government of the Northwest Territories for quite some time.
But we now have the Nunavut Government and we expect our government to follow through with the Bathurst Mandate.
Mr. Speaker, Nunavut residents expect change today.
Mr. Speaker, the people in Nunavut expect to use their language and culture because it is part of who they are.
Mr. Speaker, they want the Nunavut ministers to start using Inuit Qaujimajatuqangit within their departments and we have been expecting to use Inuit Qaujimajatuqangit since way back in the 1960's but we are now in 2001.
Our leaders have many new items to deal with and I would suggest that they carry a heavy crow bar so they can pry out even the toughest obstacles.
Mr. Speaker, the government is saying we don't have any funding to deal with Inuit Qaujimajatuqangit, which is very true, Mr. Speaker.
When the government says that we don't have any funding to me it means that we have to work towards using Inuit Qaujimajatuqangit any way we can and find funds to deal with the issues.
So if our leaders have a strong crow bar to pry even the toughest obstacles we can find funding to deal with Inuit Qaujimajatuqangit.
Mr. Speaker, Nunavummiut will not be promoted by others.
We have to promote our language and culture ourselves.
So with that Mr. Speaker, we have to find funding to promote Inuit Qaujimajatuqangit so our language and culture can be maintained.
We have to let the world know about our culture and our languages.
If that is the case Mr. Speaker, we as the Government of Nunavut should set aside some money that will be used specifically to promote the Inuit culture and language because like I said it is not going to be promoted by anybody else.
We are the only ones who can do that.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I believe I am over my time limit.
Member's Statement 034 - 1(5): Economic & Social Crisis in Canada
Uqaqti I just want to compliment the Minister of Health & Social Services for his recent poster campaign. I myself was addicted to smoking and quit in 1985.
Over the last few years, I almost took up the habit because of question period and the answers that I wasn’t getting.
So ever since those posters came out I am scared to start smoking.
But Mr. Speaker, I’d like to speak today on a more serious issue, on an excerpt from a book.
Almost everyone knows that Canada according to the United Nations is one of the best countries in the world to live in.
Less well known however is the United Nations strong condemnation of Canada’s social and economic policies. In a devastating 1998 report the United Nations Committee on Economic and Social, Cultural Rights, protested Canada’s neglect of its least fortunate citizens citing among them single mothers, the homeless, aboriginal peoples and poor children.
Mr. Speaker, far from alleviating their condition, the committee found that Federal and Provincial policies are making it worse.
While the rich get richer, the number of poor people has grown dramatically.
The evidence suggests that despite all their abundant rhetoric, leaders really don’t care about the poor men, women and children across this nation.
Thanks to the Federal Government belt tightening, unemployment benefits are denied to many men and women who have spent their adult lives making contributions to the fund.
The provinces and municipalities meanwhile have slashed the number of poor people eligible for assistance.
Tax cuts have benefited the rich through the reduction of countless programs and ones that greatly affect Nunavut, such as subsidized housing.
At the same time the number of working poor trying to get by on totally inadequate income even in Nunavut has increased substantially.
The recent increase in home heating fuel is another example that affects Nunavummiut.
Mr. Speaker, in 1996 the United Nations Children’s fund report shows that Canada had the second highest number of poor children among the 18 leading industrialized nations.
Not only is Canada’s rate of child poverty one of the highest in developed nations but also our assistance to children is well below that of many nations.
In child benefits we are 14th in the world.
Mr. Speaker, there is no statistic for Nunavut yet but I can only say we are always higher.
The Honourable Paul Martin, Minister of Finance will be Nunavut next week.
I am hoping that the Nunavut Finance Minister's talks are successful.
I am sure he will make Mr. Martin aware that we have some grievous social issues in Nunavut.
Member's Statement 035 - 1(5): Rankin Inlet Suicide Prevention Events
I would like to speak about a very positive event.
Recently in Rankin Inlet several special activities in support of suicide prevention were held.
Some of you may have heard about this on the radio this morning.
There was a dance in Rankin Inlet for suicide prevention and I would like to recognize the people of Rankin Inlet who participated in, and organized this event.
They did fund raising for two months to hold that suicide prevention workshop.
I would like to recognize the following people who co-ordinated that event.
Diane Tiktak, Margaret Nuqituq, Amber Qarlik and Palia Kappuk.
They held a dance for suicide prevention on February 24 and 25.
It was a two-day meeting and they had workshops in the afternoon from 2 to 6 for healing circles.
People came from Arviat, Qikiqtarjuaq, Coral Harbour, Qamanittuaq, Taloyoak, Uqsuqtuq and five from Nunavik, including Pauloosie Palaya from Sudlik who went by dog team to promote awareness of suicide prevention throughout the Nunavut communities.
I would like to thank the residents of Rankin Inlet for welcoming the participants and also to say thank you to the co-ordinators who held this activity.
Member’s Statement 036 – 1(5): Decentralization & Employment
I rise today to talk about the decentralization process being implemented by the government.
One of my communities, Igloolik, will see some employment created through the decentralization program.
Today with the jobs that are being advertized, I am very pleased to see that there is more and more employment being created at the local level and that more people are moving into the community.
On the Trades and Certification Act, there has been no amendment to that Act yet and I think we have to start working on that so the local residents who are based in the decentralized communities and can take on the employment that is being created.
The older generation are not certified in trades or other occupations or specialized fields. But they are very capable of taking on those jobs.
I think that we have to make a change to our present legislation so that the people in these decentralized communities can take on these new employment opportunities that are being created.
I think we have to make those changes prior to the completion of the decentralization program.
I don’t know who recruits the employees, I don’t know who does the interviews, but I think that the interviewers should include more Inuit.
Member’s Statement 037 – 1(5): Inuit Qaujimajatuqangit & Simon Nattaq
Hon. Jack Anawak (interpretation): Thank you. First of all I would like to recognize the Department of Health & Social Services and the Department of Education for doing the suicide awareness programs.
Just recently I went to a suicide prevention workshop that was held here and I went to see them during their deliberations.
I would just like to say that I am very proud of these two departments.
But what I wanted to speak about today is a subject that one of our colleagues, Mr. Iqaqrialu, brought up earlier.
That is the whole issue of Inuit Qaujimajatuqangit and its applications.
All Inuit are affected by anything that happens here.
When we use Inuit Qaujimajatuqangit to alleviate difficulties that arise and this is one of the areas where I am especially proud of Inuit Qaujimajatuqangit.
I will use a recent incident as an example.
Just a few days ago, one of the people from Iqaluit went to the floe edge and fell through the ice.
I don’t have all the details but I believe the ice conditions were poor.
The person I am referring to is Simon Nattaq.
I have no use for the animal rights activists because they don’t take into account the Inuit culture and traditions.
It was quite a while ago that the fur market fell through because of these activists.
Bridgett Bardot was one of the main activists who took the lead in that campaign.
Because of that campaign our fur markets fell through.
But the reason I made reference to Simon Nattaq is because even though he fell through the ice, of course it is February and extremely cold, he was wearing Inuit clothing and using Inuit tools, and was able to survive this accident even when it took 53 hours before the search & rescue people came.
Because he was wearing traditional clothing, even though it was extremely cold, and being a traditional Inuk he knew the survival skills, in case such an accident should occur, and he used those Inuit techniques and Inuit Qaujimajatuqangit.