EdinburghNLP/nunavut-hansard-plusplus huggingface dataset:
The government’s most recent annual report on the administration of the Act was tabled in the Legislative Assembly on June 11, 2009.
The Standing Committee on Government Operations and Accountability held hearings on the 2007-2008 and 2008-2009 annual reports of the Information and Privacy Commissioner on October 1, 2009.
The Information and Privacy Commissioner of Nunavut’s most recent appearance before the Standing Committee took place on October 1, 2010.
Following its 2009 hearings, the Standing Committee presented its own report to the Legislative Assembly on December 2, 2009.
This report contained ten formal recommendations.
The government’s response to the Standing Committee’s report and recommendations was tabled in the Legislative Assembly on March 22, 2010.
Both the Standing Committee’s report and the government’s response to it are available to the public on the Legislative Assembly’s website.
This year’s appearance of the Information and Privacy Commissioner before the Standing Committee was again held in the Chamber of the Legislative Assembly and was open to the public and media to observe.
The Information and Privacy Commissioner’s annual reports to the Legislative Assembly have provided a number of formal recommendations.
The Standing Committee’s October 1, 2010, hearing on the 2009-2010 annual report of the Information and Privacy Commissioner provided an opportunity to review the progress made by the government over the past year in addressing the recommendations made by the Information and Privacy Commissioner and the Standing Committee.
Issue: Disclosure of Crown Agency Contracting, Procurement and Leasing  Activities
Last year, the Standing Committee recommended that the Government of Nunavut table annual reports in the Legislative Assembly on the contracting, procurement and leasing activities for all of its Crown corporations and agencies.
The government’s response to the Standing Committee’s recommendation stated that:
“The GN agrees.
The Public Agencies Council will work closely with the Ministers responsible for our territorial corporations with respect to reporting of their contracting activities to ensure the timelines of reporting, transparency and accountability to Nunavummiut.”
However, the NHC has been the only Crown agency for which an annual contracting, procurement and leasing report has been tabled in the Legislative Assembly.
The Standing Committee reiterates its recommendation that the Government of Nunavut table annual reports in the Legislative Assembly on the contracting, procurement and leasing activities for all of its Crown corporations and agencies, including the:
Issue: Disclosure of Information in Relation to Communicable Diseases
Last year, the Standing Committee recommended that the Government of Nunavut review its practices in the area of disclosure of information concerning the H1N1 virus.
“The Department of Health and Social Services, through the office of the Chief Medical Officer of Health, is currently reviewing its disclosure and reporting protocols concerning reportable communicable diseases, with a particular focus on disclosure of community names and community-specific numbers of cases.
As part of this review, the department will be developing a protocol for real time reporting of communicable disease outbreaks.”
However, this protocol has not been tabled in the Legislative Assembly.
The Standing Committee recommends that the Government of Nunavut table in the Legislative Assembly its disclosure and reporting protocols concerning reportable communicable diseases.
Issue: Communication Practices of Community Health Centres
During the Information and Privacy Commissioner’s appearance before the Standing Committee, the issue of communication practices of community health centres was raised in relation to the broadcasting on local radio of the names of residents who are being requested to attend their local health centre.
In her testimony to the Standing Committee, the Information and Privacy Commissioner stated that:
“In fact, the manager of ATIPP and I are currently talking about it in terms of discussion back and forth.
I have been asked to provide my written opinion to her and I am in the process of doing that.
It’s not an issue… if you were to ask one of my counterparts in southern Canada whether that was a good practice, they would all cringe and they would say “no” hands down … but I don’t think it’s as straightforward as that in a place like Nunavut where, sometimes, that may be the only way to get people who need medical health attention into the health centres.
So we are talking about it, we are working on it, and hopefully we will be coming up with some sort of policy direction together so that we can protect the privacy of the individuals involved in Nunavut while, at the same time, making sure that these people have access to the medical health care that they need when they need it.”
The Standing Committee recommends that the Government of Nunavut table in the Legislative Assembly a policy on communication practices to be followed by community health centres.
Last year, the Standing Committee recommended that the Government of Nunavut, in cooperation with the Nunavut Association of Municipalities (NAM) and the Office of the Information and Privacy Commissioner, review the issue of access to information and protection of privacy at the municipal level.
“The GN agrees that municipalities should, in some way, be accountable under access to information and privacy protection legislation.
Further consultation regarding their inclusion under the Access to Information and Protection of Privacy Act is required and the GN intends to include all stakeholders who may be affected by these changes, including the NAM.”
The Standing Committee appreciated the initiative taken by the Information and Privacy Commissioner to invite the federal Assistant Information Commissioner of Canada to accompany her on the occasion of her trip to Iqaluit in October 2010, which included a meeting with the Iqaluit City Council to discuss access to information and protection of privacy at the municipal level.
The Standing Committee strongly encourages the Information and Privacy Commissioner to share, in writing, the results of this meeting with the Government of Nunavut and the Nunavut Association of Municipalities.
The Standing Committee reconfirms its support for ensuring that all levels of government have appropriate systems of access to information and protection of privacy in place.
The Standing Committee recommends that the Government of Nunavut’s next annual report on the administration of the Access to Information and Protection of Privacy Act account for its progress to date in working with the Nunavut Association of Municipalities and the Office of the Information and Privacy Commissioner to review the issue of access to information and protection of privacy at the municipal level.
Last year, the Standing Committee recommended that the Government of Nunavut, in cooperation with the Office of the Information and Privacy Commissioner, develop amendments to the Access to Information and Protection of Privacy Act to provide clear authority for the Information and Privacy Commissioner to conduct privacy reviews and investigate alleged breaches of the legislation.
“The GN agrees that our legislation is lacking in that it does not currently include a provision mandating privacy reviews by the Information and Privacy Commissioner.
This problem has been identified and will be raised during the next review of the Access to Information and Protection of Privacy Act.”
The 2009-2010 Annual Report of the Information and Privacy Commissioner notes that:
“The Information and Privacy Commissioner has no formal legislated authority to receive a complaint about a breach of privacy, or to do an investigation or make recommendations.
Notwithstanding the lack of a formal mandate in this regard, this office routinely accepts complaints and undertakes investigations and provides reports and recommendations when a member of the public complains that their personal information has been improperly collected, used or disclosed by a public body.
There is no requirement that a public body respond to such recommendations or even that they co-operate with the Information and Privacy Commissioner in her investigation of such complaints.”
The Standing Committee recommends that the Government of Nunavut’s next annual report on the administration of the Access to Information and Protection of Privacy Act account for its progress to date in working with the Office of the Information and Privacy Commissioner to develop amendments to the Access to Information and Protection of Privacy Act to provide clear authority for the Information and Privacy Commissioner to conduct privacy reviews and investigate alleged breaches of the legislation.
As an interim measure, the Standing Committee further recommends that the Government of Nunavut formally commit, as a matter of policy, to cooperating with the Office of the Information and Privacy Commissioner in privacy-related investigations until such time as the legislation is amended.
Last year, the Standing Committee recommended that the Government of Nunavut, in cooperation with the Office of the Information and Privacy Commissioner, develop amendments to the Access to Information and Protection of Privacy Act to provide the Information and Privacy Commissioner with the discretion to extend the time for requesting a review in appropriate circumstances.
“The GN agrees that the 30-day time limit, specified in the Access to Information and Protection of Privacy Act, to request a review by the Information and Privacy Commissioner, can be limiting to some individuals.
We agree that it could be beneficial to amend the Act to provide the Information and Privacy Commissioner with the discretion to extend the time for requesting a review in appropriate circumstances, except where the issue involves a third party objection to the disclosure of information.
The GN is committed to reviewing this issue during the next review of the Access to Information and Protection of Privacy Act.”
“In order to correct this problem, it would be my recommendation that the Information and Privacy Commissioner be given discretion to extend the time for requesting a review in appropriate circumstances, except in the case where the issue involves a third party objection to the disclosure of information.
It may also be appropriate to consider extending the time for asking for a review from 30 days to 45 or 60 days.”
The Standing Committee recommends that the Government of Nunavut’s next annual report on the administration of the Access to Information and Protection of Privacy Act account for its progress to date in working with the Office of the Information and Privacy Commissioner to develop amendments to the Access to Information and Protection of Privacy Act to provide the Information and Privacy Commissioner with the discretion to extend the time for requesting a review in appropriate circumstances.
Issue: Development of Health-Specific Privacy Legislation
Last year, the Standing Committee recommended that the Government of Nunavut move forward towards introducing health-specific privacy legislation.
“The GN understands the sensitivity surrounding personal health information and is committed to ensuring the protection of all personal health information.
The GN acknowledges the importance of privacy legislation, particularly as the Department of Health and Social Services moves toward an interoperable Electronic Health (iEHR) Record system.
The iEHR system will initially be governed by a comprehensive privacy framework and supporting privacy policies.
Once the iEHR system is operational, the GN will be in a better position to develop functional and effective health-specific privacy legislation that would apply to both paper and electronic records.
The GN will be looking at the legislation enacted in and under development by other jurisdictions, particularly the other two territories, for guidance.
Until such time, a combination of ATIPP Act and internal departmental policies will continue to be the legislative and regulatory authority for health information.”
“Nunavut needs to begin the process of creating separate legislation to deal with privacy of health records.
The country is charging into the era of electronic health records and electronic medical records.
Every jurisdiction in Canada, other than Nunavut, has now either passed health specific privacy legislation or is developing such legislation to address the very real privacy concerns raised by electronic records.
The issues are significant and complicated.
All Canadian jurisdictions are talking about an integrated electronic health record system to allow any person in Canada to be able to access their electronic medical records, no matter where they happen to be in the country.
The challenges of such a system are enormous, but there seems to be the will in most of the country to make it happen, even if it is still many years away … this is an issue that Nunavut needs to address, sooner rather than later.”
The Standing Committee recommends that the Government of Nunavut’s next annual report on the administration of the Access to Information and Protection of Privacy Act account for its progress to date in developing health-specific privacy legislation.
Issue: Provision of Information to Members of the Legislative Assembly Pursuant to Subsection 48(v) of the Access to Information and Protection of Privacy Act
Subsection 48(v) of the Access to Information and Protection of Privacy Act provides that:
“A public body may disclose personal information to a Member of the Legislative Assembly who has been requested by the individual to whom the information relates to assist in resolving a problem.”
In 2005, the Office of the Information and Privacy Commissioner assisted in the development of a form for the use of residents wishing to provide consent for their personal information to be released to the appropriate Member of the Legislative Assembly under this provision of the legislation.
However, the precise extent to which the government is obliged to comply with this provision is unclear, especially in relation to matters concerning health and social services and the ability of departmental employees and other parties to communicate directly with MLAs.
While Members of the Standing Committee fully recognize the necessity of protecting the privacy rights of Nunavummiut, it is also important that the government respect the wishes of constituents who have provided informed consent to have their personal information disclosed to their elected Member under this provision of the legislation.
Members of the Standing Committee also recognize that in circumstances where the information requested could impact the privacy rights of a third party or a minor, the government’s priority must be the protection of privacy rights.
The Standing Committee recommends that the Government of Nunavut, in cooperation with the Office of the Information and Privacy Commissioner, develop operational guidelines for the use of public bodies in relation to the disclosure of information pursuant to the provisions of subsection 48(v) of the Access to Information and Protection of Privacy Act.
Tabling Dates of Information and Privacy Commissioner’s Annual Reports,  GN Responses and GN Annual Reports
GN responses to Standing Committee Reviews of the Information and Privacy Commissioner’s Annual Reports
GN responses to the Information and Privacy Commissioner’s Annual Reports
March 22, 2010
Backdoor tabled with the Office of the Clerk on  July 27, 2010, and tabled in the House on October 22, 2010
Monday, November 1, 2010
Pages 2972 – 3042
Opening Prayer 2972
Ministers’ Statements 2972
Members’ Statements 2976
Recognition of Visitors in the Gallery 2982
Oral Questions 2982
Written Questions 2999
Replies to Opening Address 3000
Revert to Item 4: Returns to Oral Questions 3003
Reports of Committees on the Review of Bills 3003
Tabling of Documents 3004
Notices of Motions 3006
Motions 3007
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters 3007
Report of the Committee of the Whole 3039
Third Reading of Bills 3039
Assent to Bills 3040
Orders of the Day 3041
Monday, November 1, 2010 2972
224 – 3(2): Minister Tapardjuk Absent from House (Curley) 2972
225 – 3(2): New Government of Nunavut Website (Aariak) 2972
226 – 3(2): Department of Human Resources – New Organizational Structure (Shewchuk) 2973
227 – 3(2): CGS Technical-Professional Studies Scholarship (Kusugak) 2974
228 – 3(2): Progress in Career Development Services (Tootoo) 2975
229 – 3(2): Replacement of Driver’s Licences and General Identification Cards (Taptuna) 2976
345 – 3(2): Ensuring the Delivery of Government Services (Schell) 2976
346 – 3(2): Effective Representation for the High Arctic (Elliott) 2977
347 – 3(2): Soccer Tournament in Kugluktuk (Taptuna) 2978
348 – 3(2): Southampton Island Caribou Harvest (Ningeongan) 2978
349 – 3(2): A Changing Environment (Okalik) 2979
350 – 3(2): Appreciation to Annie Buchan (Ugyuk) 2980
351 – 3(2): The Next President of NTI (Curley) 2980
352 – 3(2): Congratulations to Baker Lake Soccer Team (Aupaluktuq) 2981
Return to Oral Question 520 – 3(2): New Office Building (Kusugak) 3003
512 – 3(2): A Changing Environment (Okalik) 2982
513 – 3(2): Nunavut’s Aging Infrastructure (Elliott) 2984
514 – 3(2): Southampton Island Caribou Harvest (Ningeongan) 2986
515 – 3(2): Compensating Affected Polar Bear Sport Hunts Outfitters (Ningark) 2989
516 – 3(2): Nunavut Suicide Prevention Strategy (Ugyuk) 2991
517 – 3(2): Nunavut Teachers’ Collective Agreement (Okalik) 2993
518 – 3(2): Status of Demolition and Removal of Abandoned Buildings in Chesterfield Inlet (Ningeongan) 2995
519 – 3(2): Nunavut Teachers’ Collective Agreement (Okalik) 2998
520 – 3(2): New Office Building (Elliott) 2999
022 – 3(2): New Nunavut Housing Corporation Directorate Office in Iqaluit (Elliott) 2999
Reply to Opening Address 004 – 3(2): Ms. Eva Aariak (Aariak) 3000
Committee Report on Bills 020 – 3(2): Bill 44, An Act to Amend the Income Tax Act (Okalik) 3003
Committee Report on Bills 021 – 3(2): Bill 45, An Act to Amend the Labour Standards Act (Minimum Wage) (Okalik) 3004
Committee Report on Bills 022 – 3(2): Bill 46, An Act to Amend the Senior Citizens and Disabled Persons Property Tax Relief Act (Okalik) 3004
255 – 3(2): FPT Ministers of Health Meeting, September 14, 2010 (Curley) 3004
256 – 3(2): Report #1 on Status of Action Plan on the Report of the Auditor General of Canada to the Legislative Assembly of Nunavut 2009 – Financial Management Practices of the Department of Health and Social Services (Curley) 3004
257 – 3(2): Residents to See Community Hall Design (Elliott) 3005
258 – 3(2): Nunavut Liquor Commission Annual Report 2004-2005 (Peterson) 3005
259 – 3(2): Nunavut Liquor Commission Annual Report 2005-2006 (Peterson) 3005
260 – 3(2): Nunavut Liquor Commission Annual Report 2006-2007 (Peterson) 3005
261 – 3(2): Nunavut Liquor Commission Annual Report 2007-2008 (Peterson) 3005
262 – 3(2): Nunavut Liquor Licensing Board Annual Report 2007-2008 (Peterson) 3005
263 – 3(2): Open Letter to the Leaders of Nunavut on the Health Implications of Opening the Territory to Uranium Mining (Elliott) 3006
264 – 3(2): Human Health Implications of Uranium Mining and Nuclear Power Generation (Elliott) 3006
265 – 3(2): Developing Healthy Communities – A Public Health Strategy for Nunavut (Elliott) 3006
031 – 3(2): Appointment of Alternate Ministerial Member of the Management and Services Board – Notice (Aariak) 3006
031 – 3(2): Appointment of Alternate Ministerial Member of the Management and Services Board (Aariak) 3007
Bill 44 – An Act to Amend the Income Tax Act – Third Reading 3039
Bill 45 – An Act to Amend the Labour Standards Act (Minimum Wage) – Third Reading 3040
Bill 46 – An Act to Amend the Senior Citizens and Disabled Persons Property Tax Relief Act – Third Reading 3040
Bill 35 – Licensed Practical Nurses Act – Assent 3040
Bill 37 – Tobacco Damages and Health Care Costs Recovery Act – Assent 3040
Bill 38 – Appropriation (Capital) Act, 2011-2012 – Assent 3040
Bill 39 – Supplementary Appropriation (Operations and Maintenance) Act, No. 3, 2009-2010 – Assent 3040
Bill 40 – Supplementary Appropriation (Operations and Maintenance) Act, No. 3, 2010-2011 – Assent 3040
Bill 41 – Supplementary Appropriation (Capital) Act, No. 3, 2010-2011 – Assent 3040
Bill 42 – Forgiveness of Debts Act, 2010, No. 2 – Assent 3040
Bill 43 – Write-Off of Assets Act, 2010-2011 – Assent 3040
Bill 44 – An Act to Amend the Income Tax Act – Assent 3040
Bill 45 – An Act to Amend the Labour Standards Act (Minimum Wage) – Assent 3040
Bill 46 – An Act to Amend the Senior Citizens and Disabled Persons Property Tax Relief Act – Assent 3041
Bill 44 – An Act to Amend the Income Tax Act – Consideration in Committee – Consideration in Committee 3008
Bill 45 – An Act to Amend the Labour Standards Act (Minimum Wage) – Consideration in Committee 3009
Bill 46 – An Act to Amend the Senior Citizens and Disabled Persons Property Tax Relief Act – Consideration in Committee 3011
Tabled Document 207 – 3(2): Nunavut Housing Corporation Contracting Report for the Year Ended March 31, 2009 – Consideration in Committee 3014
Tabled Document 209 – 3(2): Statement of Expenditures for Nunavut Housing Trust as of April 1, 2006 to February 28, 2010 – Consideration in Committee 3014
Tabled Document 210 – 3(2): Nunavut Housing Corporation Review of Nunavut Housing Trust – Consideration in Committee 3015
Tabled Document 212 – 3(2): Nunavut Housing Trust Project Status Summary, September 30, 2010 – Consideration in Committee 3015
Honourable Eva Aariak, Honourable James Arreak, Mr. Moses Aupaluktuq, Honourable Tagak Curley, Mr. Ron Elliott, Honourable Lorne Kusugak, Mr. John Ningark, Mr. Johnny Ningeongan, Mr. Paul Okalik, Honourable Keith Peterson, Mr. Allan Rumbolt, Mr. Fred Schell, Honourable Daniel Shewchuk, Honourable Peter Taptuna, Honourable Hunter Tootoo, Ms. Jeannie Ugyuk.
Going to Item 2 in the Orders of the Day.
Minister’s Statement 224 – 3(2): Minister Tapardjuk Absent from House (Curley)
Hon. Tagak Curley (interpretation): At this time, Mr. Speaker, I would like to advise members that our colleague, Mr. Tapardjuk, will be absent from the House.
Minister’s Statement 225 – 3(2): New Government of Nunavut Website (Aariak)
I am pleased to stand before my colleagues today to announce the launch of the new Government of Nunavut website, where you can visit via computer and the new Inuktitut term is Ikiaqqivik.
This website responds to a need identified in the Qanukkanniq Report Card – the need for our government to improve its communications.
We made a commitment in the Tamapta Action Plan to change the way we provide information to and receive feedback from Nunavummiut.
This new website ensures that Nunavummiut are provided with the most current, accurate, and timely information about the programs and services provided by the Government of Nunavut and its departments.
While the new design is pleasant to look at, and certainly an enormous improvement, it is the functionality of the website that is new and exciting.
Mr. Speaker, we often hear that individuals cannot find contact information for government employees.
Our new website provides a complete, up-to-date staff directory that can be searched by first or last name, title, department, or community. This feature alone will provide Nunavummiut the contact information they need at their fingertips.
It is important to note, Mr. Speaker, that a website is never finished; it is a dynamic, living document that changes monthly, weekly, and even daily.
This is only the first stage of the website.
The next stage will include the incorporation of the content of all departments of the government into one central website. This will allow even better navigation, including a searchable directory of Government of Nunavut services and programs.
This will make it easier for anyone to find the services they need when they need them, making government information available at the touch of a button.