EdinburghNLP/nunavut-hansard-plusplus huggingface dataset:
Ms. Williams: Mr. Speaker, I give notice that on May 30th 2001, I shall move, seconded by the honourable Member for Iqaluit Centre, that Rule 68 (1) be waived and the period for the Standing Committee on Health and Education to report back to the House on Bill 9, Change of Name Act be extended to the fall sitting of the Legislative Assembly.
Ms. Williams: I feel like I am dancing here.
Mr. Speaker, I would like to go back to 16.
Unanimous consent to go back to 16.
Speaker: Member is seeking unanimous consent to deal with her motion today.
Please proceed Ms. Williams.
Ms. Williams: Mr. Speaker, I move, seconded by the Honourable Member for Iqaluit Centre that Rule 68 (1) be waived and the period for the Standing Committee on Health and Education to report back to the House on Bill 9, Change of Name Act, be extended to the fall sitting of the Legislative Assembly.
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters with Bills 8 and 10.
Chair.
I think the members will agree that it would be an appropriate time to take a 15 minute health break.
>>House recessed at 3.46 p.m. and resumed at 4.12 p.m.
Chairperson (Mr. Iqaqrialu) (interpretation): We can begin.
The committee wishes to deal with Bill 10 and then Bill 8.
We have in committee of the whole Bill 8 and Bill 10.
The committee would like to deal with Bill 10.
Do we agree that we deal with Bill 10 then Bill 8.
I would like to get Ms. Cooper to come to the front to assist us.
Thank you, Sue.
I would now ask the minister responsible, Mr. Ng, to do his opening comments.
Bill 10 – An Act to Amend the Labour Standards Act, Parental Leave – Consideration
Mr. Chairman, it is a pleasure to appear here before you today on behalf of the Minister of Justice concerning the amendments introduced to the Labour Standards Act and to respond to your questions.
Bill 10 will amend Part 5 of the Labour Standards Act providing for pregnancy and parental leave.
The Federal Government made legislative changes that came into effect on December 31, 2000 extending parental leave benefits under the Employment Insurance Act.
Our Act is no longer consistent with the Employment Insurance Act and the benefits now available to eligible workers, therefore it must be updated.
Mr. Chairman, the changes to the Nunavut Labour Standards Act will allow for an increase in parental leave from the current 12 weeks to 37 weeks for new parents whether its natural or adoptive parents.
When this is considered in conjunction with the 15 weeks for maternity leave, these changes will allow for eligible parents of a new born or a adoptive child up to 52 weeks of combined maternity and parental leave insurance benefits.
The jobs that the parents who decide to take the maximum 52 weeks will be protected during the duration of their leave.
Mr. Chairman, these changes have already been made in most of the provinces and territories in Canada.
If we do not make the change, Nunavummiut will not be able take advantage of the longer parental leave benefits available under the Employment and Insurance Act because the law would not allow employers to hold their jobs open for them for the extended period of time.
Mr. Chairman, the amendments before you are very specific and deal with only with this one part of the Labour Standards Act.
These amendments are consistent with this government's commitment under the Bathurst Mandate that people come first and families are respected as integral to maintaining Inuit culture.
I would be pleased to answer any questions that the members may have concerning this legislation.
I am glad to report that this is a good news Bill for a change.
Doesn't take anything away or add.
But it enhances the families of Nunavut.
The Standing Committee of Community Empowerment and Sustainable Development has reviewed Bill 10 - An Act to Amend the Labour Standards Act, Parental leave.
Members of the standing committee met last week with the sponsoring minister and his officials to review the proposed legislation.
Members are pleased that these amendments which bring Nunavut into line with other Canadian jurisdictions have now been introduced.
During the minister’s appearance, members stressed a need for the government to ensure that ordinary Nunavummiut are made aware of these important changes and their new rights under the Labour Standards Act.
With respect to parental leave, it is important that clear information be provided in the languages of Nunavut as to how these changes will impact these employers and employees.
Given that these changes will take affect on June 3rd, it is important that this information be disseminated promptly especially given that there is a limited period of time for people who will now be entitled for further parental leave to make their application.
That concludes my opening remarks Mr. Chairman.
The committee recommends the passage of Bill 10 to all members.
Chairperson (interpretation): Thank you, Chairperson McLean.
Now I would like to ask the minister if he would take his seat at the witness table.
Will you have your officials join you.
Minister Ng if you could introduce your officials.
Hon. Kelvin Ng: To my left Mr. Ralph Armstrong, legislative counsel with the Department of Justice.
Before we go on to questions.
I would like to ask the members if they have general comments.
No general comments.
I would like to ask the members if there are any questions.
If there are no questions, we can go clause by clause.
Chairperson (interpretation): Bill 10 - An Act to Amend the Labour Standards Act, Parental leave.
Do all the members have a copy.
Okay I am going to begin with Clause 1.
Is 35.1 then 35.2 included in clause 3 on page 2.
It states, subsection 3, at the end of subsection 3, “unless the employee and the employer otherwise agree”.
Is that Human Resources, or the employee's supervisor.
Hon. Kelvin Ng: Mr. Chairman, this legislation is not specific to government as an employer. This is for all employers operating in Nunavut.
In the case of the government, is the employer Government of Nunavut, Human Resources or the supervisor.
In the case of the Government of Nunavut it would be the applicable supervisor in that department.
In that subsection 3, last paragraph, last sentence.
“Unless the employee and the employer otherwise agree”.
Does the employee have recourse to talk to somebody else other than the direct supervisor.
For example, labour relations in the Human Resources Department.
Mr. Chairman, there are different avenues of appeal in the Government of Nunavut system in respect of any decisions made and applicable to an employee.
So it depends on the category of the employee but it is laid out in either the guidelines, our policies or in the Public Service Act, depending again on the classification of employee.
On the subsection 5, last sentence.
For the purpose of adoption as the case may be.
Does that option also include custom adoption.
Do you wish to continue Mr. Arvaluk.
Mr. Tootoo: Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Mr. Chairman, I would just like to ask the minister if this piece of legislation conflicts with what is in the recently passed collective agreement that was just passed last week.
I was just wondering if this is the same as what is in there or does it enhance what is in there already.
This in effect adds to the original agreement that we had.
There are out of the current collective agreement that was recently ratified, which we announced last week, there are some provisions for some enhanced maternity leave or extended leave benefits, but the implementation of that hasn't been discussed or negotiated out with the NEU leadership.
So that's a matter of post-ratification, the implementation matters that are still outstanding that will take place over the course of the next couple of weeks.
I guess if we are passing a law that says this is the way that it is, I would assume that it wouldn't be something that you would go and negotiate that it would be an automatic enhancement to our collective agreements.
I am just wondering if that is the case, if it will be something that is automatically enhanced within the collective agreement.
It shouldn't be used as some kind of a bargaining tool or a negotiating thing, if we are saying that this is the law that is how it should be in this piece of legislation.
It should be a consequential change in the collective agreement.
Mr. Chairman, this is really an issue that is separate to anything that is agreed upon in the collective agreement.
Any enhancement in the collective agreement would be in respect to paid leave.
This is in respect really to allow for additional unpaid leave from an employer to an employee.
To give them the right to have additional unpaid maternity leave benefits.
So it is really two different matters that we are speaking about here.
Chairperson (interpretation): Thank you, Minister Ng. Do you wish to continue Mr. Tootoo.
Just to ensure I understand the minister's last comment.
He said that this piece of legislation has nothing at all to do with the collective agreement.
Is that what he said, I am just trying to clarify if that is what he just indicated.
Mr. Chairman, from the perspective of any collective agreement monetary item, this is not related to that.
This is in respect to unpaid leave, employers allowing individuals an additional 35 weeks of unpaid leave so they would be able to receive additional unemployment insurance benefits for that period of leave.
That unemployment insurance benefit of course comes from the unemployment insurance commission, not from the Government of Nunavut.
So then is he saying that this is a non-monetary benefit that deals with the collective agreement.
Mr. Chairman, I just want to clarify because last March, the minister was indicating that he couldn't bring this forward or talk about it because it would affect the collective agreement.
Now I just thought I heard him say that it doesn't affect the collective agreement.
I just wanted to get some clarification there.
Mr. Chairman, the way this legislation has been structured is to keep it separate from any collective agreement.
At the time that question was raised there were different complicating factors in trying to amend different statutes along with the collective agreement, provided that we reached an agreement with our employees at that time to try and combine and consolidate.
Really, I guess to do it in a more efficient manner.
So this is the method that we have chosen until we resolve the issue of the actual implementation of the Collective Agreement matters with the Nunavut Employees' Union.
We are on Clause 3.
On page 3.
Bill 10 - An Act to Amend the Labour Standards Act, Parental leave.
Chairperson (interpretation): Does the committee agree that Bill 10 is ready for third reading.
Chairperson (interpretation): Minister Ng, do you have final comments or remarks.
Hon. Kelvin Ng: I would like to thank the committee and Mr. Armstrong, the witness.
Chairperson (interpretation): Thank you, Minister Ng for appearing before the committee.
Mr. Irqittuq (interpretation): I recommend that we deal with Bill 8.
Chairperson (interpretation): Mr. Irqittuq suggests that we deal with Bill 8.
Bill 8 - An Act to Amend Certain Acts Concerning Health Professions
Chairperson (interpretation): We will be dealing with Bill 8.
The minister responsible Mr. Picco, do you have any opening comments.
Mr. Chairman I would like to begin with my opening comments to the committee of the whole on Bill 8, an Act to Amend Certain Acts Concerning Health Professions
I am pleased to appear in front of you today as minister to speak about Bill 8 and the significance of it to Nunavut.
Mr. Chairman, before I begin I would like to introduce the staff with me here today.
That would be Mr. Armstrong, legal counsel who was also here earlier with Mr. Ng.
As you may know Mr. Chairman, since division we have continued to rely on the Northwest Territories to register and licence all the many types of health professionals working in Nunavut communities.
As your Department of Health has gained capacity and experience we have been taking steps to reduce our reliance upon the Northwest Territories, while ensuring that these important activities are being performed in the manner best suited to meet our needs.
Now Mr. Chairman, in accordance with our current legislation the Nursing Act, our nurses will continue to be registered by the NWT RNA.
But as of April 1st of this year the department took over the responsibility of registering and licensing all other health professionals working here in Nunavut.
Many kinds of health professionals Mr. Chairman, such as dentists, dental therapists, nursing assistants, psychotherapists, psychologists, optometrist, pharmacists, physicians and veterinarians must have their qualifications reviewed by a Nunavut Registrar before they can be registered and licensed to practice in Nunavut.
Mr. Chairman, the amendments that are proposed in Bill 8 are needed for Nunavut to authorize its own Registrar to carry out the licensing and registration of these health professionals.
Mr. Chairman, I believe that the licensing and registration of our own health professionals is an important responsibility and one that this government is ready to accept.
I look forward to discussing Bill 8 with the committee today.
I have Mr. Nutarak who is the Chairperson of the Standing Committee on Health and Education.
Mr. Chairman, as the Chair of the Standing Committee on Health and Education I am pleased to inform the House that we have reviewed Bill 8, An Act to Amend Certain Acts Concerning Health Professions.
Members of the committee fully support the primary objective of the Bill which will allow Nunavut to register and licence its own health professionals, a service which has been provided by the Government of the Northwest Territories since division.
Members are pleased that a Nunavut Registry system and database is in place with trained staff ready to assume the tasks related to registering and licensing health professionals.
This is a good example of Nunavut's progress towards self-reliance.
The process of registering and licensing professionals helps to ensure that the residents of Nunavut receive services from fully qualified individuals.
Registration committees in particular bear the important responsibility of reviewing the applications of health professionals and determining whether they have the appropriate qualifications, training and experience to work in Nunavut.
The committee was pleased to meet with the minister and to discuss concerns regarding the appointment of registration committees for both medical and dental professionals as laid out in the Bill.
Members felt that appointments should be arranged in order to avoid the potential of having all appointments expire at the same time.
With respect to the medical registration committee, members felt that membership from the medical profession should be required by the legislation.
Members further felt that appointees should be recommended by a recognized body of medical professionals in the territory.
Mr. Chairman, the committee has worked together with the minister to improve this bill and is most pleased that the minister has concurred with the suggested amendments.
The resulting bill is an improved product that we all support.
Mr. Chairman, this concludes my opening comments and the committee recommends to all members the passage of Bill 8, as amended.
Minister Picco I would like to invite you to the witness table with your officials.
I was going to say that we have with us the esteemed lawyer from the firm of Rabinowitz, Rabinowitz, Mackler and Armstrong, but I can't say that.
So I am going to say that we have Mr. Ralph Armstrong, legal counsel with the Department of Justice.
Before we go to the review I would like to ask the members if they have general comments.
I don't have any opening remarks and I do support the Bill.
But, I would like to pose a question outside of this Bill.
My question is does the Department of Health and Social Services have any plans for the health issues in general.
We are on general comments, it is not quite question time yet, but I will allow your question to proceed. Any other general comments.
If there are no general comments, Mr. Arvaluk posed a question.
Mr. Picco, if you can remember, would you respond please.
Mr. Chairman, the answer is yes.
In general we do have issues surrounding health and health issues.
As the member knows there are a lot of complex issues around health and we are working on several of those.
It could be terminal diseases, debilitating diseases, sexually transmitted diseases, issues surrounding suicide.
But also Mr. Chairman, around pre-natal, post-natal and so on.
So in general the answer is yes.
When we are dealing with the larger legislation, this Bill that we are proposing or reviewing, will we look at it further so that it doesn't conflict with other legislation.
Mr. Chairman, as the member knows there are several pieces of legislation that guide us in Health and Social Services, including the Family and Child Act.
At the federal level we have the Health Canada Act, the Canadian Health Act.
But this Bill is complementary to the work that we are doing and the other legislation that is in place.
So going to my legal counsel, we believe that is correct.
Please keep your questions to the contents of the Bill.
This Bill was reviewed by the standing committee a couple of days ago and today.
During our review we said that we would prefer to have our own licensing body instead of relying on the Northwest Territories.
Also that the individuals and employees would be protected under this Act.
I don't have anything else to add, but we do support it because it protects the health professionals.
It is more of a comment than a question.
Mr. Chairman, the member is correct in his comments in that, that is what we are trying to rectify and indeed, accomplish with this piece of legislation.
A question for you Mr. Chairman, during the committee of the whole our Hansard is being produced, my question was in regard to the term Upinaqtuq, that you are using before calling on a member to speak.
Where did you get that term from.
Chairperson (interpretation): In English they use Mister before the name like Mr. Picco, Mr. Nutarak and or Ms. So what I am trying to do saying Upinaqtuq is to show my respect to you as a member, in Inuktitut.
You are all respectable.
Upinaqtuq Alakannuark.
Well it is kind of nice to hear that.
I don't have much of a comment to make.
The ministers will be appointing the committee members to these places.
The dentists, nurses and doctors have to be reviewed carefully to make sure that they have the appropriate qualifications and registration and so forth.
Also to make sure that they can do their work properly.
I just wanted to make those comments to ensure the other members understand what we are talking about when we are discussing this Bill.
Thank you, Sivuliuqtiit Katimajiit Iqaqrialu.
The member is correct in exactly what he said.
That's what we are trying to accomplish with this bill.
Bill 8, An Act to Amend Certain Acts Concerning Health Professions.
Bill 8.
Carried. 3.
Clause 9.
Bill 8, An Act to Amend Certain Acts Concerning Health Professionals.
Chairperson (interpretation): Does the committee agree that Bill 8 is ready for third reading.
Chairperson (interpretation): Thank you very much Mr. Picco for appearing as a witness.
And thanks to me for bringing up a new way of addressing members.
I am sure its merits will be considered.
Hon. Ed Picco (interpretation): Thank you, Chairperson Iqaqrialu and also the members.
What is the wish of committee.
Mr. Irqittuq (interpretation): Mr. Chairman, I would like to report progress.
Chairperson (interpretation): Mr. Irqittuq would like to report progress.
We can invite Mr. Speaker.
And also thank you very much for being here.
Sorry I almost forgot you.
Your committee has been discussing Bill 8 and Bill 10 and would like to report that Bill 8 and Bill 10 are ready for third reading.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker.  Speaker: Thank you, Mr. Iqaqrialu.
There is a motion in the floor. Is there a seconder to the motion. Mr. Puqiqnak.
Motion is in order. All those in favour. All those opposed.
Motion is carried. Item 21. Third Reading of Bills.
Meeting of the chairs of the standing committees immediately following the conclusion of the sitting day.
Orders of the Day for Tuesday May 29, 2001:
Third Reading of Bills  Bill 8
In accordance with the authority vested in me by Motion 002-1(5) this House stands adjourned until May 29, 2001, 10:00 a.m.
>>House adjourned at 4.58 p.m.
Tuesday May 29, 2001
Pages 1608 - 1694
Opening Prayer 1608
Point of Order 1608
Ministers' Statements 1612
Members’ Statements 1616
Recognition of Visitors in the Gallery 1632
Speaker’s Ruling on Point of Order 1635
Oral Questions 1636
Reports of Standing and Special Committees 1655
Tabling of Documents 1691
Third Reading of Bills 1692
Orders of the Day 1693
Assent to Bills 1693
Tuesday May 29, 2001 1608
091 – 1(5): Tax-on-Income (Ng) 1612
092 – 1(5): Nunavut Economic Outlook (Akesuk) 1613
093 – 1(5): Homeowners' Programs (Thompson) 1614
094 – 1(5): World No Tobacco Day – May 31, 2001 (Picco) 1615
232 - 1(5): Events During Cambridge Bay Session (Ng) 1616
233 - 1(5): Workload During Session (Arvaluk) 1617
234 - 1(5): Cambridge Bay Youth Mock Assembly Session (Williams) 1619
235 - 1(5): Income Tax Forms (Puqiqnak) 1619
236 – 1(5): Cambridge Bay Session – Gratitude for Assistance (Kilabuk) 1620
237 – 1(5): Day Trips to Outlying Kitikmeot Communities (Irqittuq) 1621
238 – 1(5): Pauktutiit Amauti Copyright (Thompson) 1621
239 - 1(5): Building a Foundation for Youth (Alakannuark) 1622
240 – 1(5): Inuit Qaujimajatuqangit & Traditional Laws (Iqaqrialu) 1623
241 – 1(5): Homeowners' Statement (Nutarak) 1624
242 – 1(5): Gratitude to Cambridge Bay Residents & Hunting Rights (Kattuk) 1625
243 - 1(5): Cape Dorset Graduation Ceremonies (Akesuk) 1625
244 - 1(5): Trip to Kugluktuk (Havioyak) 1626
245 – 1(5): Working Together (Anawak) 1627
246 - 1(5): NavCanada Radar Site in Iqaluit (Picco) 1628
247 – 1(5): Government of Nunavut & NEU Negotiations (Tootoo) 1629
248 – 1(5): Gratitude to Cambridge Bay Residents (McLean) 1630
263 – 1(5): Kivalliq Transmission Pre-Feasibility & Feasibility Studies (McLean) 1636
264 – 1(5): Review of Hunters' & Trappers' Subsidies (Arvaluk) 1641
265 – 1(5): Supplying T-5007 Slips to Clients on Time (Puqiqnak) 1643
266 - 1(5): Update on Staff Turnover Rate (Tootoo) 1645
267 – 1(5): Unions (Iqaqrialu) 1647
268 - 1(5): Final Decision on Transmission Line (Irqittuq) 1648
269 – 1(5): Federal Funding for Housing Programs (Havioyak) 1650
270 – 1(5): No Smoking Day (Nutarak) 1653
034 - 1(5): Ajauqtiit Report - Chief Electoral Officer for Nunavut (Iqaqrialu) 1691
035 - 1(5): Public Accounts March 31, 2000 (Ng) 1691
036 - 1(5): Nunavut Economic Outlook Report Summary (Akesuk) 1691
037 - 1(5): CLEY Capital Expenditures 2000-2001 (Kattuk) 1691
009 – 1(5): Report of the Joint Standing Committees on the 2001-2002 Budget & Departmental Business Plans 1655
010 – 1(5): Permanent Chief Electoral Officer 1690
Bill 8 - An Act to Amend Certain Acts Concerning Health Professionals - Third Reading 1692
Bill 10 - An Act Amend the Labour Standards Act, Parental Leave – Third Reading 1692
Bill 8 - An Act to Amend Certain Acts Concerning Health Professions - Assent 1693
Bill 10 - An to Amend the Labour Standards Act, Parental Leave 1693  Tuesday May 29, 2001
Cambridge Bay, Nunavut
Before we get started today, I believe Mr. Tootoo has his hand raised.
Mr. Speaker, I would like to rise on a point of order.
Mr. Speaker, yesterday the Member for Cambridge Bay tabled a document with all the names crossed out. Basically an anonymous document and I would like you to rule on whether or not anonymous documents should be allowed to be tabled in this House.
Before I rule on that.
Mr. Ng would you like to comment on Mr. Tootoo's point of order as it is in reference to comments and statements that you brought forward in the House yesterday.
Mr. Speaker, in reference to the tabled document that I believe the member referred to, it is in fact not an anonymous document.