EdinburghNLP/nunavut-hansard-plusplus huggingface dataset:
Chairman: Mr. Curley, I am getting ahead of everybody here. (interpretation) We will go with the chairs opening comments first of all.
You can make your comment afterwards. (interpretation ends) I apologize, Mr. Peterson.
I will try not to take 10-minutes either.
Mr. Chairman, the standing committee on Government Operations and Accountability has had the opportunity to review Bill 11, Loan Authorization Act, 2005/06.
During the First Legislative Assembly, some of the bills were introduced for the fiscal years 1999 – 2000, 2000/01, 2001/02, and 2002/03.
Mr. Chairman, the Standing Committee had no objection to the principle of the Bill, which is to allow the Government of Nunavut to make loans to municipalities.
Chairman, the minister has appeared before the committee.
Members were pleased to secure a commitment on a part of the minister to review the issue of interest rates, charge in relation of loans made under the Act.
Members will note that the detail pursuit is in the government’s Financial Administration Manual; covering loans to municipalities have not substantially updated since 1996.
Members would wish to be kept informed on an ongoing basis of loans made under the authority of the legislation.
Mr. Chairman, the Standing Committee recommends the passage of Bill 11 to all members.
Mr. Curley (interpretation): For the record, I had mentioned it during our committee meeting.
I would first of all, like to thank the communities that this $1 million loan will be available for all 26 communities, but I’m sure that not all communities will be accessing this amount.
Most of it will very likely go to Iqaluit.
What I thought was, every year this Bill comes up on an annual basis and because of that it’s usually the first year is the largest and then it keeps getting smaller every year.
What I thought was that the communities don’t have enough money for operations and maintenance first of all, so I would suggest that there is no interest at all.
When this Bill comes up again, I would like to make sure that the $1 million loan can be accessed by the communities without any interest at all.
Some communities have a very hard time repaying the loan when they use those funds for land development.
I think that we should seriously consider making it an interest free loan and to increase the amount.
Are there any other comments?
We will now proceed to go clause by clause of the review of Bill 11.
Bill 11, Loan Authorization Act 2005/06.
Chairman: Clause 2. Do you agree?
Chairman: Clause 3. Do you agree?
Chairman: Clause 4. Do you agree?
Chairman: Clause 5. Do you agree?
Chairman: Clause 6. Do you agree?
Chairman: Clause 8.
Chairman: Clause 9.
Chairman: Clause 10.
Does the committee agree to Bill 11 as a whole?
Does the committee agree that Bill 11 is ready for Third Reading?
We’ll then deal with Bill 9.
Are there any comments from the chair?
Madame Minister, do you have any comments to Bill 9.
I included my comments on Bill 9 in my opening remarks.
We are doing Bill 9, Supplementary Appropriation Capital # 3, 2004/05.
We were asked to slow down by our Deputy Clerk, so we will slow down for her.
Page 4, we are doing. Health and Social Services Capital.
Directorate. $1,289,000.
Environment Capital.
Program Development. $255,000.
Chairman (interpretation): Total Program Development, $255,000.
Chairman (interpretation): Go to page 6.
Nunavut Housing Corporation. $490,000.
Total Nunavut Housing Corporation.
Chairman (Evyagotailak): 2004/05 Supplementary Appropriation.
Capital # 3.
I would like to ask a question in regards to Nunavut Housing Corporation in regards to $21,199,000.
I was wondering what this is for.
The $490,000 that is before us is to purchase two one-bedroom units, one two-bedroom unit and one three-bedroom unit.
Are these units owned by private individuals.
One is and two are owned by the bank Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
I would like to ask, in Chesterfield Inlet that was repossessed by the bank.
Would you be able to purchase these units?
What will happen there is Nunavut Housing Corporation would be advised to do an expression of interest in those communities to look at the same option that we’ve considered for Gjoa Haven.
Then Nunavut Housing Corporation, who can approach them.
Would Nunavut Housing Corporation approach you?
Based on the discussions that we had at the Standing Committee, I conveyed those similar types of questions to the appropriate minister.
The appropriate minister would be the Minister Responsible for Housing Corporation.
That minister would be the person to go through the expression of interest to determine needs in those communities.
Could a particular person who resides in Chesterfield Inlet, I know he has been trying to sell his house for the last year, or so.
If I gave him the names of the people and give him the name to your people, would you get in contact with him?
The appropriate individual to contact would be the President of the Housing Corporation and we can provide that contact information to the member.
Every time teachers arrive, they end up having to rent or lease a building.
If these units were purchased by the government then there would be more accommodations for the teachers that come into our community and it would alleviate the problem of having to look for other accommodations.
I thank the Minister for reviewing that.
Chairman: Thank you for being able to ask the questions.
If you can get back here.
Capital previously not authorized.
Total Nunavut Housing Corporation. $490,000.
Go to page 3.
Capital not previously authorized.
Total Capital. $2,034,000.
To Bill 9 for Clause-by-Clause.
Supplementary Appropriation Capital Act #3 2004/05.
Chairman: Clause 3.
Chairman (interpretation): Clause 3 was agreed to. (interpretation ends) How about Clause 1, Total Capital?
$2,034,000.
Total Supplementary Appropriation. $2,034,000, do you agree?
Chairman (interpretation): Do you agree with Clause 3?
Chairman: Are you agreed to Bill 9 as a whole?
Chairman: Are you agreed that Bill 9 is ready for Third Reading?
Operations and Maintenance #3 2004/05.
We are starting at page 4.
Operations and Maintenance not previously authorized.
Centrally Administered Funds. $22 million.
Total Department. $22 million.
Directorate. $1.1 million.
Total Directorate. $1.1 million.
Chairman: Back to page 3.
Total Operations and Maintenance. $23,100,000.
Chairman: To Bill 10 for Clause-by-Clause.
Supplementary Appropriation Operations and Maintenance Act #3 2004/05.
Chairman: Schedule vote 1.
Operations and Maintenance. $23,100,000.
Chairman: Total Supplementary Appropriation. $23,100,000.
Chairman: Back to Clause 3.
Chairman: And Clause 7.
Chairman: Are we agreed to Bill 10 as a whole?
Are we agreed that Bill 10 is ready for Third Reading?
Ms. Aglukkaq, do you have any more comments for the House?
I would like to take a minute to thank the finance staff for all their work that they have been doing to ensure that we remain on a firm financial footing and in preparation for this important Session.
I am sure that we are all aware of the workload that this committee dealt with during the budget season.
I would also like to express my appreciation to all the Members of this Assembly who have put in long hours of preparation in order to ensure that proper scrutiny of Government of Nunavut expenditures take place in a public domain.
We all know that even though this can seem like a stressful exercise, it’s very important to all Members of this Assembly that each and every one of us represents his or her constituency to the very best of our abilities.
Budget reviews is a very important tool to ensure that we are accountable spend wisely when dealing with our limited resources and increasing needs.
Again, I wanted to thank all my colleagues in the House, Assembly staff and finance staff, and all those that make this Budget a success.
Chairman (interpretation): Thank you, Ms. Aglukkaq and your officials for appearing before the Committee.
We thank them.
(interpretation ends) Bill 13 and 14, Wills Act and Miscellaneous Act.
I would like to ask the Minister responsible for Justice to make his opening remarks.
I am pleased to appear before you to consider the proposed amendment to the Wills Act.
A will is a document that a person can make where they can say who shall look after their affairs after they have died.
It can also say who shall receive the things the person owned at the time of death.
Nunavut has a law which is called the Wills Act.
This law is very strict about how the will should be signed, who should be the witnesses when it’s signed, and where they should sign it as witnesses.
Sometimes it seems quite obvious of what the person had in mind when the will was made, but if it’s not signed and witnessed in the way that the law says it must be done, the will cannot be used or followed.
The reason for these strict rules is to prevent dishonesty from happening.
One of the reasons why the government is seeking to make changes to the Wills Act is to allow the Court to state that a document is really the will of the person who has died, if the judge believes that’s the case, even if some of those strict rules have not been completely followed.
Nunavutmiut are keenly interested in matters to wills and estates, and would like to know more about these subjects.
The proposed amendments will make it a little easier for Nunavutmiut to attend to their affairs in that regard, including the use of Fill-in-the-Blanks type of wills, sometimes referred to as a Wills Kit.
I will be pleased to respond to any questions that members of the committee may have.
Does the Chair of the Standing Committee have any opening remarks?
Mr. Mapsalak: Mr. Chairman, the Standing Committee Ajauqtiit has had the opportunity to review Bill 13, an Act to amend the Wills Act.
Mr. Chairman, the Standing Committee understands that this Bill will make changes to some provisions of the Wills Act such as the form of a will, the signing and witnessing of a will, ways of writing a holograph will, the revocation of a will, and the formal requirements of writing a will.
The committee recommends a Public Awareness Campaign to inform Nunavutmiut about the effect of having a will, not having a will, and the role of the Public Trustee.
This would assist Nunavutmiut in taking the steps necessary to ensure that their wishes as to the distribution of their property upon death are met.
The present Wills Act doesn’t recognize many realities of modern life, such as common law relationships and divorce, and would like to see this recognized and given effect to.
The committee recommends a comprehensive review of all legislation that deals with the distribution of property upon death, including the Wills Act, the Intestate Successions Act, and Dependants Relief Act, with a view of both modernizing and legislation and incorporating Inuit Qaujimajatuqangit.
The Standing Committee supported the Bill at the clause-by-clause stage of Standing Committee Review and did a minor amendment due to an error in the French translation.
Chairperson: Thank you, Mr. Mapsalak.
Mr. Premier, do you have any witnesses you would like to bring to the table?
Thank you. (interpretation) Mr. Premier, if you could introduce your officials.
With me today on my left is my Deputy Minister, Marcus Weber from the Department of Justice and on my right is Diane Buckland, she is the Director of Policy and Planning.
If any of the members have any comments to Bill 13, an Act to amend the will acts.
We have no hands up from the members.
I thank the minister and his officials for coming. I think this is a great thing to do.
When I was mayor in Cambridge Bay, I had a lot of people come to me to help them sort out their personal affairs of relatives who died in trying to get their estates sorted out and it was very difficult for them.
In some cases, it took years to help them and I think it’s very good that we help them streamline the process and use of the filling kit.
I am hoping that when individual folks in the communities get these filling kits that there’s someone with a little bit of knowledge about wills who can assist them at the local level.
I don’t know who would be there to help them.
I know in Cambridge Bay we have the Kitikmeot Law Centre, where people can go to get help, but I’m not sure about other communities.
I think it’s very important that the people in Nunavut are well aware of how important wills are to make sure that what ever you want to leave to your family after you pass away are respected.
We will now proceed to do a clause by clause review of Bill 13, an Act to Amend the Wills Act.
Chairman: Are we agreed that Bill 13 as a whole is concluded.
Chairman (interpretation): Do you agree that Bill 13 is ready for Third Reading.
We’ll move onto Bill 14.
If you have any opening remarks Premier Okalik on Bill 14.
Hon. Paul Okalik (interpretation): I am pleased to appear today to present these proposed amendments.
Miscellaneous Bills such as this one are commonly used in other jurisdictions in Canada to correct mistakes in Acts and to make other non-controversial changes.
In fact, many jurisdictions do one every year.
The Bill amends ten Acts to correct errors.
Each of those acts is also amended to change references to Northwest Territories so that they refer instead to Nunavut.
The Bill also updates the names of a number of public bodies.
There are three public bodies in Nunavut who’s names have not yet been changed in their governing Acts to reflect the division of the Northwest Territories, especially the Development Corporation, the Housing Corporation and the Status of Women’s Council.
Amendments are included in this Bill to continue those bodies under their Nunavut names.
The changes to those names also require consequential changes to the Public Service Act and the Financial Administration Act.
Finally, this will update schedules in the Financial Administration and the Public Service Act by changing the reference to the Nunavut Power Corporation in Schedule A of the Public Service Act to Qulliq Energy Corporation, changing the reference to the Legal Services Board of the Northwest Territories to the Legal Services Board of Nunavut and adding the reference to the Human Right’s Tribunal in Schedule A of the Financial Administration Act, changing the reference to the Northwest Territories Business Credit Corporation and Nunavut Credit Corporation in Schedule B of the Financial Administration Act.
I thank the committee for its careful consideration of this bill.
Chairman (interpretation): Thank you, Premier Okalik.
Does the chair of the committee have any opening remarks on Bill 14.
Mr. Mapsalak (interpretation): Mr. Chairman, the Standing Committee Ajauqtiit has had the opportunity to review Bill 14, Miscellaneous Statutes Amendment Act, 2005.
Mr. Chairman, the Standing Committee understands that this bill is largely a housekeeping initiative, in that it corrects minor editorial errors and changes references to the Northwest Territories to Nunavut.
However, Members noted that the amendment to the Judicature Act will also require that federal legislation be amended.
Members will wish to be kept informed on this issue.
The Standing Committee supports the bill at the clause-by-clause stage of standing committee review.
The Committee recommends the passage of the bill to all members.
Chairman: Thank you, Mr. Mapsalak. (interpretation) Are there any comments from the members in regards to Bill 14?
I have no names on my list. (interpretation ends) We will do Clause-by-Clause on Bill 14 and we are going to page 2.
Bill 14, Miscellaneous Statutes Amendment Act 2005.
Clause 1, do you agree?
Chairman: Clause 11.
Chairman: Clause 12.
Chairman: Clause 13.
Chairman: Clause 14.
Chairman: Clause 15.
Chairman: Bill 14 as a whole.
Chairman: Bill 14 is ready for Third Reading.
Chairman: Thank you. (interpretation) Thank you.
Mr. Premier, if you have any closing remarks to make to the members.
Yes, I would like to thank the members for supporting the bill.
We have to be able to look at the Inuit ways of doing things and I will work with the Minister of Department of Culture, Language, Elders and Youth to see how we can look at the Inuit traditional knowledge and their values.
We will be looking at the Miscellaneous Act again and to be able to work with the elders.
I would like to thank the Committee Members when we discussed the bill for supporting it.
I thank your officials.
I would like to make a motion to report progress.
Chairman: There’s a motion on the Floor to report progress.
Going back to orders of the day. Item 20, Report of Committee of the Whole.
Mr. Speaker, your committee has been considering; Bill 8, Bill 9, Bill 10, Bill 11, Bill 12, Bill 13 and Bill 14 .
And, I would like to report that two committee motions were adopted and that Bill 8 as amended and Bills 9, 10, 11, 12, 13 and 14 are ready for Third Reading and, Mr. Speaker, I move that the report of the Committee of the Whole be agreed to.
Bill 8 – Appropriation (Operations and Maintenance) Act 2005-2006 – Third Reading
Hon. Leona Aglukkaq: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I move, seconded by the Honourable Member for Panniqtuuq, that Bill 8, Appropriation Operations and Maintenance Act 2005/06 as amended by read for the third time.
Please raise your hands.
Bill 9 – Supplementary Appropriation (Capital) Act No. 3, 2004-2005 – Third Reading
Hon. Leona Aglukkaq: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I move, seconded by the Honourable Member for South Baffin that Bill 9, Supplementary Appropriation Capital Act 3, 2004/2005, be read for the third time.
Bill 10 – Supplementary Appropriation (Operations and Maintenance) Act No. 3, 2004-2005 – Third Reading
Hon. Leona Aglukkaq: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I move, seconded by the Honourable Member for Iqaluit East, that Bill 10, Supplementary Appropriation Operation and Maintenance Act 3, 2004/05 be read for the third time.
The motion is carried and Bill 10 has had third reading.
Bill 11 – Loan Authorization Act 2005-2006 – Third Reading
Hon. Leona Aglukkaq: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I move, seconded by the Honourable Member for Rankin Inlet South/Whale Cove, that Bill 11, Loans Authorization, 2005/2006 be read for the third time.
Mr. Curley (interpretation): Mr. Speaker, I just want everybody to know that I support this loan, but that $1 million loan, I think it would be best for all of Nunavut if it was an interest-free loan to the municipalities.
The bigger corporations, we give them millions of dollars and that $1 million loan should be interest-free and I wish to see it like that next year.
Bill 11 has been read for the third time.
Bill 12 – Write-off of Assets and Debts Act 2004-2005 – Third Reading
I move seconded by the Honourable Member for Baker Lake that Bill 12, Write-off of Assets and Debts Act 2004/05 be read for the third time.
Bill 12 has had third reading.
Bill 13 – An Act to Amend the Wills Act – Third Reading
I move seconded by the Honourable Member for Amittuq, that Bill 13, an Act to amend the Wills Act be read for the third time.
Bill 14 – Miscellaneous Statutes Amendment Act – Third Reading
Hon. Paul Okalik (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Speaker. (interpretation ends) I move seconded by the Honourable Member for Nattilik that Bill 14, Miscellaneous Statutes Amendment Act be read for the third time.
Bill 14 has been read for the third time.
Before we proceed with the reading of the Orders of the Day, Mr. Clerk could you please determine if the Commissioner of Nunavut is prepared to enter the Chamber to give Assent to Bills?
Bill 8 – Appropriation (Operations and Maintenance) Act 2005-2006 – Assent
Bill 9 – Supplementary Appropriation (Capital) Act No. 3, 2004-2005 – Assent
Bill 10 – Supplementary Appropriation (Operations and Maintenance) Act No. 3, 2004-2005 – Assent
Bill 11 – Loan Authorization Act 2005-2006 – Assent
Bill 12 – Write-off of Assets and Debts Act 2004-2005 –Assent
Bill 13 – An Act to Amend the Wills Act – Assent
Bill 14 – Miscellaneous Statutes Amendment Act – Assent
Commissioner Irniq (interpretation): It is okay if you stand.
As the Commissioner I give assent to the following Bills.
Bill 8, Appropriation, Operations and Maintenance Act 2005, 2006.
Bill 9, Supplementary Appropriation Capital Act 3, 2004-2005. Bill 9. Bill 10, Supplementary Appropriation, Operations and Maintenance Act 3, 2004-2005.
Bill 11, Loan Authorization Act, 2005-2006.
Bill 12, Write-off of Assets and Debts Act 2004-2005.
Bill 13, An Act to Amend the Wills Act.
Thank you to all the members of the Legislative Assembly and I wish you a safe journey home because we all fly in Nunavut and I hope your communities safe season and all your constituents.
Orders of the Day for Tuesday, April 26, 2005:
Tabled Document 100-2(2)
Tabled Document 101-2(2)
Tabled Document 102-2(2)
Speaker (interpretation): This House stands adjourned until Tuesday, April 26, 2005 at 1:30 in the afternoon.
Members please join in the Nanuq Committee Room, and staff please proceed to the Tuktu Room.
>>House adjourned at 18:21  Nunavut Canada
Tuesday April 26, 2005
Pages 2257 – 2327
Item 1: Opening Prayer 2257
Item 2: Ministers’ Statements 2257
Item 3: Members’ Statements 2260
Item 5: Recognition of Visitors in the Gallery 2267
Item 6: Oral Questions 2268
Item 7: Returns to Written Questions 2287
Item 13: Tabled Documents 2287
Item 15: Notices of Motions for First Reading of Bills 2288
Item 19: Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters 2289
Item 20: Report of Committee of the Whole 2325
Item 22: Orders of the Day 2325
Tuesday April 26, 2005 2257
100 – 2(2): Minister Kilabuk Absent from the House (Aglukkaq) 2257
101 – 2(2): Education Week 2005 (Picco) 2257
102 – 2(2): Wildlife Act Regulations (Akesuk) 2258
103 – 2(2): Nunavut Prospectors’ Program (Simailak) 2259
104 – 2(2): Resident Deputy Workers’ Advisor (Akesuk) 2260
271 - 2(2): Skating Under the Northern Lights (Tootoo) 2260
272 - 2(2): Nunavut Arctic College Kitikmeot Graduates (Peterson) 2261
273 - 2(2): Official Opening of the Healing Centre (Evyagotailak) 2262
274 - 2(2): Nattilingmeot Graduates (Aglukkaq) 2263
275 - 2(2): Coral Harbour Road to the Airport (Netser) 2263
276 - 2(2): Same Sex Marriage (Curley) 2264
277 - 2(2): RCMP Emergency Responses (Arreak) 2265
278 - 2(2): Pakallak Time in Rankin Inlet (Brown) 2265
279 - 2(2): Toonik Tyme Activities (Picco) 2266
280 - 2(2): Sanikiluaq Festivities (Kattuk) 2266
281 - 2(2): Nunavut Quest (Tapardjuk) 2267
349 – 2(2): Complaints in the Workplace (Tootoo) 2268
350 – 2(2): Cambridge Bay Health Centre (Peterson) 2271
351 – 2(2): Wildlife Act Regulations (Arreak) 2273
352 – 2(2): Chesterfield Inlet Docking Facility (Netser) 2274
353 – 2(2): Plastic Surgeons’ Certificates or Qualifications (Curley) 2275
354 – 2(2): RCMP Response Time (Kattuk) 2276
355 – 2(2): Contaminated Gravel Pit in Iqaluit (Tootoo) 2277
356 – 2(2): Replacement of Qikiqtarjuaq Terminal Building (Arreak) 2279
357 – 2(2): Relocation of the President’s Office to Iqaluit (Curley) 2280
358 – 2(2): Cambridge Bay Special Needs and Counsellor Positions (Peterson) 2282
359 – 2(2): Increase in Tuition Fees (Tootoo) 2284
025 – 2(2): Drug and Alcohol Rehabilitation Programs and Cost (Clerk) 2287
026 – 2(2): Status of Decentralization (Clerk) 2287
027 – 2(2): Elders’ Centre Floor Renovations (Clerk) 2287
028 – 2(2): Performance Bonuses, Settlements and Termination Pay for 2003-2004 (Clerk) 2287
029 – 2(2): Departmental Expenditures and Variance Reporting Requirements (Clerk) 2287
030 – 2(2): Child Welfare Practices in Nunavut (Clerk) 2287
116 – 2(2): Statutory Requirements for Tabling of Reports and Other Documents in the Legislative Assembly of Nunavut (Speaker) 2287
117 – 2(2): Annual Report of the Integrity Commissioner for the Year Ending March 31, 2004 (Speaker) 2287
118 – 2(2): Annual Report of the Languages Commissioner for the Year Ending March 31, 2004 (Speaker) 2287
119 – 2(2): Return to Oral Question 133 – 2(2): Core Funding for Ilisaqsivik Society (Brown) 2288
120 – 2(2): Return to Oral Question 55 – 2(2): Status of the Kugluktuk Women’s Shelter (Brown) 2288
Bill 18 – Powers of Attorney Act – Notice 2288
Tuesday, April 26, 2005