EdinburghNLP/nunavut-hansard-plusplus huggingface dataset:
Mr. Tootoo: Thank you Mr. Chairman. Mr. Chairman, the Standing Committee report lists a number of recommendations regarding election administration and officials and the need to work together.
Recommendation number eight.
I move that the Committee recommends that a Central Elections Office be established to administer elections in Nunavut called Elections Nunavut.
Is everyone agreed.
Committee Motion 009 - 1(4): Creation of Multi-organizational Working Group
Mr. Chairman, recommendation number 9.
I move that the Committee recommends that a working group be established composed of representatives from the Government of Nunavut, NTI, Regional Inuit Organizations, the Nunavut Association of Municipalities, Elections Canada and other organizations which administer elections at the local level such as District Education Authorities and Housing Associations, to negotiate the details of how the central elections office would best meet the needs of different organizations.
Committee Motion 010 - 1(4): Appointment of Chief Electoral Officer
Recommendation 10.
I move that the committee recommend that there should be a Chief Electoral Officer of Nunavut appointed by the Legislative Assembly in consultation with NTI, Regional Inuit Organizations, the Nunavut Association of Municipalities, and Elections Canada.
This position should be advertised to the public and the selection process should be competency based and transparent. The Chief
Electoral Officer should be a permanent position with the responsibility to establish the central elections office and co-ordinate and Chair the working group.
This recommendation.
This will be the Chief Electoral Officer along with NTI and Regional Inuit organizations.
I want to suggest that maybe we can have a ready prepared ballot to let everybody know.
It would be simpler.
It could be more understandable.
Chairperson (interpretation): Mr. Tootoo would you like to respond to that question.
Mr. Chairman, if I could ask the minister if he asked if we could have a ready prepared ballot.
Is that what he is asking.
Can you ask him to clarify his question.
Hon. Peter Kilabuk: In reading recommendation 10, the committee recommends that there should be a Chief Electoral Officer of Nunavut appointed by the Legislative Assembly in consultation with the different groups mentioned.
My question was if we could not consult with these boards prior to the appointment of the Chief Electoral Officer instead of in the process of consulting with these guys to see if this individual or person is the appropriate one.
Mr. Chairman, I think I can explain what this recommendation is asking.
As it currently sits right now, our standing committee, through the Legislative Assembly, has a mandate or the authority to recommend that appointment.
That is one of the statutory appointments of the Assembly.
What we are saying here is that given that we want to try and set up a central office to administer all elections in Nunavut that we would not pick that person on our own, that we would work in consultation with these other organizations to ensure that everyone's concerns and that, were met and it is also saying that it would be a competency based appointment.
This would probably use the same process that we did with the other statutory appointments by putting out an ad in the paper asking for interested people to submit their names and conducting interviews and selecting the most appropriate person based on that.
I hope that answers the minister's question.
Chairperson (interpretation): Does that answer your question Mr. Kilabuk.
Hon. Peter Kilabuk (interpretation): Yes, I understand that now.
Looking at recommendation 9, that there would be a working group that would represent those organizations, yes I understand now looking at recommendation 9.
Mr. Tootoo: Now have we approved that motion, recommendation 10 yet.
Chairperson (interpretation): We have not approved it yet.
Maybe you can go through it again.
Mr. Tootoo: Thank you Mr. Chairman. Mr. Chairman recommendation 10.
This position should be advertised to the public and the selection process should be competency based and transparent.
The Chief  Electoral Officer should be a permanent position with the responsibility to establish the central elections office and co-ordinate and Chair the working group.
Chairperson (interpretation): Proceed Mr. Tootoo.
Committee Motion 011 - 1(4): Harmonizing Election Procedures
Recommendation 11.
I move that the committee recommend a review be undertaken by the working group of differences in election procedures, with a view of making recommendations for harmonizing the procedures where possible, and making elections easier for voters in Nunavut to participate in.
Chairperson (interpretation): Mr. Tootoo, proceed.
Committee Motion 012 - 1(4): Location of Central Elections Office
Mr. Chairman, recommendation 12.
I move that the committee recommend that the working group consider the responsibilities of the Central Elections Office and the working relationships with the various stakeholders and make recommendations concerning the best location for the office and its core staff.
Committee Motion 013 - 1(4): Establishment of a Permanent Voters List
Mr. Tootoo: Mr. Chairman, the standing committee list a number of recommendations regarding the voters’ list.
Recommendation 13.
I move that the committee recommend that the Government of Nunavut should establish a permanent voters list.
Under recommendation 13, it just states that I move that the committee recommend that the Government of Nunavut should establish a permanent voters list.
My question is, people become eligible voters and the people who are deceased, I am sure the list will be different from year to year.
Why is that not included there.
The idea of setting up a permanent voters list would actually better eliminate the possibility, that was a concern that was raised at a number of community consultations that we went to, of having the list updated to have those people who are deceased on there.
By having a main list you can also then look at and develop ways of maintaining it on a regular basis and in that case those names would come off the list.
I would just like to add that there are other recommendations along those same lines of updating and maintaining that list as well.
I will just read that recommendation again Mr. Chairman.
I move that the committee recommend that the Government of Nunavut establish a permanent voters list.
Chairperson (interpretation): Do you agree with the motion.
Committee Motion 014 - 1(4): Protocol with Elections Canada
Mr. Chairman, recommendation 14.
I move that the committee recommends that the Government of Nunavut should enter into a protocol with Elections Canada to share electoral data from the National Registry of Electors and explore what Nunavut lists may be utilized and shared including with other organizations in Nunavut for the purpose of updating the voters list to be used for election purposes.
Committee Motion 015 - 1(4): Voters List Software
Recommendation 15.
I move that the committee recommends that software for maintaining and updating a permanent voters list should be basic and accessible to all potential users including candidates and all levels of Government or organizations who may use or contribute data to the list.
Committee Motion 016 - 1(4): Privacy Issues
Recommendation 16.
I move that the committee recommends that the Government of Nunavut should examine the privacy issues relating to the creation of a permanent voters list, ensuring that voters who do not wish to be included for safety or other reasons can be deleted and that there are sufficient safeguards and penalties for use of the list for any other purpose than elections. An opinion from the Information and Privacy Commissioner of Nunavut should also be obtained on these matters.
Proceed, Mr. Tootoo.
Committee Motion 017 - 1(4): Elector Transfer Certificate
I move that the committee recommend that as recommended by the Chief Electoral Officer an elector transfer certificate should be developed for use by voters who move after revision date.
Mr. Chairman I will pass the reading for the next set of recommendations to my colleague, the Honourable Member for Akulliq, to continue with the report.
Committee Motion 018 - 1(4): Timing of Elections
Mr. Chairman the standing committee made a number of recommendations regarding the timing of elections and the duration of the election period.
Recommendation 18.
I move that the committee recommend that general elections in Nunavut should be held in October or November.
I believe I have heard from a couple of people that October and November are too cold for elections for the people who have physical ailments.
Why do we have elections in the fall when it is getting cold.
Maybe it would be more appropriate to have elections in springtime or summertime when it is warmer.
I want to know why October or November was selected.
Chairperson (interpretation): Mr. Tootoo will answer the question.
Mr. Chairman, the reason that the fall was selected was actually that the exact individuals the minister talked about gave us those suggestions because of the fact that currently the elections are held in the middle of winter.
It is much harder for those people to get about and the idea was also brought up of having them in spring or summer and it was felt by most of the people in the communities that we visited that told us it was not a good time because at that time of year was when most people in the communities were not in the community.
They are out on the land hunting.
This recommendation came right from the people with disabilities and elders as the best time of year to have elections in the fall.
Also, Mr. Chairman to add, there is another recommendation further on that deals with special voting opportunities as well for those elders or people with disabilities who are not able to get out of their home so that they can request the returning officer come to their home.
That should alleviate the difficulties for those people in allowing them to exercise their right to vote.
People who have physical disabilities and my constituents have indicated to me that it would be more appropriate in July and August.
That is the reason why I brought this up.
I did not know that they recommended October.
Mr. Tootoo: Thank you very much for raising that issue.
I will ask Ovide to move on.
I will ask him to read the motion over again so that we can vote on it.
Recommendation 19.
I move that the committee recommend that elections in Nunavut be held mid-week preferably on a Wednesday.
Chairperson (interpretation): For clarification, we did not agree on recommendation 18.
Can you reread recommendation 18.
Mr. Alakannuark (interpretation): Recommendation 18.
I move that the committee recommend that general elections in Nunavut should be held October or November.
Committee Motion 019 - 1(4): Elections to be Held Mid-week
Mr. Alakannuark (interpretation): Recommendation 19.
I move that the committee recommend elections in Nunavut be held in mid-week preferably on a Wednesday.
Chairperson (interpretation): Are you going to ask that same thing as with recommendation 18.
I personally know that Wednesday is usually a Church service day, and Sunday is also a regular Church service day.
I would prefer that the day be changed from Wednesday as most churches have their services on Wednesday.
Was that not thought about by the committee.
Mr. Tootoo: Mr. Chairman, the reason for Wednesday it was actually suggested by one of the individuals in one of the communities that we went to.
It was a question asked to most of the communities, because we wanted to have their input on what they felt on the different ideas that we had heard.
Everyone was saying that the reason for picking Wednesday was the fact that a lot of people in today’s society in Nunavut are weekend hunters and campers.
A lot of them work and sometimes due to weather they’re unable to return to the community on the Monday.
So that should give them, take care of that time for those individuals to be able to get back, a couple of extra days for the weather to calm down for those people to get back into the communities.
It was also suggested for the reason that by having it during the week that allows elections officials, the last two days grace, as we call it when Murphy’s Law kicks in and some things aren’t working, or if some things don’t show up on the plane.
Previously in the Legislation it states that elections will be held on a Monday, so prior to that if something wasn’t taken care of on Friday, most times, by the time you realize something on that election day, you can’t do anything about it, those two days before, because it’s the weekend.
That was the rationale behind picking Wednesday.
I am in support of the mid-week, mainly Wednesday, and we did not think about Ms. Thompson’s question, but while we visited the communities, most people indicated that they preferred to have the election held on a Wednesday.
The communities have brought this idea to us during our consultations and I understand that some members are not in agreement.
Perhaps we should have thought of that more clearly.
Chairperson (interpretation): There is no question there.
I just want to clarify our situation.
We did not think of Church services when we picked the date Wednesday.
Hon. Peter Kattuk (interpretation): Thank you Mr. Chairman.
While we are on the subject Wednesday.
I do not agree with this day either.
On behalf of my constituents, I know that the people of my riding would not prefer to have their elections being held on Wednesday.
The community that I represent have their services on Wednesday.
For that reason, I am not supporting this recommendation as it is.
Chairperson (interpretation): There is no question here either.
The Standing Committee’s recommendation.
Is there no way we can change the wording since our constituents and most of us come from smaller communities.
I know in some communities they have their own days such as church services being held on a Wednesday.
I know that all communities are not religious but most people respect Wednesday for being service day.
Could we not just change the day in recommendation 19.
Can we ask the committee if we could change the day to another day.
Chairperson (interpretation): On recommendation 19.
We already voted on this recommendation.
For those in disagreement if they could raise your hands.
That is an indication that you are not supporting the recommendation.
I would like to point out that the recommendation, it does read that elections be held mid week preferably on a Wednesday.
Now I am sure that does not cement that it would be Wednesday.
It is saying that is the recommendation that we heard preferably that day.
I am sure that in looking at it the Chief Electoral Officer will take the comments raised by members into consideration when selecting the day when elections will be held.
So there is still that leeway there it just says preferably.
That was the only day that was raised to the committee, that’s why we put it in like that.
Mr. Alakannuark if you can re-read recommendation 19.
Mr. Alakannuark (interpretation): Mr. Chairman,
I move that the committee recommend that elections in Nunavut be held mid-week, preferably on a Wednesday.
We are on recommendation 19.
The Inuktitut recommendation that he is talking about, it does not say preferably in Inuktitut. It is only saying preferably on the English version.
I think we could just strike out preferably on a Wednesday.
Just leave the rest of the wording.
That elections be held in mid week.
So you could just strike out the preferably on a Wednesday part.
Perhaps we just reword this recommendation.
Mr. Chairman, the interpretation that I got listening to the interpreters from what Mr. Alakannuark was saying did mention preferably, but I cannot read syllabics so I do not know if it is in fact there or not.
But Mr. Chairman, as I mentioned any decision on when the election day would be, would take these comments into consideration and maybe just ask members if the way the wording of the motion is right now, it allows that flexibility.
If there were a requirement for any change to the recommendation, it would have to be retyped and redistributed prior to us dealing with it.
I think the comments, if members are agreeable, the flexibility is there and members’ comments I am sure will be taken into consideration.
If that is acceptable to them.
The word preferably is not translated in Inuktitut.
That translation is on Wednesday.
That is what it is says in Inuktitut.
On Wednesday.
That is why I am saying that.
I do know what Mr. Tootoo is saying, that during the mid-week, it is up to the elections commissioner.
How it is written in Inuktitut, it does not say preferably.
It says on Wednesday.
Mr. Chairman I thank the minister for pointing that out and I just note that if there is a typing error in the Inuktitut, that will be fixed so that it will be exactly the same as English.
If that is okay with everybody then we can move forward.
Chairperson (interpretation): Ms. Thompson do you agree to the rewording of it.
They will fix the wording in Inuktitut.
I believe that Mr. Alakannuark does not have to repeat recommendation 19.
I think we can just go into the motion.
Are we agreed on the motion.
Committee Motion 020 - 1(4): Limit on Number of Elections/Plebiscites on One Day
Recommendation 20.
I move that the committee recommend that to the best extent possible, a maximum of three elections and/or plebiscites should occur on any one day.
Chairperson (interpretation): Proceed Mr. Alakannuark.
Committee Motion 021 - 1(4): Shortening of Election Period
Mr. Alakannuark (interpretation): Thank you Mr. Chairman. Recommendation 21.
I move that the Committee recommend that the election period be shortened from 45 days to 35 days.
Mr. Arvaluk (interpretation): Thank you Mr. Chairman.
I think it was under recommendation 10, if we can look at recommendation 10 and looking at recommendation 21.
I think it stated in recommendation 10, I am sorry, recommendation 11.
In comparing 11 and 21, it states under recommendation 11, the last paragraph.
(interpretation ends) Harmonizing the procedures where possible, that make the elections easier for voters in Nunavut.
(interpretation) In looking at recommendation 21 from 45 days to 35 days and there is a difference of 10 days.
I think it would become easier for the voters particularly for Quttiktuq riding, they have four communities represented by Quttiktuq riding.
It also stated in recommendation 20 that they have a maximum of three elections and plebiscites that should occur on any one day.
I am sure some candidates would have to travel to maybe 20 some communities individually.
I am just wondering if 21 would impede on recommendation 11.
Mr. Tootoo: Mr. Chairman, 11 dealt with the different organizations and levels of government on the way that they administer the elections.
This 21 deals specifically with the territorial government’s election period and not any of the other ones.
The other recommendation has the working group taking a look at all the different level of government and organizations and how they administer elections to try to find ways in which they can simplify it by looking for commonalties.
This one here deals specifically with the territorial government’s election period.
It is also a recommendation made by the Chief Electoral Officer in his report on the first Nunavut election.
Mr. Chairman it does take into consideration the timing requirement for travel for multi-community jurisdictions.
During the last election campaign, a lot of my constituents were saying that the 45-day period was way too long.
I am speaking from the perspective of one large community.
I do not know what it would be like in Ovide’s riding or James’ riding but after about the third week of the campaign the public were saying that these campaigns seem to be far too long in a community this size.
We are all no strangers in our communities.
We do not have to deal with a couple of hundred thousand constituents.
We are dealing with anywhere between 500 to 1500 hundred constituents.
I myself personally coming back from my community and the feedback that I got they were saying Glenn you know 45 days is way too long for an election in this community.
In other jurisdictions like Newfoundland, I think there are 28 days.
I watched the standing committee meeting here in the building last fall and I said you know look at a 28 day election campaign.
I am speaking from a one community perspective.
I am not speaking on behalf, of you know you got Arctic Bay, Grise Fiord, Resolute.
So, it may take a bit longer.
Even cutting it down to 35 days – these are just my humble opinions – that 35 days is even too long.
You know, I would like to see something around a 28 day period.
Like I said that is just my opinion and there is probably a reason why it is 35 days.
Mr. Tootoo: I would just like to respond to Mr. McLean’s remarks.
We did look at a shorter period of time.
For that there are two factors as to why we came up with the 35 days.
One was exactly that, to allow multi-community constituencies to have an adequate amount of time to campaign.
The other was, given the time period from when nominations start, there are certain things that have to be done, and can only be done after something else has been completed.
The Chief Electoral Officer said that was the number of days that, given the geographies and the time that they need in order to be prepared for every step of the process leading up to election day.
Just to elaborate a little bit more, thinking of communities that have more than one community to representing one riding.
We put them under consideration and we also considered the weather changes that we go through in different communities.
That was our main purpose for this.
Chairperson (interpretation): Mr. Alakannuark, if you can repeat recommendation 21.
Mr. Alakannuark (interpretation): Recommendation 21.
I move that the committee recommend that the election period be shortened from 45 days to 35 days.
Having looked at the other recommendations, I do not think that I am going to ask a long question, but my idea is from 10 days to 5 days, that the nomination period be shortened.
I think they had a mix up in Whale Cove at the last election.
Has that been considered.
I think there was a mix up in one of their constituency ridings.
Mr. Tootoo: Maybe I missed it there I wasn’t paying attention.
I was looking at something trying to confirm that we have agreed to recommendation 21, and we are now dealing with recommendation 22.
Is it Mr. Chairman.
Chairperson (interpretation): We are on recommendation 21.
We are on 21.
I move that the committee recommend that the election period be shortened from 45 to 35 days.
Proceed, Mr. Alakannuark.
Committee Motion 022 - 1(4): Shortening of the Nomination Period
I move that the nomination period be shortened from 10 to 5 days.
Mr. Arvaluk (interpretation): Yes the question that I asked earlier, somebody almost didn’t almost make it to Whale Cove, that’s why I had to ask that question.
Mr. Tootoo: Thank you Mr. Chairman, Mr. Chairman, the incident that happened in Whale Cove, I believe that dealt with a lot of bad weather at the time.
The material was not able to make it into the community.
Mr. Chairman, in light of some of the other recommendations we are looking at, there will be recommendations that the use of new technology be allowed in getting this information to candidates and to individuals like to receive nominations forms.
I think being able to fax them or download them from a website and e-mail it.
We are looking at being able to get that information and those forms out to individuals wishing to be nominated those new ways.
That would alleviate the problem that was run into Whale Cove that dealt with weather.
Also, Mr. Chairman, by reducing the timeframe for the election period by ten days, all the committee members felt confident that with this new technology that would be able to be used to distribute that information out there, this was one area they could cut in half to make up for some of the days, that ten days that were taken out of the campaign period.
Mr. Arvaluk: I am not objecting to that.