EdinburghNLP/nunavut-hansard-plusplus huggingface dataset:
Mr. Speaker, in my earlier answer, I indicated to Mr. Elliott that the funding that we’re using, Vote 4 funding, $483,000, it would be funding that would come from the federal government through Health Canada, so we are working together on this issue.
I see that you finished just in the nick of time.
Members will note that the allotted time for question period has expired. We will move on in our orders of the day.
Return to Written Question 010 – 3(3): Vacant Staff Housing Units (Clerk)
Return to Written Question 012 – 3(3): Correctional Facilities, Recidivism Rates, and Rehabilitation Programs (Clerk)
Return to Written Question 013 – 3(3): Government of Nunavut Responses to Resolutions Adopted at the 2011 Annual General Meeting of the Nunavut Association of Municipalities (Clerk)
Return to Written Question 014 – 3(3): Suicide Prevention Activities (Clerk)
Return to Written Question 015 – 3(3): Southern Hudson Bay Polar Bear Population Management (Clerk)
Return to Written Question 016 – 3(3): Fuel Distribution Service Contracts (Clerk)
I wish to table the returns to the following written questions that were asked during the 2012 winter sitting.
They are numbers 10, 12, 13, 14, 15, and No. 16.
Item 11. Responses to Petitions.
*See Appendix for full text of Returns to Written Questions 10 – 3(3), 12 – 3(3), 13 – 3(3), 14 – 3(3), 15 – 3(3), and 16 – 3(3) filed with the Clerk.
Response to Petition 002 – 3(3): Staffing at the Igloolik Health Centre (Clerk)
I wish to table the response to Petition No. 2 – 3(3).
Item 12: Reports of Standing and Special Committees on Bills and Other Matters*
Committee Report 017 – 3(3): Report on the Review of the 2010-2011 Annual Report of the Languages Commissioner of Nunavut (Elliott)
I have the honour today of presenting the report of the Standing Committee on Oversight of Government Operations and Public Accounts on its review of the 2010-11 Annual Report of the Languages Commissioner of Nunavut.
Mr. Speaker, Ms. Alexina Kublu is the Languages Commissioner for Nunavut. She assumed her duties as Languages Commissioner in January of 2009, and is now more than halfway through her term.
*See Appendix for full text of Committee Report 17 – 3(3) filed with the Clerk.
The Languages Commissioner of Nunavut has three main areas of responsibility: the investigation and resolution of complaints relating to language rights, providing guidance and support to various bodies and institutions, and the administration of her office.
As you will recall, Mr. Speaker, the Languages Commissioner’s annual report for 2010-11 was tabled in this House on October 18, 2011.
The standing committee held its hearings on the Languages Commissioner’s report from November 22 to 23, 2011.
Mr. Speaker, the duties, responsibilities, and authority of the Languages Commissioner are established in legislation. Nunavut’s new Official Languages Act, which was passed in this House in 2008, is not yet in force.
The Official Languages Act that is in force today was inherited upon division from the Northwest Territories.
The Inuit Language Protection Act was also passed in this House in 2008, and some sections of the Inuit Language Protection Act are also not yet in force.
The status of the various pieces of legislation has led to some confusion with respect to the current mandate of the Languages Commissioner and the extent to which she is able to pursue certain activities.
The standing committee’s first recommendation is that the Languages Commissioner takes the opportunity provided with the presentation of her annual reports, during appearances before the Legislative Assembly and in other formal appearances to clearly express the current status of her mandate with respect to Nunavut’s language legislation.
The standing committee maintains the view that in order to gain a greater appreciation of the workload and focus of resources within the Office of the Languages Commissioner as well as the effectiveness of her role, a significantly greater level of detail regarding the activities undertaken by the Languages Commissioner’s office should be included in the annual report.
The standing committee’s second recommendation is that the Languages Commissioner records, measures, and analyzes the nature, type, and number of activities conducted by her office on an annual basis and provides a clear and detailed summary of these, including detailed statistics as well as other supporting information, in her annual reports.
The standing committee’s third recommendation is that the Languages Commissioner and her staff work to create benchmarks with specific objectives and establish criteria with which to evaluate progress towards meeting those objectives as they support language rights, and to report on her office’s progress towards those benchmarks in her annual reports.
With respect to the investigation and resolution of concerns relating to language rights, the standing committee’s fourth recommendation is that the Languages Commissioner include in her annual report a detailed summary of the application and results of the procedures followed for each investigation conducted by her office.
Mr. Speaker, the standing committee’s fifth recommendation is that the Languages Commissioner includes a detailed explanation of criteria used to determine the requirement for systemic investigations, the proposed process for conducting the systemic investigations, and the results of any systemic investigations undertaken in her next annual report.
Mr. Speaker, it is important that the Languages Commissioner clarify her working relationship with entities, such as government departments and institutions, Inuit organizations, language stakeholder organizations, as well as with the Minister of Languages.
Mr. Speaker, during the Languages Commissioner’s appearance before the standing committee, committee members were pleased to note significant progress in providing assistance and support to the private sector in anticipation of upcoming language service requirements.
During the Languages Commissioner’s appearance, standing committee members continued to raise a number of issues with respect to language services provided by federal entities and/or federally-regulated agencies which deliver services in Nunavut, such as banks, airlines, and post offices.
With that, Mr. Speaker, I conclude the standing committee’s report.
I now move that the report of the standing committee be received by the House and entered into the record as read.
It has been moved that the report of the standing committee be received by the House and entered into the record as read.
The report has been received by the House and shall be entered into the record as read.
Tabled Document 175 – 3(3): Nunavut Impact Review Board’s Review Process Map and Anticipated Timeline for the Kiggavik Project (Aupaluktuq)
As I noted in my Member’s Statement today, I wish to table a [copy] of the Nunavut Impact Review Board’s updated Review Process Map and Anticipated Timeline for the Kiggavik Project. I encourage all members to review this document with care.
Minister responsible for the Utility Rates Review Council, Minister Arreak.
Tabled Document 176 – 3(3): 2012 Annual Report for the Utility Rates Review Council (Arreak)
I am pleased to table the 2012 Annual Report for the Utility Rates Review Council.
Speaker: Thank you, Minister Arreak. Tabling of Documents.
Tabled Document 177 – 3(3): Statement of May 16, 2012 by the United Nations Special Rapporteur on the Right to Food (Elliott)
Tabled Document 178 – 3(3): Inuit and the Right to Food: Submission to the United Nations Special Rapporteur on the Right to Food for the Official Country Mission to Canada (Elliott)
Tabled Document 179 – 3(3): Correspondence of February 29, 2012 to the Member for Quttiktuq form the Department of Aboriginal Affairs and Northern Development (Elliott)
I have three items to table, so I’ll do them concurrently.
As I indicated in my Member’s Statement, I wish to table today a copy of the statement made on May 16, 2012 by the United Nations Special Rapporteur on the Right to Food. I encourage all members to review this document with care.
As I indicated in my Member’s Statement, I wish to table today a copy of the submission made by the Inuit Tapiriit Kanatami and the Inuit Circumpolar Council to the United Nations Special Rapporteur on the Right to Food for the Official Mission to Canada. The submission is titled “Inuit and the Right to Food.”
As I indicated in my Member’s Statement, I wish to table today a copy of the response that I received from the federal Department of Aboriginal Affairs and Northern Development concerning the special meeting that took place with Members of the Legislative Assembly in this Chamber on October 25.
I encourage all members to review all documents.
Please send those documents up to the front.
Tabled Document 180 – 3(3): Photographs of Pond Inlet Marine Conditions (Enook)
Mr. Enook: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. (interpretation) I wish to take this opportunity to table another collection of photographs that clearly illustrate the conditions facing my constituents in Pond Inlet with respect to the lack of adequate marine infrastructure in the community. I strongly encourage the Minister of Economic Development and Transportation to review these with care.
Tabled Document 181 – 3(3): 2011-2012 Annual Report of the Integrity Commissioner of Nunavut (Speaker)  Tabled Document 182 – 3(3): 2012-2015 Business Plan of the Office of the Languages Commissioner of Nunavut (Speaker)
Tabled Document 183 – 3(3): Report of the Chief Electoral Officer of Nunavut on the September 12, 2011 By-Elections for the Constituencies of Iqaluit West, Pangnirtung, and Tununiq (Speaker)
Tabled Document 184 – 3(3): Funding Valuation of the Retiring Allowances Fund as of April 1, 2011 (Speaker)
Tabled Document 185 – 3(3): Funding Valuation of the Supplementary Retiring Allowances Fund as of April 1, 2011 (Speaker)
I have a number of documents to table today:
The 2011-2012 Annual Report of the Integrity Commissioner of Nunavut;
The 2012-2015 Business Plan of the Office of the Languages Commissioner of Nunavut;
The Report of the Chief Electoral Officer of Nunavut on the September 12, 2011 By-Elections for the Constituencies of Iqaluit West, Pangnirtung, and Tununiq;
The Funding Valuation of the Retiring Allowances Fund as of April 1, 2011; and
The Funding Valuation of the Supplementary Retiring Allowances Fund as of April 1, 2011;
Moving on in our orders of the day. Item 14. Notices of Motions.
Motion 028 – 3(3): Extended Sitting Hours and Days – Notice (Rumbolt)
I give notice that on Thursday, May 31, 2012, I will move the following motion:
I move, seconded by the Hon. Member for Rankin Inlet South and Whale Cove, that the Speaker be authorized to set such sitting hours and days as the Speaker deems fit to assist with the business before the House during the spring 2012 sitting of the Legislative Assembly.
Motion 029 – 3(3): Legislative Assembly Appointments and Revocations – Notice (Ningeongan)
NOW THEREFORE I MOVE, seconded by the Hon. Member for Nattilik, that the Legislative Assembly make appointments and revocations to its standing committees and other positions.
Bill 36 – Supplementary Appropriation (Operations & Maintenance) Act, No. 1, 2012-2013 – Notice
Hon. Keith Peterson: Mr. Speaker, I give notice that on Thursday, May 31, 2012, that Bill 36, Supplementary Appropriation (Operations and Maintenance) Act, No. 1, 2012-2013, be read for the first time.
Bill 37 – Supplementary Appropriation (Capital) Act, No. 2, 2012-2013 – Notice
Hon. Keith Peterson: Mr. Speaker, I give notice that on Thursday, May 31, 2012, that Bill 37, Supplementary Appropriation (Capital) Act, No. 2, 2012-2013, be read for the first time.
Motion 028 – 3(3): Extended Sitting Hours and Days (Rumbolt)
Motion 029 – 3(3): Legislative Assembly Appointments and Revocations (Ningeongan)
Mr. Ningeongan: Thank you, Members.
AND WHEREAS the Member for Iqaluit West has been selected to serve on the Executive Council;
NOW THEREFORE I MOVE, seconded by the Hon. Member for Nattilik, that the Legislative Assembly make appointments and revocations to its standing committees and other positions;
AND FURTHER I MOVE that the Member for Pangnirtung be appointed as member of the Management and Services Board;
AND FURTHER I MOVE that the appointments of Ms. Monica Ell as a member of the Management and Services Board, a member of the Standing Committee on Legislation, a member of the Standing Committee on Oversight of Government Operations and Public Accounts, a member of the Standing Committee on Community and Economic Development, and an alternate member of the Standing Committee on Social Wellness be revoked.
I request consent of this Assembly to waive the two-day notice requirement to allow for first reading of Bill 36, Supplementary Appropriation (Operations and Maintenance) Act, No. 1, 2012-2013.
Speaker: The minister is seeking consent to waive the two-day waiting rule so that Bill 36 can be read today for the first time.
Bill 36 – Supplementary Appropriation (Operations & Maintenance) Act, No. 1, 2012-2013 – First Reading
Hon. Keith Peterson: Thank you, colleagues.
I move, seconded by the Hon. Member for Rankin Inlet South and Whale Cove, that Bill 36, Supplementary Appropriation (Operations and Maintenance) Act, No. 1, 2012-2013, be read for the first time.
I request consent of this Assembly to waive the two-day notice requirement to allow for first reading of Bill 37, Supplementary Appropriation (Capital) Act, No. 2, 2012-2013.
Oh! I’m sorry.
I got a few of you guys, though, eh?
The member is seeking consent to waive the two-day waiting rule so that Bill 37 could be read for the first time.
Speaker: Please go ahead, Minister Peterson.
Bill 37 – Supplementary Appropriation (Capital) Act, No. 2, 2012-2013 – First Reading
It appears that a long layoff has made some of us a little rusty today on the first day. It is to be expected.
Mr. Speaker, I move, seconded by the Hon. Member for Rankin Inlet South and Whale Cove, that Bill 37, Supplementary Appropriation (Capital) Act, No. 2, 2012-2013, be read for the first time.
Speaker: I’m getting like a déjà vu moment here now.
This time the motion is carried and Bill 37 has been read for the first time.
Moving on to Item 18.
Bill 36 – Supplementary Appropriation (Operations & Maintenance) Act, No. 1, 2012-2013 – Second Reading
I move, seconded by the Hon. Member for Rankin Inlet South and Whale Cove, that Bill 36, Supplementary Appropriation (Operations and Maintenance) Act, No. 1, 2012-2013, be read for the second time.
Mr. Speaker, this bill makes supplementary appropriations to defray the operations and maintenance expenses of the Government of Nunavut for the fiscal year ending March 31, 2013.
The motion is carried and Bill 36 is referred to the Committee of the Whole.
Bill 37 – Supplementary Appropriation (Capital) Act, No. 2, 2012-2013 – Second Reading
I move, seconded by the Hon. Member for Rankin Inlet South and Whale Cove, that Bill 37, Supplementary Appropriation (Capital) Act, No. 2, 2012-2013, be read for the second time.
The motion is carried and Bill 37 is referred to the Committee of the Whole.
Bills 21, 36, and 37 with Mr. Tapardjuk in the Chair.
Chairman (Tapardjuk)(interpretation): Thank you for coming back.
In Committee of the Whole, we have the following items to deal with: Bills 21, 36, and 37.
Today, we would like to deal with Bill 21.
Once that’s finished, we will report progress.
We have Bill 21 to deal with.
Bill 21 – Miscellaneous Statutes Amendment Act, 2011, No. 3 – Consideration in Committee
During Committee of the Whole, we have Stephen Innuksuk as the Committee Clerk and Mr. Chandler, our Law Clerk.
Minister Shewchuk, do you have opening comments?
Hon. Daniel Shewchuk: Yes, I do. Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
I am here today to discuss the Miscellaneous Statutes Amendment Act, 2011, No. 3.
This bill corrects inconsistencies and errors in certain enactments of Nunavut, removes references to the Northwest Territories, repeals provisions that have ceased to have effect, and redrafts certain provisions to improve the wording in order to bring it in line with modern drafting standards.
The bill improves clarity and sentence flow, and will result in easier translation into other official languages.
Welcome, Minister Shewchuk and your officials.
Minister Shewchuk, once again, please introduce your witnesses.
(interpretation ends) Give us five minutes.
Bear with us; we will fix the problem.
(interpretation) In trying to fulfil our duties as Members of the Legislative Assembly, we tend to run into various issues and technical difficulties.
I believe our system is back up and running.
Minster Shewchuk.
That just adds a little spice to everything.
I would like to introduce to my right, Norman Tarnow, the Deputy Minister of Justice, and to my left is Phillip Grassie, Legal Counsel for the Department of Justice.
Welcome, (interpretation ends) Deputy Minister Tarnow (interpretation) and Mr. Grassie.
Does the Chair of the Standing Committee on Legislation have comments? Mr. Ningeongan.
Mr. Ningeongan (interpretation): Yes, I have comments.
Thank you, Mr. Chairman. (interpretation ends) As Chair of the Standing Committee on Legislation, I am pleased to make some brief opening comments as we begin consideration of Bill 21, Miscellaneous Statutes Amendment Act, 2011, No. 3.
The standing committee recognizes that the purpose of bills such as this is to correct inconsistencies and errors in certain Acts of Nunavut. Accordingly, the standing committee was pleased to have worked with the minister to amend the bill to delete subclause 19(16), which proposes to amend existing provisions in the Mental Health Act concerning the disclosure of a patient’s health records.
The standing committee was of the view that these proposed amendments constitute a rewriting of the section in question and change the nature of the legal test that a judge would apply when deciding whether or not to authorize the release of certain documents.
Mr. Chairman, that concludes my opening comments. The standing committee recommends the passage of Bill 21, as amended, to all members.
I would like to remind the members of the following: according to Rule 77(1), you have 10 minutes to speak, and according to Rule 77(2), subject to the discretion of the Chair, a member may speak more than once to a matter under discussion but not until every member wishing to speak has spoken.
Before we begin the clause-by-clause review of Bill 21, I will open the floor to general comments. Are there any general comments?
There doesn’t seem to be any general comments. We will go to Bill 21, which is in your white legislation binders. I believe you have Bill 21 in front of you.
I don’t have a copy. I do have a copy now.
We will start reviewing (interpretation ends) Bill 21, Miscellaneous Statutes Amendment Act, 2011, No. 3.
Chairman (interpretation): Go from page 3 to 21. (interpretation ends) Schedule A. (interpretation) Do you agree? That’s in Bill 21.
Some Members: Agreed.  Chairman: Clause 7. (interpretation) Do you agree?
Chairman (interpretation): Go to page 22. (interpretation ends) Schedule B. (interpretation) Do you agree?
Chairman (interpretation): Thank you. (interpretation ends) Clause 11. (interpretation) Do you agree?
Some Members: Agreed.  Chairman: Clause 12. (interpretation) Do you agree?
Chairman (interpretation): Go to page 23. (interpretation ends) Schedule C. (interpretation) Do you agree?
Chairman (interpretation): Thank you. (interpretation ends) Clause 14. (interpretation) Do you agree?
Chairman (interpretation): Go to (interpretation ends) Schedule D (interpretation) on page 23. (interpretation ends) Schedule D. (interpretation) Do you agree?
Chairman (interpretation): Thank you. (interpretation ends) Clause 19. (interpretation) Do you agree?
Chairman (interpretation): Go to page 24. (interpretation ends) Schedule E. (interpretation) Do you agree?
Chairman (interpretation): Thank you. (interpretation ends) Clause 20. (interpretation) Do you agree?
Chairman (interpretation): Go to page 27. (interpretation ends) Schedule F. (interpretation) Do you agree?
Chairman (interpretation): Thank you. (interpretation ends) Clause 21. (interpretation) Do you agree?
Chairman (interpretation): Go to (interpretation ends) Schedule G (interpretation) on page 27. (interpretation ends) Schedule G. (interpretation) Do you agree?
Chairman (interpretation): Thank you. (interpretation ends) Clause 26. (interpretation) Do you agree?
Chairman: Page 28. Schedule H. (interpretation) Do you agree?
Chairman (interpretation): Thank you. (interpretation ends) Clause 30. (interpretation) Do you agree?
Pursuant to Rule 62(2), are you agreed that Bill 21 can immediately be placed on the orders of the day for third reading?
We have concluded this bill.
Minister Shewchuk, if you have closing comments, please proceed. Minister Shewchuk.
Just for clarification, I think it was on clause 33. There’s a schedule that goes with that. Did we approve that schedule?
It was Schedule I, the very last.
Chairman (interpretation): Please hold on, Minister Shewchuk, we’re having a look at it now.
Of course, you’re the minister, so you know exactly what’s happening here.
Clause 33 on page 29. (interpretation ends) Schedule I. (interpretation) Do you agree?
With respect to Schedule I, Schedule A, where it speaks to the 29 health centres, (interpretation ends) “Name of Hospital,” some of them have their own names, so I would like that clarified.
For example, in Kugaaruk, it’s not called the Kugaaruk Health Centre; it’s called by another name.
So I would ask that these titles be researched as to their accuracy.
I agree with everything else; I just wanted to point that out (interpretation ends) for correction. (interpretation) Thank you.
We will take that concern and we will review that further.
Chairman (interpretation): Thank you, Minister Shewchuk. Thank you, Mr. Ningark.
Again, in Taloyoak, we call it the Judy Hill Memorial Centre, so I would like to see that changed on that schedule.
Minister Shewchuk, I believe, has noted that.
We have noted both of those and we will note any other concerns or mistakes that may have been made and we can change that through an amendment.
Are there any other comments on page 29?
(interpretation ends) Schedule I. (interpretation) Do you agree?
Bill 21 can now be placed on the orders of the day for third reading. We will make changes at the appropriate schedule and they are duly noted.
The floor is yours, Minister Shewchuk.
Very briefly, I thank you and your committee for reviewing Bill 21.
I think it’s very important, as we move and grow in Nunavut, that we update all of our legislation and keep current and on top of this all the time.
I would like to thank the Department of Justice, especially the Legislation Division, Phillip and his people that he works with over there.
There were over 31 Acts and 7 regulations that we amended and fixed up here, so it’s a big job to do that.
I would like to thank them very much and thank you all. Thank you.
I’m sure it takes a lot of work, but it didn’t take very long to get that through.
I move to report progress. (interpretation) Thank you.
Chairman (interpretation): Thank you. There is a motion on the floor to report progress to the Speaker and the motion is not debatable.
I will now rise to report progress to the Speaker. Agreed?
Speaker: Moving on in our orders of the day.
Your committee has been considering Bill 21 and I wish to report that Bill 21 can immediately be placed on the orders of the day for third reading.
Bill 21 – Miscellaneous Statutes Amendment Act, 2011, No. 3 – Third Reading
I move, seconded by the hon. member from Kugluktuk, that Bill 21, Miscellaneous Statutes Amendment Act, 2011, No. 3, be read for the third time.
Just a reminder for meetings for tomorrow, May 30, at 9:00 a.m., a meeting of the Standing Committee on Oversight of Government Operations and Public Accounts, followed at 10:30 by a meeting of the Standing Committee on Community and Economic Development, and at eleven o’clock, a meeting of the Regular Caucus.
All of these meetings are taking place in the Nanuq Boardroom.
This House stands adjourned until Wednesday, May 30, at 1:30 p.m.