EdinburghNLP/nunavut-hansard-plusplus huggingface dataset:
Members have stated that such technologies constitute important tools for increasing their personal productivity and remaining in contact with their offices and staff.
Members have also indicated that increased use of such technologies to access documents has the potential to reduce the volume of printing and photocopying that is undertaken by the Legislative Assembly.
It is generally recognized, however, that the use of such technologies cannot be unrestricted.
For example, no Canadian legislature permits Members to engage in conversations over their cellular telephones during proceedings of the House or committees.
As a general principle, the use of technology is not permitted to distract Members or disrupt House or Committee proceedings.
With respect to Members’ use of such technologies during certain items of House business, practices and perspectives vary considerably across the country, especially in relation to oral question period. In July of 2009, a roundtable discussion on the use of technology in legislatures was held at the 47th Commonwealth Parliamentary Association Regional Conference, held in Toronto.
During the roundtable, the Speaker of the Legislative Assembly of Manitoba noted that:
“We also do not allow laptops and BlackBerrys during Question Period because Ministers should be able to think on their feet without answers coming in from the caucuses.
Someone said, “Well, they’re going to be bringing notes in.”
By the time the notes come from the caucus to the Page and the Page gets them to the Minister, it’s kind of too late.
So this way, the Ministers have to think on their feet.”
The Speaker of the Legislative Assembly of British Columbia also noted that:
“In British Columbia, it also has to do with politeness and respect, but also the fact that Members should not be getting questions fed into their BlackBerrys and Ministers should not get the answers shipped in from their offices.”
Practices also vary across the country with respect to whether or not Members are permitted to use such technologies while they have the floor and are delivering remarks.
It should also be noted that permitting the use of computers and other technologies in the Chamber would require Members to take responsibility for what images and/or content is displayed on their computer screens, given that other Members and the public seated in the Visitors’ Gallery may, at times, be able to view the displayed content.
In reviewing these matters, the Standing Committee also considered the technical issues associated with expanded use of electronic devices.
The Standing Committee is recommending that the Speaker issue interim guidelines on the use of portable hand-held electronic devices, laptop computers and other technologies in the Legislative Assembly Chamber and committee rooms.
Subject to approval by Full Caucus, the Standing Committee is recommending that these guidelines be distributed to all Members when the 2nd Session of the 3rd Legislative Assembly reconvenes on October 19, 2010.
The Standing Committee will conduct an evaluation of the application of these guidelines and report back to the House at the spring 2011 sitting of the Legislative Assembly with its final recommendations on the use of hand-held electronic devices, laptop computers and other technologies in the Legislative Assembly Chamber and Committee Rooms.
Recommendation #6: Translation of House Documents and Definition of  Hansard in the Rules of the Legislative Assembly of Nunavut
On June 11, 2010, Speaker Arreak wrote correspondence to the Chair of the Standing Committee concerning the translation of documents that come before the House.
The Speaker has requested that the Standing Committee consider a number of recommendations for amendments to the Rules of the Legislative Assembly of Nunavut.
These flow from the Management and Services Board’s ongoing development of the Official Languages Legislation Implementation Plan for the Office of the Legislative Assembly (OLLIPOLA).
The Standing Committee is recommending that a number of provisions in the Rules of the Legislative Assembly of Nunavut be amended in order to increase the number of documents that are provided in some or all of the official languages of Nunavut.
In developing its recommendations, the Standing Committee was cognizant of the need to establish a balance between achieving the goal of increasing the volume of translations and the respecting the importance of ensuring that House business is not delayed as a result of capacity challenges in the area of translation.
At present, Rule 2(c) of the Rules of the Legislative Assembly defines Hansard to mean “the edited official record of the Assembly proceedings.”
Section 1 of the Hansard Guidelines appendix to the Rules of the Legislative Assembly provides that:
“A printed transcript, known as Hansard, of the deliberations and proceedings of the Legislative Assembly, is produced, edited, printed and distributed, in Inuktitut and English, under the authority of the Speaker.”
It is noteworthy that the House of Commons Compendium of Procedure states that:
“The House of Commons Debates, commonly known as Hansard, are the official edited verbatim report of the proceedings that take place in the House, while the official record of the proceedings of the House is the Journals.”
For greater clarity and consistency, it is recommended that Rule 2(c) be amended.
Proposed New and/or Amended Provisions of the
Rules of the Legislative Assembly of Nunavut
New/and or amended wording in red
67 (1) The debate on a motion for second reading must be limited to the object, expediency, principles and merits of the bill.
The details of the bill are not debatable.
(2) Unless otherwise ordered by the Assembly, when a bill is read for the second time it stands ordered to a Standing or Special Committee.
(3) Notwithstanding Rule 67(2), when a bill for the appropriation of any part of the public revenue of Nunavut is read for the second time, it stands ordered to Committee of the Whole for consideration.
(4) Notwithstanding Rule 67(2), when a House Bill that has been introduced under the authority of the Management and Services Board of the Legislative Assembly is read for the second time, it stands ordered to the Committee of the Whole for consideration.
Recommendation #2: Consolidation of Items 11 and 12 in the Orders of  the Day and Responses to Petitions
Rule 27 – Business of the Assembly
(2) The daily order of business in the Assembly shall be:
Responses to Petitions
Reports of Standing and Special Committees on Bills and Other Matters
Recommendation #3: Responses to Petitions and Returns to Oral and Written Questions
Rule 39 – Oral Questions
Under the item “Oral Questions”, questions relating to public affairs may be put to Ministers.
An oral question shall be concisely and clearly put and shall refer only to a matter which may reasonably be assumed to be within the present knowledge of the Minister to whom it is directed.
The Minister may:
state that he or she takes the question as notice and answer it orally on a subsequent day under the item “Returns to Oral Questions”; or
(c) decline to answer the question.
When a Minister answers an oral question, only three supplementary questions per Member directly related to the same subject may be asked.
A Minister may, under the item “Returns to Oral Questions”, rise to supplement his or her initial response to an oral question posed within the previous ten sitting days.
The time allotted for oral questions shall not exceed sixty minutes.
A Member may, without notice, at the conclusion of oral question period, move that the time allotted for oral questions be extended.
Only one motion under subsection 7 may be entertained by the House on a sitting day.
A Minister shall provide a Return to an Oral Question within 7 calendar days, unless the Minister files a provisional return with the Clerk indicating:
the date upon which the return will be provided.
The date specified in Rule 39(9)(c) must be within 7 calendar
days of the date of the filing of the provisional return.
No more than two provisional returns may be filed in response
to the same oral question.
Under the item “Returns to Oral Questions”, the Clerk shall
inform the Assembly of the returns or provisional returns received, deliver copies to all Members and have the returns printed in Hansard.
Under the item “Returns to Oral Questions”, a Minister may
read a return which has been filed in accordance with Rule 39(9).
A Return to an Oral Question may be filed with the Clerk of the
House when the House stands adjourned or prorogued.
Rule 41 – Returns to Written Questions
A Minister to whom a written question is directed shall, without unnecessary delay, file a reply with the Clerk, who shall endorse the date of filing.
Under the item “Returns to Written Questions”, the Clerk shall inform the Assembly of the returns or provisional returns received, deliver copies to all Members and have the returns printed in Hansard.
Under the item “Returns to Written Questions”, a Minister may read a return which has been filed in accordance with Rule 41(1).
A Minister shall provide a Return to a Written Question within 21 calendar days, unless the Minister files a provisional return with the Clerk indicating:
The date specified in Rule 41(4)(c) must be within 21 calendar days of the date of the filing of the provisional return.
No more than two provisional returns may be filed in response to the same written question.
Rule 43 - Petitions
Petitions to the Assembly may be presented by a Member at any time during a sitting of the Assembly by filing it with the Clerk, or in the manner set out in Rule 43(3).
Every petition filed under Rule 43(1) shall be reported to the House by the Clerk under the item “Petitions”.
Member may present a petition from his or her place in the House under the item “Petitions”.
The Member shall endorse his or her name on the petition and shall confine the presentation to a statement of the petition, the number of signatures and the material allegations.
A Member shall not exceed five minutes in presenting a petition.
No debate shall be allowed on the presentation of a petition.
A Member presenting a petition shall be answerable for any impertinent or improper matter that it contains.
Petitions may be either written or printed.
When there are three or more petitioners, the signature of at least three petitioners shall be set on the sheet containing the body of the petition.
A petition that complains of some present personal grievance requiring an immediate remedy may be debated immediately.
A Member may, after notice, move that a petition be referred to a Standing or Special Committee which shall report its recommendations to the Assembly.
The Clerk shall deliver copies of all petitions presented to either the Speaker or the Minister responsible.
The Speaker or Minister responsible shall provide a response to a petition  within 60 calendar days of its presentation unless the Minister or Speaker files a provisional response with the Clerk indicating:
the date upon which the response will be provided.
The date specified in Rule 43(10)(c) must be within 60 calendar days
of the date of the filing of the provisional response.
No more than two provisional returns may be filed in response to the  same petition.
The response shall be tabled at the appropriate point in the daily
order of business at the first opportunity when the House sits.
Under the item “Responses to Petitions,” the Clerk shall inform the
Assembly of the responses or provisional responses received, deliver copies to all Members and have the responses printed in Hansard.
Under the item “Responses to Petitions,” a Minister may read a
response that has been filed in accordance with Rule 43(10).
Recommendation #5: Fixed Sitting Calendar and Sitting Hours
3 (1) Unless otherwise ordered, the Assembly shall meet each
year  for a Winter Sitting, commencing no earlier than the third Tuesday in February and concluding no later than March 31;
for a Spring Sitting, commencing no earlier than the first Tuesday in May and concluding no later than the second Thursday in June; and
for a Fall Sitting, commencing no earlier than the third Tuesday in October and concluding no later than the last Thursday in November.
(2) The Speaker shall, by December 1 each year, following
consultation with the body defined in section 1 of the Legislative Assembly and Executive Council Act as Caucus, table in the House a Sitting Calendar for the following year setting out the Assembly’s sitting and non-sitting days.
(3) Notwithstanding Rule 3(1), whenever the House stands
adjourned or prorogued, if the Speaker is satisfied, after
consultation with the Executive Council and the Members of the Legislative Assembly, that the public interest requires that the House should meet on a certain date, the Speaker shall give notice that being so satisfied the House shall meet, and thereupon the House shall meet at the time stated in such notice and shall transact its business as if it had been duly adjourned to that time.
(4) The first sitting of a new Legislative Assembly following a
general election may be held on a date other than a date prescribed in the Sitting Calendar.
4 The Assembly shall meet on Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays from 1:30p.m. to 6:00p.m. and on Fridays from 09:00a.m. to 12:00p.m., unless otherwise ordered.
5 The Assembly shall not meet on New Year’s Day, Good
Friday, Easter Monday, Victoria Day, Canada Day, Nunavut Day, the first Monday in August, Labour Day, Thanksgiving Day, Remembrance Day, Christmas Day or Boxing Day, unless otherwise ordered.
34 (2) A copy of each Minister’s Statement shall be filed with the Clerk  one hour prior to the sitting of the Assembly during which the statement will be given.
A Minister’s Statement must be provided in the Official Languages of Nunavut, as defined by the Official Languages Act.
Translations of Ministers’ Statements may be filed with the Clerk subsequent to their having been delivered in the House.
35(2) Upon receiving notice of a Budget Address, the Speaker shall place  the item “Budget Address” on the Orders of the Day for the day of presentation immediately after “Prayer.”
A Budget Address must be provided in the Official Languages of Nunavut, as defined by the Official Languages Act. Translations of Budget Addresses may be filed with the Clerk subsequent to their having been delivered in the House.
48 All motions shall be provided in the Official Languages of  Nunavut, as defined by the Official Languages Act and shall be read by the mover and seconded before being debated or put from the Chair.
Translations of motions may be filed with the Clerk subsequent to their having been delivered in the House.
69(2) Any amendment proposed to a bill under consideration by the  Committee of the Whole shall be provided in the same Official Languages as those in which the bill under consideration has been presented.
An amendment must be made available to the Assembly in writing at the time that it is proposed.”
Guidelines for the Tabling of Documents
All documents that are tabled in the House by the Speaker or a member of the Executive Council, in his or her capacity as a Minister, pursuant to a statutory requirement, must be tabled in English and Inuktitut.
Main Estimates, Capital Estimates, Supplementary Appropriations and departmental/Crown agency business plans that accompany the introduction of appropriation acts must be presented in English and Inuktitut.
The Orders of the Day must be available in the Official Languages of Nunavut, as defined by the Official Languages Act.
Written Questions, Returns to Written Questions, Returns to Oral Questions, Responses to Petitions, Reports of Standing and Special Committees and Government Responses to Reports of Standing and Special Committees must be available in English and Inuktitut.
In cases where a document listed in the preceding sections is initially available in only one official language, it will be permitted to be immediately tabled, with the appropriate translation to be tabled at the earliest opportunity.
From time to time, Ministers may wish to table, or be requested to table, documents that are not described in the preceding sections (e.g. technical studies, discussion papers and other items of interest).
These documents may be tabled in one or more of the official languages.
Documents tabled by MLAs in their capacity as individual Members (e.g. correspondence from constituents, news clippings and other items of interest) may be tabled in the language in which the document exists.
If a Member wishes to obtain a translation of the item, the request must be approved by the Office of the Clerk.
2(c) “Hansard” means the edited transcript of the proceedings of the Legislative Assembly.
Speaker’s Guidelines for the Use of Portable Hand-Held Electronic Devices, Laptop Computers and Other Technologies in the  Legislative Assembly Chamber and Committee Rooms
All electronic devices must be on silent or vibrating mode at all times.
Members who use their devices to send text messages must ensure that they do so in a discrete and non-disruptive manner.
This provision is to ensure that such devices do not disrupt House or Committee proceedings or distract other Members.
The use of cellular telephones in the Chamber or committee rooms for the purpose of conducting oral conversations is not permitted at any time.
The use of hand-held electronic devices and laptop computers is permitted only during the proceedings of the Committee of the Whole.
However, a Member or witness who has the floor and is speaking must have his or her laptop computer closed and his or her hand-held electronic device(s) turned off.
This provision establishes a balance between ensuring that all Members are engaged during the daily order of House business, while recognizing that the proceedings of the Committee of the Whole constitute an appropriate opportunity for Members to engage in other work.
The use of hand-held electronic devices and laptop computers is permitted during meetings of Standing and Special Committees.
Given the less formal nature of Committee deliberations, it is appropriate for Members and witnesses to be able to utilize their electronic devices when they are not directly participating in the proceedings of the meeting.
The use of hand-held electronic devices and laptop computers is not permitted during meetings of Full Caucus (FC) and Regular Members’ Caucus (RMC).
This provision reflects the uniquely collegial nature of Caucus meetings and the need for all Members to be fully engaged in their proceedings at all times.
Thursday, October 28, 2010
Pages 2860 – 2918
Opening Prayer 2860
Ministers’ Statements 2860
Members’ Statements 2865
Returns to Oral Questions 2872
Recognition of Visitors in the Gallery 2872
Oral Questions 2873
Reports of Standing and Special Committees* 2889
Reports of Committees on the Review of Bills 2892
Tabling of Documents 2892
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters 2894
Report of the Committee of the Whole 2916
Third Reading of Bills 2916
Orders of the Day 2917
Thursday, October 28, 2010 2860
214 – 3(2): Inuit Qaujimajatuqangit Katimajiit (Tapardjuk) 2860
215 – 3(2): Tribute to the High Arctic Exiles (Aariak) 2861
216 – 3(2): Upcoming DEA Elections (Tootoo) 2862
217 – 3(2): Arnait Nipingit Summit (Aariak) 2862
218 – 3(2): Five Pangnirtung Turbot Fishers Visit Ilulissat, Greenland (Shewchuk) 2863
219 – 3(2): Partnership with Nunavut Tunngavik Incorporated (Aariak) 2863
332 – 3(2): First Air to Ship Trigger Locks (Schell) 2865
333 – 3(2): Where is Nunavut’s Child and Youth Representative? (Elliott) 2865
334 – 3(2): Thank you Premier for Trip to Rankin Inlet (Ugyuk) 2866
335 – 3(2): Resigning from Executive Council (Tapardjuk) 2866
336 – 3(2): Letter from Young Constituent (Curley) 2870
337 – 3(2): Tribute to Louis Tapardjuk (Okalik) 2870
Return to Oral Question 460 – 3(2): Government Response to Motion Calling for a Comprehensive Performance Audit of the Qulliq Energy Corporation (Kusugak) 2872
493 – 3(2): Status of the Municipal Financing Review (Ningark) 2873
494 – 3(2): Child and Youth Representative (Elliott) 2875
495 – 3(2): Bedbugs at Kivalliq Boarding Home in Winnipeg (Rumbolt) 2878
496 – 3(2): Bedbug Infestation (Okalik) 2879
497 – 3(2): Implementation of the Family Abuse Intervention Act (Ugyuk) 2880
498 – 3(2): Assessment of Housing Units (Schell) 2883
499 – 3(2): Amendments to Nunavut’s Mental Health Act (Elliott) 2884
500 – 3(2): Bedbug Infestation Public Advisory (Ningeongan) 2886
501 – 3(2): Office Space for Health and Social Services in Sanikiluaq (Rumbolt) 2887
502 – 3(2): Courses for Nunavut Students (Schell) 2887
503 – 3(2): Update on Piqqusilirivvik in Clyde River (Elliott) 2888
Committee Report 005 – 3(2): Report of the Standing Committee on the Review of the 2008-2009 and 2009-2010 Annual Reports of the Languages Commissioner of Nunavut (Okalik) 2889
Committee Report on Bills 019 – 3(2): Bill 43, Write-Off of Assets Act, 2010-2011 (Okalik) 2892
237 – 3(2): Correspondence with the Federal Minister of the Environment (Okalik) 2892
238 – 3(2): Correspondence with the Federal Minister of Indian Affairs and Northern Development (Okalik) 2892
239 – 3(2): FPT Ministers’ of Finance Meeting, June 14, 2010 (Peterson) 2893
240 – 3(2): Community Justice Annual Report on Victims Assistance Committee April 1, 2005 to March 31, 2006 (Peterson) 2893
241 – 3(2): Community Justice Annual Report on Victims Assistance Committee April 1, 2006 to March 31, 2007 (Peterson) 2893
242 – 3(2): Community Justice Annual Report on Victims Assistance Committee April 1, 2007 to March 31, 2008 (Peterson) 2893
243 – 3(2): Community Justice Annual Report on Victims Assistance Committee April 1, 2008 to March 31, 2009 (Peterson) 2893
244 – 3(2): Community Justice Annual Report on Victims Assistance Committee April 1, 2009 to March 31, 2010 (Peterson) 2893
245 – 3(2): 2009-2010 Annual Report of the Inuit Qaujimajatuqangit Katimajiit (Tapardjuk) 2893
246 – 3(2): Resolution from the September 2010 Annual General Meeting of the Kitikmeot Regional Wildlife Board (Ningark) 2893
247 – 3(2): 2008-2009 Annual Report of the Nunavut Housing Corporation (Curley) 2894
248 – 3(2): Government of Nunavut Contract Activity Report Fiscal Year 2009-2010 (Kusugak) 2894
Bill 37 – Tobacco Damages and Health Care Costs Recovery Act – Third Reading 2916
Bill 42 – Forgiveness of Debts Act, 2010, No. 2 – Third Reading 2917
Bill 43 – Write-Off of Assets Act, 2010-2011 – Third Reading 2917
Bill 35 – Licensed Practical Nurses Act – Third Reading 2917
Bill 42 – Forgiveness of Debts Act, 2010, No. 2 – Consideration in Committee 2895
Bill 43 – Write-Off of Assets Act, 2010-2011 – Consideration in Committee 2896
I would like to ask Mr. Ningeongan to say the opening prayer.
A very good afternoon, Premier, Ministers, Members of the Legislative Assembly, Nunavummiut, the people of Qikiqtarjuaq, and the people of Clyde River, should they be able to watch the proceedings.
Minister’s Statement 214 – 3(2): Inuit Qaujimajatuqangit Katimajiit (Tapardjuk)
I hear that my constituents in Igloolik are able to see us and as for my constituents in Hall Beach, I wish them a very good day.
Mr. Speaker, first of all, I would like to take this opportunity to provide an update on the activities of the Inuit Qaujimajatuqangit Katimajiit.
Members of the third IQK met for the first time on April 21 to 23, 2009.
At that time, an overview of the mandate of the committee was presented and this included: the purpose and terms of reference of Katimajiit; administrative issues; and an overview of the Tamapta Mandate.
IQK elected a chairperson, a co-chair, and a representative to sit on the Embrace Life Council.
As well, five members were selected to serve on Nunavut Geographic Place Names Committee.
IQK also selected individuals to sit on subcommittees in the areas of health and social services, education, and justice.
Since that first meeting, IQK has met twice; in November 2009 and March 2010.
During the November meeting, they voiced their concerns about access to traditional knowledge and the lack of Inuit advisors/counsellors in the communities.