EdinburghNLP/nunavut-hansard-plusplus huggingface dataset:
So, it is a matter of what you interpret.
Everybody interprets it differently and to me Mr. Speaker, the intent always was to try and develop a draft five year capital plan to give MLAs the opportunity to solicit some input and recommendations from what they saw from that draft five year or multi-year plan.
At that point, as I indicated at the last session I believe, we would work on a mechanism where we can solicit some input from municipalities, other stakeholders that are directly impacted by the delivery of that multi-year plan.
Then I think what's also important Mr. Speaker, to recognize it's not just a one-time initiative that you bring forward.
As we work towards one for the 2001/2002 fiscal year, we have to continue with future years and continue to make adjustments on a regular basis.
That's where you would solicit more substantive input from municipalities and like I said, stakeholders and try to…and concerns of members, and try to work that in to future years capital planning needs.
Trying to address the issues on a consistent basis.
Mr. Speaker, the minister indicated that they are in the process of finalizing a draft 2000/2001 portion of the capital plan.
Mr. Speaker, in the past, being a previous Hamlet Councillor, in the past, the Hamlet Councils were asked to submit their priorities and their five-year capital plan for their communities.
That information was then submitted to the department, then MACA, and used in the development of that capital plan.
Mr. Speaker, I would like to ask the Minister of Finance, have any of the communities been given an opportunity to raise their concerns or to give their priorities in the development of this 2001/2002 capital budget.
Mr. Speaker, I would say that yes, from the perspective of the broad community consultations that we undertook, all of us, not just the government members, but regular members, all participated in a broad community consultation.
Every community throughout Nunavut was visited.
Municipalities, the mayors, councillors, people from those communities came out at those community consultation meetings and gave us what they thought their priorities were.
That was documented, a report was tabled in this House and that was the basis of the 2000/2001 firm plan that we have that we have put in place this year.
It is the basis of some of the work that is out there for finalizing a draft multi-year plan that will come back to members again in a couple of weeks and from there back out to municipalities.
Mr. Speaker, I guess the minister indicated that the consultation tour that happened last winter, and I would like to emphasize the word that he used on it, it was broad.
There was quite a tremendous amount of information given to the public meetings.
They weren't specifically with the municipalities, they were public meetings.
They weren't asked what are your priorities for the next five years on the capital plan.
They were given pie charts and numbers of how the government was planning to spend its budget for this past year and not specifically on a five year capital plan.
In the past, Mr. Speaker, the communities were specifically asked to submit a five-year capital plan to the department to use in the development of a capital plan.
I would like to ask the Minister of Finance, again.
Will the communities have an opportunity to do the same today.
Minister responsible for Finance. Mr. Ng.
I guess Mr. Speaker, maybe we should step back here and think of the reason why this government committed to putting in place a multi-year plan, a five year plan as it used to be referred to by the GNWT.
I would say a multi-year plan for the Government of Nunavut.
Like we said in the past, it should be deliverable for all the communities throughout Nunavut.
Yes, I was a mayor, I have been involved on many councils and I had many opportunities as an MLA in the GNWT Legislature to look at draft five year capital plans of the Government of the Northwest Territories and to provide input on what we thought were the priorities of the communities.
But let's not forget that many times those priorities that we identified were not delivered.
They were pushed back into subsequent years, future years on a continual basis.
That created just as many problems I believe for municipalities.
That's why under the public consultations that we want to know realistically what's going to be able to be delivered to each community in Nunavut.
That's why we have tried, in trying to be consistent to develop a five year plan that is deliverable.
When we say Mr. Speaker, we think in year three, that we will be able to deliver a health centre here, a school here, municipal infrastructure garages, water trucks, whatever the case may be, that's what we will do unless there are some circumstances, unforeseeable circumstances that create an atmosphere where we have to totally revamp the capital plan for that particular year.
In that case it would have to be a fully defendable decision because of the fact that the expectations will be there and that's why we wanted to try and solidify this whole process.
Yes, communities will have an opportunity, once we have it formulated, once we have some input from regular members, to provide their comments as well.
Speaker: Thank you Mr. Ng. You will note that the clock has run out for question period.
As per past practice, we will now allow Mr. Tootoo his final supplementary.
I guess Mr. Speaker, I heard finally the rationale as to why they haven't been consulted in the past, or recently, is the fact that the government wants to put together a plan that they feel is deliverable.
I can certainly agree with the minister's remarks that there was frustration in the past from having it changed all the time.
In light of the recent mayors' meeting here in Iqaluit, we heard comments from some of those mayors that they want to go back to the way it was. To be able to provide input.
I agree wholeheartedly with the minister's rationale and that, but I would like to ask him, have they conveyed exactly that message to the mayors and the municipalities so that they know where things are at right now.
This is the first time that I have heard that explanation delivered as to why they haven't had that input that they used to have in the past.
I would like to ask the minister, has he conveyed that information to the municipalities.
That's why we wanted to get to the point of having something realistically deliverable to present.
Also having the opportunity for regular members to provide some input before we got to the stage of having a draft multi-year plan stamped and ready for distribution for additional input.
Speaker: Thank you Mr. Ng. Time is now up for question period.
I would like unanimous consent to go back to item 5, recognition of visitors in the gallery.
I would like to recognize one of my constituents.
He is a by-law officer. He is my constituent and I would like to recognize him.
Item 8. Petitions. Item 8.
Item 9. Reports of standing and special committees.
Item 9: Reports of Standing and Special Committees
Report 001 – 1(4): Ajauqtiit Review of the Report of the Chief Electoral Officer
I rise today because I have the honour of tabling the Standing Committee Ajauqtiit's Review of the Report of the Chief Electoral Officer of Nunavut entitled, emphatically entitled: Election of the First Legislative Assembly of Nunavut – 1999: A New Beginning.
Mr. Speaker, at this time, I would like to recognize a number of people who contributed to the work of the Standing Committee who are in the House today: Mr. Speaker, Mr. Paul Quassa from NTI was here.
NTI has worked with the Standing Committee quite closely throughout our review of this report and I would like to thank them for participating in that process.
As well Mr. Speaker, with your indulgence and that of the members, I would like to read from a resolution that I will be tabling later today, from the Board of Directors of Nunavut Tunngavik Incorporated.
It's from their Board of Directors meeting in Repulse Bay.
Resolution regarding NTI and Government of Nunavut co-operation on elections.
Whereas, the President of NTI appeared before the Standing Committee Ajauqtiit on April 13, 2000, to discuss the process of elections in Nunavut;
Whereas, the Government of Nunavut has indicated an interest in developing a central elections office;
Whereas, the President of NTI stated to the Standing Committee Ajauqtiit that in general terms NTI would be interested in exploring with the Government of Nunavut and other parties the possibility of creating a central Nunavut Elections Office, and other possible forms of co-operation;
Whereas, the President of NTI noted to the Standing Committee the potential savings of creating a central Nunavut Elections Office and that such an office would provide an opportunity to share and learn from one and other's experience in conducting elections; and
Whereas, this discussion with the Standing Committee led in May 2000 to NTI staff participating in a mission to Elections Canada in Ottawa along with the Standing Committee and Government of Nunavut staff to discuss possible approaches to co-operation, a mission which reinforced the belief that co-operation with the Government of Nunavut and possibly the Government of Canada, would be in NTI's interest;
Now, Therefore, be it resolved that the NTI Board of Directors authorizes NTI's administration and implementation department to further pursue the initial exploratory on elections co-operation and to report back to the Board on this process, the options considered and their cost implications no later than May 2001.
Again, Mr. Speaker, with your indulgence and that of the members I would like to read a letter that I will be tabling later today from the Chief Electoral Officer of Canada, regarding work by the committee.
The letter is addressed to myself Mr. Speaker, as Chairperson of the Standing Committee and it is coming from Mr. Jean-Pierre Kingsley, the Chief Electoral Officer for Canada.
"I am writing further to my letter to you dated October 17, 2000, in which I informed you that I would unable to attend the tabling of the Standing Committee Ajauqtiit's Report on Electoral Reform to the Legislative Assembly on October 23, 2000.
I would like to take this opportunity to wish you every success in this important step.
I trust the recommendations made by the Standing Committee will ensure that the administration of elections in Nunavut will fully address the needs of electors.
I also wish to note, once again, that I was extremely pleased with the exchanges that took place in Ottawa with this office, the Standing Committee Ajauqtiit and the representatives from Nunavut Tunngavik Incorporated on June 19 – 21.
It is my hope that the discussions proved useful in the preparation of the Standing Committee's report.
Finally, I would like to re-affirm my commitment to future working groups and joint initiatives between my office and the Standing Committee Ajauqtiit, which will allow us to become even more effective and efficient in the administration of elections.
I look forward to receiving the Standing Committee's report and would appreciate being kept informed of the work of the Legislative Assembly of Nunavut on this matter.
Yours truly, Jean-Pierre Kingsley."
Mr. Speaker, the Standing Committee undertook a thorough and thoughtful review of the conduct of elections in Nunavut and our report contains 65 recommendations.
In order to expedite discussions in the House on the report, I will be recommending the following processes to the House.
I would like to read a section of the introduction and background now and I will move that the report be entered into the record as read.
I will also move that the report be moved to committee of the whole on Tuesday October 24, 2000 and at that time my colleagues will join me in reading each of the recommendations in the report as a motion.
Mr. Speaker, before I begin reading from the report I would like to note that it has become clear that the Standing Committee has some broad recommendations for follow-up on our report.
Due to the comprehensive nature of many of the recommendations, the committee has directed many of them to the Government of Nunavut.
However, the spirit underlying these recommendations is that the Legislative Assembly will work closely with the government and other organizations named in the report, in a collaborative effort to implement the recommendations.
Mr. Speaker, in October 1999, the Legislative Assembly referred the report of the Chief Electoral Officer of Nunavut, entitled: Election of the First Legislative Assembly of Nunavut – 1999: A New Beginning, to the Standing Committee for review.
The report contained a number of recommendations for legislative and administrative reforms relating to Territorial elections.
The election of the first Legislative Assembly of Nunavut was indeed a new beginning.
With the pending creation of a new territory on April 1, 1999, the election in February 1999, ushered in 19 new MLAs who would form the first Legislative Assembly of Nunavut.
Although Inuit had historically governed themselves according to Inuit traditional leadership, their lives had been governed in modern times by institutions in Ottawa and Yellowknife.
The long cherished dream of Inuit for their own territory, fought for on the land claims table for over 25 years and finally agreed to in the Nunavut Land Claims Agreement of 1993, came into being on April 1, 1999.
The new public government would change the face of Canada forever.
In addition to reviewing the specific recommendations contained in the CEO's report, the Standing Committee welcomed the opportunity to conduct a broader review of the Elections Act, in the hopes of making recommendations that will ensure this important legislation meets the needs of Nunavummiut.
This is part of the process of "beginning new", and it seemed appropriate that one of the first Acts to be reviewed in this manner should be the Elections Act.
As stated on behalf of the Standing Committee at the beginning of their public consultation meetings:
We want to administer them in ways that encourage participation, recognizing the uniqueness of circumstances in Nunavut, and at the same time are effective and fiscally responsible."
Mr. Speaker, the Standing Committee appreciated the thoughtful presentation of Mr. David Hamilton, the Chief Electoral Officer and his staff as well as other Nunavut election officials, who met with us during our consultation meetings.
The committee hopes that the report does justice to the recommendations contained in his report.
The Standing Committee also met with Elections Canada officials for a three day period and would like to thank these officials for their presentations on various aspects of elections at the federal level, as well as information on innovative approaches across Canada.
These meetings reinforced the importance of having elections administered by knowledgeable people who possess expertise and a deep commitment to the fair conduct of elections.
The election of the fourteenth Legislative Assembly of the Northwest Territories took place in the same year as the first Nunavut election.
Since the law governing the Northwest Territories election is the same law that is currently in force for elections in Nunavut, the Standing Committee Ajauqtiit felt that it would be useful to review the CEO's recommendations in his report on the Northwest Territories election.
Although not formally referred to the committee for review, there are many more specific recommendations contained therein that would address similar problems in Nunavut elections.
As well in his subsequent Northwest Territories report, the CEO had the opportunity to address some questions and suggestions made by the Standing Committee in their meeting with him.
The public consultations served to reinforce to the members the notion that while elections provide the foundation it is interaction with people that is, and will be, the lifeblood of democracy in Nunavut.
The Standing Committee hopes that this report reflects the concerns and thoughts of the more than 300 people who so generously gave their time and reflections to our committee.
The Standing Committee particularly thanks NTI and the people who met with the committee in Cape Dorset, Chesterfield Inlet, Clyde River, Iqaluit, Kugluktuk, Kugaaruk, and Rankin Inlet.
Their suggestions helped the Standing Committee develop recommendations to build a solid foundation for future elections in Nunavut.
Mr. Speaker, although the election in February 1999, was Nunavut's first official territorial election, elections and referenda have played a prominent role in Nunavut's history as one of the presentation's reminded the Standing Committee.
"The division of the Northwest Territories was approved in a plebiscite in 1982 where over ninety percent of the voters in what is now Nunavut voted in favour of division.
In 1992, another Northwest Territories wide vote affirmed the boundary between the two territories.
Later that year, in November, the Nunavut Final Agreement, upon which Nunavut's affairs today rest, was approved by nearly 85%.
In 1993, NTI, created from TFN, held its first election voting in the leadership that would, over the next six years, help lay the groundwork for creating the Nunavut Territory and the Nunavut Government."
That's a quote from Paul Quassa, President of NTI from his presentation to us on April 13, 2000.
The Standing Committee agrees with NTI that this history "reminds us of the strength of our democratic process in Nunavut.
It is something that we should all be proud of."
The Standing Committee wants to build on this history for the future.
As one of the members of the Standing Committee stated at the outset of our community meetings in September:
"Although elections were not part of Inuit Qaujimajatuqangit, Inuit embraced elections as a measure of public support throughout the land claims process and the steps leading to the creation of the new territory.
Elections allow us the means to govern ourselves."
That was a quote from Mr. Iqaqrialu a committee member at our public hearings.
Elections are now an important part of the fabric of the modern Inuit society in which we live and an essential component of public government.
Mr. Speaker, I am glad I don't have to read the whole report.
The first Nunavut Election was administered by Northwest Territories Elections Officers under the authority of Mr. David Hamilton, the Chief Electoral Officer.
This itself was a first since previous territorial elections had been under the authority of Elections Canada and the Northwest Territories had recently negotiated the transfer of this responsibility.
There were a number of changes over previous territorial elections to accommodate the needs of the north better.
The Standing Committee acknowledges the importance of some of the measures, such as the use of radio messages in Inuktitut and the preparation of election materials in Inuktitut which were mailed to each household.
The CEO's report notes the voter turnout was over 88% of the eligible list of electors, which is in keeping with the high voter turnout during previous elections and plebiscites in Nunavut.
However, the caveat to this is the concern over the accuracy of the list of electors.
There were relatively few incidents in the first Nunavut election, which are described in the appendices to the report, and most of them were ably handled with the CEO's discretion and/or will be better dealt with in the future by adopting the CEO's recommendations.
The Standing Committee's additional recommendations for changes contained in this report are not meant to reflect negatively on the work of the Chief Electoral Officer and the Elections Officials in the first Nunavut Election.
Rather, the recommendations hope to build on these initiatives to meet the specific needs of Nunavummiut even more so, as well as continue to modernize our election process.
Mr. Speaker, as I noted earlier, the Standing Committee made 65 recommendations in their report.
I would like to highlight some of the key recommendations:
That a central elections office be established to administer elections in Nunavut called, "Elections Nunavut";
That a working group be established composed of representatives from the Government of Nunavut, NTI, regional Inuit organizations and the Nunavut Association of Municipalities.
Elections Canada and other organizations which run elections at the local level to negotiate the details of how a central elections office would best meet the needs of different organizations and how different electoral processes could be harmonized and where the office should be located;
That a permanent voters' list be established and an elector transfer certificate be developed for voters who move after revision day;
I forgot how long it takes to read all of these committee reports.
That general elections be held mid-week in October, or November;
That the election period be shortened from 45 days to 35 days and that the nomination period be shortened from 10 days to 5 days;
That if the Legislative Assembly wishes to further consider dropping the age of voting to 16 for territorial elections, a plebiscite or formal opinion poll be used to determine the opinions of the people of Nunavut;
That polling divisions include a maximum of 450 people.
Advance polls only be held in communities that do not have a returning officer; people can vote at the office of the returning officer for 14 days prior to the election;
That the procedure for mail-in ballots be amended in a number of specific ways to make it work better for the voters in Nunavut;
That special mobile voting stations may be used in locations such as health facilities and senior citizens' homes and persons with disabilities should be able to vote in their own homes by requesting a returning officer come to their home prior to election day;
That in multi-electoral districts, voters' lists may be posted together in a central location and returning officers may establish a central office.
A central polling station may be used on election day in any community;
That innovative methods of voting may be used in the smaller settlements and camps, on a trial basis, on the recommendation of the Chief Electoral Officer;
That the section on election offences be rewritten so that it is easier to understand and that more information on what constitutes an election offence be provided to the public and to candidates;
The last page, Mr. Speaker.
That the process for responding to complaints about election offences be reviewed by the working group, with a view to making it more proactive, more responsive in a timely manner and more remedial in its consequences;
That Elections Nunavut work in consultation with the Department of Education to ensure that elections are part of the curriculum for elementary and high school students and that students are advised of their voting rights;
That returning officers, may exercise their right to vote if they are eligible voters;
That eligible election expenses include expenses include expenses for childcare and disability related expenses during the election period;
That an Electoral Boundaries Commission be established during the life of the second Legislative Assembly of Nunavut to review electoral boundaries in Nunavut;
That the Government of Nunavut introduce a new Elections Act for Nunavut that is written in a manner that is easily understood by voters, candidates and election officials.
Mr. Speaker this concludes my introductory remarks.
With your indulgence, I would like to make some motions.
I move that the report be received by the House and moved into Committee of the Whole for discussion,
And further, I move that the report be entered into the record as read;
And further, I seek unanimous consent to waive Rule 91(4) and have the report moved into Committee of the Whole for discussion on Tuesday, October 24, 2000.
Just a reminder to the members when doing their reports that they try to keep their comments directly related to the reports and that will allow us to get through it a little more quickly.
Mr. Tootoo. I believe that we require two motions here.
A motion to waive rule 91(4) so the report of the Standing Committee can be referred to the Committee of the Whole on Tuesday.