EdinburghNLP/nunavut-hansard-plusplus huggingface dataset:
Hon. Kelvin Ng: Mr. Chairman, may I suggest, I mean we started with general discussions on the bill and then we got into a more specific question about the limit for prizes.
I had to skim through 247 clauses to get to what we are talking about now.
I think there are some specific questions being raised right now, maybe what we could do is the normal practice in the bill, and go either page by page or clause by clause and then each question can be raised when that issue comes up.
Otherwise, we are jumping all over the place again with this significant bill.
Going page by page, there is a suggestion to go page by page.
I also have names on my list that would like to speak to the issue of Nunavut elections.
It is becoming obvious that there might be some things that we note as we go.
Someone stated that there would be responses when we go page by page.
Is that the wish of the committee, to go page by page?
Bill 14, Nunavut Elections Act, page 3. Clause 1.
I can hardly see, I do not have my bifocal glasses with me.
Chairperson (interpretation): Page 9, clause 3.
His microphone is not on, we cannot hear him.
Mr. Arvaluk (interpretation): On page eight… from four we went to 12.
I would like to go back to eight.
I do have a very short question.
I will allow you. Mr. Arvaluk, you have a question on page 8?
Mr. Arvaluk (interpretation): 11(4). It states here in English, I am looking at the English version…
(interpretation ends) The meaning of the result of that charge or conviction for the purpose of section 3…It says to be a Member as a result of the charge or conviction can…I want to be assured by the Speaker that this does not go against, in plain language, go against the Canadian Charter of Rights that a person who has been charged is not guilty until he or she is convicted.
Or is it that there are those who are so dangerous they are being charged and they are put in prison for the purpose of public security that they are being held.
Can you explain a little more to that?
Hon. Kelvin Ng: Mr. Chairman, can I ask you as the chairman, I believe the committee agreed to go page by page.
We started on page 3 and we went to page 9 and Mr. Arvaluk’s issue is back on page 8.
If we are going page by page, would the normal process not be sequentially, Mr. Chairman?
Chairperson (interpretation): The one written in Inuktitut and the English, there is no page 4 in Inuktitut but there is page 4 in English.
Mr. Speaker: Thank you, Mr. Chairperson.
I think the problem here is that we have referred to the clause by clause, because the page by page is different in English than in Inuktitut.
So clause by clause would simplify it.
Identify the clause.
We will start over.
Do you want to start right from the beginning?
It was too hard to follow from page to page.
What about from one number to the next?
Clause by clause would be better.
Chairperson (interpretation): Why don’t we start again from the beginning?
Bill 14, Nunavut Elections Act. Clause 1.
Mr. Arvaluk (interpretation): I think you remember the question I had.
Chairperson (interpretation): Mr. Orr.
Mr. Orr: The provision that the honourable Member was asking about, is taken from the existing Legislative Assembly and Executive Council Act.
This is an amendment that was made by the Assembly a short while ago.
It is just being moved from that act to this one.
There is no change in the text and there is no problem with it that I am aware of.
Mr. Chairperson, a question on the polling station.
There used to be something in the act that said campaign posters and ads would not be within 450 metres or 400 feet of a polling station.
I was not able to find that in the act.
Is that still constituted in the legislation that we are passing here?
Ms. Kusugak: I actually do not remember, Patrick may, if it was the distance in the old act, but certainly campaign material cannot be in the polling place.
Yes, it is in clause 252 in the offences.
Maybe it is the federal election act then.
I know in the last election there was a concern brought forward to the Chief Electoral Officer that there was campaign material as soon as you go into the polling station, someone had signs or whatever outside of a polling station and that is not permitted.
I am asking you, is it somewhere here within the legislation?
If not, then the next election I can put a sign five feet in front of the door, as long as it is not inside the physical building.
The provision is clause 252 and it states, “Any person who places campaign material on any premises used as a polling station is guilty of an offence.”
So definitely you are not allowed to have it inside the polling station itself.
If the polling station were inside another building I would think you could probably not have it in that building either.
If you had it out on the street, I think it is probably all right.
Mr. Iqaqrialu (interpretation): Just a minute.
Are we at clause 32?
If we are at 32, it says here in Inuktitut, I want to read, if you go about what makes you ineligible to vote.
I think it will have to be clearer in Inuktitut, (a), (b) and (c).
One is, if there are more than 452 voters in English, unless necessary, and taking into account any geographical or other factors that might affect the convenience of voters.
I want that clarified.
Mr. Chairman, the purpose of this section is to establish how big a number of voters should be served by a particular polling station.
There was a recommendation of the standing committee that a polling station serve no more than 450 voters as a maximum, so if the voter population is more than 450 you would need two polling stations and number the polling stations accordingly.
Of course, if you have 500 voters in a particular place, that might be a case where it is necessary to exceed the limit.
Taking into account other geographic factors are perhaps it is useful to have it in one place rather than another.
So a school might be a good place, or perhaps the town hall might be another good place.
This is for the way you create the polling station where the voters come in to vote.
Chairperson (interpretation): Clause 33.
Mr. Chairman, my question was on clause 57 on the changes to the preliminary voters list.
I noticed in the opening comments that they were going to be formulating a permanent voters list.
I know that in the past they had people who went out and did enumerations.
How are they going to be doing the revisions to the voters list under this new process?
Ms. Kusuak.
Ms. Kusugak: Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
Under the new act, this will allow us to do an initial enumeration as you were used to seeing, door to door.
Or it will allow voters to directly register themselves by the means of sending in cards and notifying our office, or it will allow us to register voters before an election by going to some public place and registering voters that way.
Does that help answer your question?
We will be continuing keeping up a permanent register of electors which will help us to create accurate voters list on an ongoing basis if they were needed.
Mr. Chairman, maybe from continually maintaining that electors list, how is that going to be achieved?
That is what I am getting at.
Is there going to be a thing when you fill out your form for your drivers’ license that your name automatically goes on this list, or when you get a health care card for Nunavut that your name will also be forwarded for this list, again, only for the purposes to be used by the Chief Electoral Officer in establishing an electors list.
Ms. Kusugak: Yes.
This allows me to make such agreements with other agencies and that voters, potential voters, when they applied for a Nunavut drivers’ license for instance, or the question could be asked to them, do you allow this information to go to Elections Nunavut for the purpose of being on the voters list?
That is an agreement I would have to make with other agencies.
That gives that potential if the individuals agreed to that.
Mr. Chairman, given that I guess with what Ms. Kusugak is saying, that is probably how they will go about maintaining and updating their list.
I think it is a much more effective way in doing that.  I just want to, for the sake of clarity I guess, for people out there who may be listening and watching, is that any mechanism or agreement that is entered into by your office to obtain this information meets any protection of privacy laws or anything like that that may be out there so that we can assure Nunavummiut that if they say yes to get their name passed to your office for that, that is the only place that that information will ever be used for and you are not allowed to provide that information to anyone else for anything else.
Chairperson (interpretation): Ms. Kusugak.
Ms. Kusugak: Yes, Mr. Chairman, that is definitely part of this legislation that elections lists can be used for no other purposes but for elections.
The information I collect can be used for election purposes only.
Mr. Chairman, this just on again Clause 58; the idea of striking from the list and relating more to the ongoing maintenance of the list; when I was on the committee, I am still on the committee that reviewed and did the tours, one of the concerns that residents had was when a voters list comes out and someone who is deceased is still on the list.
If they have a current list, how will it be maintained to ensure that people who are deceased or moved out of the Territory are no long eligible voters, that they are removed from the list?
Ms. Kusugak: I am very well aware that this is a concern of Nunavut voters.
We will be asking to access that information from Vital Statistics of the people that have died so our lists are current and also of course our returning officers are able to strike off the names of people who are deceased and our returning officers are always long-standing members of their constituencies and their communities.
They will be able to in cases where the constituency is made up of several communities, be able to ascertain that information with hamlets, and use other sources so hopefully we don’t cause anybody that concern.
Clearly, there will probably always be cases between the time the list is printed before an election that somebody dies, but to the best of our ability I think we will be able to take care of it.
Chairperson (interpretation): Clause 62.
Chairperson (interpretation): Clause 63.
Chairperson (interpretation): Clause 64.
Chairperson (interpretation): Clause 65.
Chairperson (interpretation): Clause 66.
Chairperson (interpretation): Clause 67.
Chairperson (interpretation): Clause 68.
Chairperson (interpretation): Clause 69.
Chairperson (interpretation): Clause 70.
Chairperson (interpretation): Clause 71.
Chairperson (interpretation): Clause 72.
Chairperson (interpretation): Clause 73.
Committee Motion 002 – 1(6): Amendment to Clause 73.1 of Bill 14 – Elections Act
I would like to make an addition to section 73 and use section 73.1, I move that the following clause be added to Bill 14:
73.1. If a candidate wishes to assist the voters by having his or he digital photograph displayed in each polling station in the constituency:
(a) the candidate shall, before the close of nominations, provide a digital photograph to the Chief Electoral Officer in accordance with the regulations; and
(b) Despite any public prohibition against the display of any campaign material in a polling station, the Chief Electoral Officer shall ensure that the photograph is displayed in accordance with the regulations.
During elections, some computers and other technology in place, even though there is an addition to the clause here, if something happens during the election, as long as the computers are in working order during bad weather or other factors, I will agree to the motion.
Yes, it is either way.
If a candidate wishes to assist the voters, it is up to the candidate to do so.
Clause 73 as amended.
Chairperson (interpretation): Clause 74.
Chairperson (interpretation): Clause 75.
Chairperson (interpretation): Clause 76.
Chairperson (interpretation): Clause 77.
Chairperson (interpretation): Clause 78.
Chairperson (interpretation): Clause 79.
Chairperson (interpretation): Clause 80.
Chairperson (interpretation): Clause 81.
Chairperson (interpretation): Clause 82.
Chairperson (interpretation): Clause 83.
Chairperson (interpretation): Clause 84.
Chairperson (interpretation): Clause 85.
Chairperson (interpretation): Clause 86.
Mr. Chairman, I just had one question on this.
I am sure that it can be clarified.
On 86(4) on identical names, it says, “Where two or more candidates have the same surname and first name, the Chief Electoral Officer shall their other names to distinguish them.”
What if that is the only name that they have?
You have two people with two identical names running, how do you distinguish them?
Of course the difficulty is how the voter would know that “A” was so and so and “B” was the other person.
This is a case perhaps where having a photograph would be most helpful to voters because “A” would be under one and “B” would be under the other.
Clause 86.
Chairperson (interpretation): Clause 87.
Chairperson (interpretation): Clause 88.
Chairperson (interpretation): Clause 89.
Chairperson (interpretation): Clause 90.
Chairperson (interpretation): Clause 91.
Chairperson (interpretation): Clause 92.
Chairperson (interpretation): Clause 93.
Chairperson (interpretation): Clause 94.
Chairperson (interpretation): Clause 95.
Chairperson (interpretation): Clause 96.
Chairperson (interpretation): Clause 97.
Chairperson (interpretation): Clause 98.
Chairperson (interpretation): Clause 99.
Chairperson (interpretation): Clause 100.
Chairperson (interpretation): Clause 101.
Chairperson (interpretation): Clause 102.
Chairperson (interpretation): Clause 103.
Chairperson (interpretation): Clause 104.
Chairperson (interpretation): Clause 105.
Chairperson (interpretation): Clause 106.
Chairperson (interpretation): Clause 107.
Chairperson (interpretation): Clause 108.
Chairperson (interpretation): Clause 109.
Chairperson (interpretation): Clause 110.
Chairperson (interpretation): Clause 111.
Chairperson (interpretation): Clause 112.
Chairperson (interpretation): Clause 113.
Chairperson (interpretation): Clause 114.
Chairperson (interpretation): Clause 115.
Chairperson (interpretation): Clause 116.
Chairperson (interpretation): Clause 117.
Chairperson (interpretation): Clause 118.
Chairperson (interpretation): Clause 119.
Hon Peter. Kilabuk (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
I had a little bit of a problem yesterday.
Can we get back to the discussion we had yesterday which was an amendment?
We just agreed to an amendment.
One that if it is marked, it will not be used even if it is marked by the face in there, would it be allowed or not allowed?
Ms. Kusugak: I am afraid I am not too sure what we are talking about.
Chairperson (interpretation): Mr. Kilabuk, can you please rephrase your question or clarify your question.
Hon. Peter Kilabuk: To try and clarify my question I am referring to section 113, spoiled ballots.
A voter with a secret ballot inadvertently marks or damages it.
We also heard from a Member yesterday where photos, may have been marked in the past So if there is a mark on the faces, regardless of the “X” mark, is that considered a spoiled ballot?
In actual fact, there are two things.
There is a spoiled ballot and a rejected ballot.
A spoiled ballot is one that is either misprinted or if an elector is voting and they say, “oh no, I did something by mistake.”
They can take it back to the election official and get a new one.
Now, a rejected ballot is another thing.
That is when you go to count the votes, the elections officials are counting them and people have made marks or not voted for anybody.
If they have made marks that will identify them as a voter or are confusing or are outside of the place where the normal mark is made, the circle, then those ballots are rejected.
Normally speaking, you accept any kind of a standard mark, like an “X” or a check mark.
But if somebody writes something on the ballot that is considered a rejected ballot, or if they don’t write anything at all, or if they make marks that are not in the circle that is there for that purpose, partly because it must be clear to the election official exactly who is being voted for and then it can’t ever give away the identity of the voter himself or give a clue even as to that.
So that is why, if ballots have funny faces on them they are rejected.
Just recognizing the clock I would like to move that we report progress and continue on with this, since we have finished that section there, continue on with it tomorrow in committee of the whole.
The motion is not debateable.
All in favour of the motion to report progress?
Thank you to the witnesses for being able to attend; Mr. Speaker, Ms. Kusugak and Mr. Orr.
The Speaker can take the chair.
Your committee has been considering Bill 14 and I would like to report progress.
. The motion is carried.
A meeting of the Standing Committee on Health and Education at 7:00 tonight in the Chambers.
Orders of the Day for Thursday, October 31st:
Motion 009-1(6)  First Reading of Bills
This House stands adjourned until Thursday, October 31st, 2002 at 1:30 p.m.
>>House adjourned at 6.07 p.m.  Nunavut Canada
Thursday October 31, 2002
Pages 1393 - 1499
Jaco Ishulutaq
Opening Prayer 1393
Minister’s Statements 1393
Members’ Statements 1399
Returns to Oral Questions 1408
Recognition of Visitors in the Gallery 1409
Oral Questions 1410
Notices of Motion 1427
Motions 1427
Second Reading of Bills 1428
Consideration of Committee of the Whole and Bills and other Matters 1429
Point of Order 1441
Report of Committee of the Whole 1497
Third Reading of Bills 1498
Orders of the Day 1498
Thursday October 31, 2002 1393
063 – 1(6): Minister of Energy (Okalik) 1393
064 – 1(6): Energy Mandate (Picco) 1394
065 – 1(6): 2001-2002 High School Graduation Statistics (Kilabuk) 1395
066 – 1(6): New Fuel Contracts (Kattuk) 1396
067 – 1(6): Expansion of The Turbot Fishery and Baffin Fisheries Coalition (Akesuk) 1396
068 – 1(6): Flash Cards (Anawak) 1397
069 – 1(6): Rankin Inlet Birthing Centre Expansion (Picco) 1398
204 – 1(6): Required Boating Safety Regulations (Puqiqnak) 1399
205 – 1(6): Mining and Inuit Employment Training Initiatives (Havioyak) 1400
206 – 1(6): Financial Support for Youth Counselling (Alakannuark) 1401
207 – 1(6): Human Rights In The Health Department (Nutarak) 1402
208 – 1(6): Fuel in Nunavut (Iqaqrialu) 1403
209 – 1(6): Compactor in the City of Iqaluit (Picco) 1403
210 – 1(6): Future Meetings in Sanikiluaq (Kattuk) 1404
211 – 1(6): Fish Plant in Pangnirtung (Kilabuk) 1404
212 – 1(6): Support for Inuit Midwifery (Anawak) 1405
213 – 1(6): Increase Minimum Wage in Nunavut (McLean) 1406
214 – 1(6): Nunavut Employees’ Union (Tootoo) 1407
215 – 1(6): Breakwater Needed in Hall Beach (Irqittuq) 1407
216 – 1(6): New Baby Daughter (Akesuk) 1408
021 – 1(6): Gasoline for Kugaaruk (Kattuk) 1408  090 – 1(6): Communities Effected by Bad Gasoline (Kattuk) 1409
220 – 1(6): Amount of Fuel Delivered to Clyde River (Iqaqrialu) 1410  221 – 1(6): Feasibility Studies on Docks (Irqittuq) 1413
222 – 1(6): Boating Safety Awareness in Nunavut (Puqiqnak) 1414
223 – 1(6): Support for Mining Strategy (Havioyak) 1416
224 – 1(6): Homecare for the Mentally Handicapped (Nutarak) 1417
225 – 1(6): Negotiation Process for Collective Agreement (Tootoo) 1418
226 – 1(6): Minimum Wage Increase (McLean) 1421
227 – 1(6): Flash Cards in Inuinnaqtun (Havioyak) 1421
228 – 1(6): Correctional Facility in a Non-Decentralized Community (Irqittuq) 1422
229 – 1(6): Fire Arms Licensing Registration (Nutarak) 1424
230 – 1(6): Fuel Contracts (McLean) 1426
010 – 1(6): Call for Federal Investment in Nunavut Infrastructure (Tootoo) 1427
009 – 1(6): Extended Adjournment (Tootoo) 1427
Committee Motion 003 – 1(6): Amendment to Clause 168(1)(b)English Version of Bill 14 (McLean) 1447
Committee Motion 004 – 1(6): Amend Clause 4(10) of Bill 14 (Okalik) 1470
Committee Motion 005 – 1(6): Amend Clause 7(2) of Bill 14 (Okalik) 1470
Committee Motion 006 – 1(6): Delete $2,270,000.00 from Supplementary Appropriation # 5, 2001-2002, O & M from Legislative Assembly (Tootoo) 1477
Bill 13 – An Act to Amend the Workers’ Compensation Act – Second Reading 1428
Bill 12 – The Human Rights Act – Second Reading 1428
Bill 14 – Nunavut Elections Act – Third Reading 1498
Bill 15 – Supplementary Appropriation Act # 5, 2001-2002 – Third Reading 1498
Bill 16 – Supplementary Appropriation Capital Act # 2 – 2001-2002 – Third Reading 1498
Hon. Olayuk Akesuk, Mr. Ovide Alakannuark, Hon. Jack Anawak, Mr. James Arvaluk, Mr. Donald Havioyak, Mr. David Iqaqrialu, Mr. Enoki Irqittuq, Honourable Peter Kattuk, Honourable Peter Kilabuk, Mr. Glenn McLean, Mr. Jobie Nutarak, Honourable Kelvin Ng, Honourable Kevin O’Brien, Honourable Paul Okalik, Honourable Ed Picco, Mr. Uriash Puqiqnak, Hon. Manitok Thompson, Mr. Hunter Tootoo.
Speaker: I would like to call on Mr. Havioyak to say the opening prayer.
Speaker: Welcome members.
Before we go onto Item 2, I just want to acknowledge the ladies at the Qilla Sewing factory in Arviat for making my new seal skin white tabs.
Thank you, ladies.
Item 2: Minister’s Statements
Minister’s Statement 063 – 1(6): Minister of Energy
Mr. Speaker, in our time as members of this assembly we have often discussed issues related to fuel, petroleum products and energy.
Nunavut has participated in the national dialogue on the Kyoto Accord.
We know the impacts of global warming on our own communities.
We have had discussion on pricing and fuel quality, and we have passed legislation bringing home to Nunavut the jobs and economic interest related to electricity generation and the Nunavut Power Corporation.
Both the Ikuma I and II reports have been tabled in this House, looking at the future of energy use and development in Nunavut.
(interpretation ends) From the budgets brought forward in this House we can see that almost 20% of the money GN spends each year is spent on fuel.
We heat houses and schools, we fly on aircraft that use aviation gas and we burn diesel to run our power plants.
We provide subsidies for electrical use and we support the delivery and distribution of fuel in Nunavut communities.
Some day Nunavut may be a producer of energy, because there are significant proven reserves of natural gas in Nunavut, but at the moment we import all of our fuel and we are dependent on the international markets as prices rise and fall.
Despite the many impacts of energy on Nunavut, to date we do not have any single location within the GN that is responsible for Energy and for developing the broader policies around energy use and future energy self reliance in Nunavut.
We can see that this sector is important to the future of Nunavut and a significant aspect of the national dialogue in Canada.
(interpretation) As a result I have asked the current Minister responsible for the Nunavut Power Corporation, the Honourable Ed. Picco, to expand on the mandate he currently has, and to serve this government as Minister of Energy, effective November 1, 2002.
(interpretation ends) Over the next weeks I know that Minister Picco will be bringing forward a number of initiatives, in business plans, budgets and legislation that will give you a clear picture of the vision, mandate and responsibilities of this new portfolio.
I know that members look forward to hearing from him on these topics, because Minister Picco is always so brief and to the point.
(interpretation) Thank you.
I also know he will seek your input and can expect your support in the work ahead.
Minister’s Statement 064 – 1(6): Energy Mandate
Mr. Speaker, I’ll be brief and to the point.
Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to be making this statement as the first Minister for Energy for our Government in Nunavut.
Mr. Speaker, I am also please to announce that as my first task in this portfolio I have been asked to implement the recommendations of the Ikuma II report: Meeting Nunavut’s Energy Needs/Structures and Strategies for Energy Self Reliance here in Nunavut.
This report was tabled in the assembly this past spring and has been distributed widely in Nunavut.
Mr. Speaker, The report makes recommendation for the immediate future of energy consumption and distribution in Nunavut.