EdinburghNLP/nunavut-hansard-plusplus huggingface dataset:
Requests to correct personal information
Requests to lay a charge
7**
“Other” Requests
Total requests
* 9 of which dealt with issues of time extensions and deadlines
** All from the same applicant.
The Information and Privacy Commissioner stated in her 2007-2008 Annual Report that she “declined to lay any charges or to consider any further such requests from the Applicant”.
*** The 2008-2009 GN Annual Report on the Administration of the ATIPP Act states that in 2007-2008, a single requester made 22 requests to the Commissioner for review.
**** During her appearance before the Standing Committee on October 1, 2009, the Information and Privacy Commissioner corrected this figure to include a fifth recommendation.
She stated that a synopsis of this recommendation will be included in the next annual report.
Statistics reported by the Government of Nunavut’s Annual Reports on the Administration of the ATIPP Act
Access requests
(requests where the applicant is looking for information)
Personal requests
(such as requests for personal information)
62*
37*
(incl. 3 corrections and 5 privacy breach requests)
(incl. 1privacy breach request)
Total of access and personal requests***
(generated by  45 applicants)
(generated by  37 applicants)
(generated by  44 applicants)
(generated by  46 applicants)
Request for release from other government (Requests from other governments refer to ‘3rd party reviews’.
When a government gets a request pertaining to intergovernmental relations with the GN, they first check with the GN department(s) in question to ensure that are no objections to releasing the information in question.)
Total of all formal requests
(generated by 56 applicants)
* The 2004-2005, 2005-2006 and 2007-2008 reports do not provide statistics on privacy breaches.
** Starting in the 2008-2009 report, statistics on the number of applicants generating requests were reported differently.
Information and Privacy Commissioner’s Recommendations
Information and Privacy Commissioner’s Annual Report
Most recent GN Response to the Information and Privacy Commissioner’s Recommendation
Contracting out of information management
The GN should take a look at its contractual relationships with outside service providers, particularly in those areas which include the use of financial or medical information of individual residents of Nunavut.
Contractors should be subject to access requests and responsible for the privacy of individuals whose personal information they acquire.
There is a growing awareness of the need for privacy and access considerations to be built into contracts entered into by all departments and public bodies. (2005-2006 GN response)
Review of Privacy Commissioner’s Compensation
The hourly rate has not changed since the IPC first undertook the position 7 years ago.
The IPC requests that the hourly rate be reviewed with a view to implementing a reasonable increase.
No response in the “GN’s Response to the 2005-2006 Annual Report of the Information and Privacy Commissioner”. (2005-2006 GN response)
Educating Boards and Tribunals
The leadership of all boards, tribunals and agencies should be required to receive basic training in the principles of access and privacy issues and be required to update that training periodically.
GN agrees.
However, many of the boards in Nunavut are federal and subject to federal Access to Information legislation. (2005-2006 GN response)
Boards and Tribunals
Boards and tribunals are subject to the Act, but because the members of these organizations are not government employees, there is some concern.
The Act should be amended to clarify that individuals appointed to public bodies are subject to the Act by virtue of their appointment by a government agent.
Policies should be created for all boards and agencies to establish the necessary protocols for handling records.
Letters have been sent to all 35 boards, agencies and tribunals…the response has been positive and training sessions have begun with more training to be held in the new fiscal year. (2006-2007 GN response)
Private Sector Privacy Legislation
PIPEDA (Personal Information Protection and Electronic Documents Act) is of limited practical effectiveness to deal with smaller, localized issues.
PIPEDA does not protect privacy of employees unless the employee is working in a federally regulated business.
“Made in the north” legislation should be created to deal with the protection of personal information in the private sector.
The GN is reviewing whether to develop legislation similar to the federal legislation.
In the absence of territorial legislation, PIPEDA applies to the private sector in Nunavut. (2006-2007 GN response)
Openness of Contract Details
It should be made clear that private companies contracting with the government should do so knowing that the accountability of government may require that details of the contract will be shared with the public.
The GN is in the process of implementing clauses in all contracts stating the obligations of the contractor to comply with the Act.
This will be monitored on an ongoing basis. (2006-2007 GN response)
Either amend the Act to include municipalities as “public bodies” or create legislation which deals with access and privacy matters at the municipal level.
PIPEDA addresses only privacy issues.
It does not address the right of citizens to have access to public records of municipalities.
The GN agrees that privacy and access legislation is needed for municipalities but is reluctant when municipalities have neither the financial resources nor the staff capacity.
The Federal Commissioner will accept privacy complaints regarding municipalities. (2007-2008 GN response)
The Role of the Information and Privacy Commissioner
It is difficult to maintain an appropriate level of expertise on some issues.
It may be time to consider a different approach to the office, perhaps by making it a half-time or a full-time position.
Alternatively, it may be that the IPC needs to be given a budget to allow her to hire contract staff to carry out some of the functions of the office, to assist in investigations or with technical issues or with a public education campaign.
The IPC is an independent oversight body reporting to the Legislative Assembly.
Therefore the GN is unable to respond. (2007-2008 GN response)
Privacy investigations
The IPC has conducted reviews and recommendations on privacy complaints.
There is, however, no obligation imposed on public bodies to co-operate with those investigations or to take any steps to address recommendations.
The Act should be amended to allow for a review process where there is a concern that someone’s personal information has been improperly collected or disclosed.
The GN will consider this recommendation. (2007-2008 GN response)
(This recommendation was in the 1999 annual report and has been in every annual report except for the 2004-2005 report.
The GN response has been the same since 1999.)
Electronic Records (mobile devices)
In the email and internet usage policy, there is nothing on the use of other electronic media.
It’s important that written government policies regarding electronic medium keep up with changing technologies to ensure that government records are accessible when requested and to ensure that there are no inadvertent or accidental disclosures of personal information.
To the extent that these policies already exist, they should be reviewed annually.
The GN has recently developed a policy with respect to records produced and stored on personal computers and other personal or GN issued devices not always connected to the main network such as cell phones, laptops, PDAs, and other hybrid devices such as Blackberry. (2007-2008 GN response) (see attached policy on handheld devices)
Electronic Records Management
It is vital that all government employees working with electronic medium and using the internet to communicate and exchange information understand the appropriate rules for storing and recording such transactions and that the records management system that relates to electronic records are strictly enforced.
There seems to be no real government wide system for filing and storing e-mail communications. . … There needs to be an effort to devise a system which is to be used by all government employees with consequences for improper storage.
The GN has a policy regarding emails and the use and retention of emails.
This policy prohibits anyone from deleting or otherwise denying access to Government records including email messages and requires all employees to apply to electronic records the same Records Management Policies that apply to all GN Records.
The GN recognizes that there is still more training needed and strives to improve on an ongoing basis. (2007-2008 GN response) (see attached policy on email and internet use) (see also other attached GN policies and procedures on records management)
Limitation Period for Requesting Reviews
In a number of cases, in which the request for review has been received in the IPC office a day or two after the 30-day deadline, the IPC has asked the public body to agree to allow the review to proceed in any event and the public bodies have complied.
The IPC should be given discretion to extend the time for requesting a review in appropriate circumstances, except in the case where the issue is a third party objection to the disclosure of information.
The GN will consider changes to the discretionary powers of the Commissioner in regards to this situation in any future amendments to the Act. (2007-2008 GN response)
Health Specific Privacy Legislation
If Nunavut does not begin to consider the health privacy issues…it will find itself with few choices and the solutions already dictated by those jurisdictions which have led the charge, with little consideration for the unique needs and realities of health care in the north.
The GN should begin the process of developing health sector privacy legislation as soon as possible.
The GN is not in a position to develop new privacy legislation.
The GN is currently developing its Electronic Health Record (EHR) system.
A privacy work plan is currently being finalized to ensure that the EHR system is compliant with legislative requirements.
The GN is actively participating in the Pan-Canadian Privacy Forum on “EHR Information Governance” and gaining significant insight and information on legislative requirements. (2007-2008 GN response) (see attached GN news releases dated September 10, 2008)
Educating/Protecting our Children
School curriculums should include specific information about electronic medium and strategies for protecting children from on-line risks, beginning at the elementary level.
The current junior high school curriculum includes risk factors of media communications.
Students are required to sign an agreement that they will only use the internet for learning purposes.
As the Department of Education develops a new curriculum, this topic will be included at all grade levels. (2007-2008 GN response)
Personal Email
Employees should be reminded on an ongoing basis that personal emails are subject to the ATIPP Act and may be the subject of an access request.
(The 2008-2009 GN response has not yet been tabled)
The ATIPP Act is 10 years old, with no substantive changes and no real review of the legislation or its effectiveness.
The world has changed in 10 years, particularly in its capacity to move and exchange information.
If legislation is to continue to be effective, it must change. (see attached news item dated July 16, 2009)
Thursday, December 3, 2009
Pages 875 – 935
Opening Prayer 875
Ministers’ Statements 875
Members’ Statements 880
Returns to Oral Questions 884
Recognition of Visitors in the Gallery 885
Oral Questions 885
Reports of Committees on the Review of Bills 900
Tabling of Documents 900
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters 903
Report of the Committee of the Whole 934
Orders of the Day 934
Thursday, December 3, 2009 875
073 – 3(2): Together at a Distance (Tapardjuk) 875
074 – 3(2): Climate Registry (Kusugak) 876
075 – 3(2): Continuing Care Centres in Nunavut (Curley) 876
076 – 3(2): Language Statutes Implementation (Tapardjuk) 877
077 – 3(2): GN Response to the Food Mail Review (Aariak) 878
106 – 3(2): Condolences on the Passing of Ashevak Ezekiel (Schell) 880
107 – 3(2): Pangnirtung Students to Participate in United Nations Climate Change Conference (Komoartok) 880
108 – 3(2): Junior Canadian Rangers in the House (Elliott) 881
109 – 3(2): Ikajurasuaqtiit Recognizes Elise Qulaut (Tapardjuk) 882
110 – 3(2): Inadequate Space for Hamlet Staff in Kugaaruk (Ningark) 883
111 – 3(2): Amarok HTO Letter to Department of Environment on Proposed Bridge (Okalik) 884
Return to Oral Question 153 – 3(2): Funding for Travel to Dubai and Support to the Kinngait Studio (Tapardjuk) 884
158 – 3(2): Energy Efficient Homes (Okalik) 885
159 – 3(2): Status of the Nuiyak School Floor Replacement (Rumbolt) 886
160 – 3(2): Funding for Inuit Broadcasting Corporation and Support for the Kinngait Studio (Schell) 887
161 – 3(2): Update on the Nanisivik Naval Facility (Elliott) 889
162 – 3(2): Nomination of the Back River as a Canadian Heritage River (Aupaluktuq) 891
163 – 3(2): Taloyoak Hamlet Office (Pauloosie) 892
164 – 3(2): Future of Repulse Bay Runway (Ningark) 892
165 – 3(2): Funding Criteria for Renovations to Recreational Facilities under CLEY (Ningeongan) 893
166 – 3(2): Energy Efficient Homes (Okalik) 895
167 – 3(2): Snow Fences for Repulse Bay (Ningark) 896
168 – 3(2): Effects of Bill C-25 on Nunavut (Elliott) 897
169 – 3(2): Midwives in Nunavut (Elliott) 897
Committee Report on Bills 002 – 3(2): Bill 3, Western Canada Lottery Act (Okalik) 900
Committee Report on Bills 003 – 3(2): Bill 18, Language Statutes Amendment Act (Okalik) 900
077 – 3(2): Correspondence with Minister of DIAND on Food Mail Program (Rumbolt) 900
078 – 3(2): Amarok HTO Letter to Minister Shewchuk (Okalik) 900
079 – 3(2): Correspondence Relating to the Federal Food Mail Program (Elliott) 900
080 – 3(2): Portraits of Resilience: A Photo Project of Many Strong Voices (Komoartok) 901
081 – 3(2): Attachments to Standing Committee Reports (Arvaluk) 901
082 – 3(2): Summary of Regional Round Tables (Tapardjuk) 901
083 – 3(2): FPT Ministerial Report for the Council of Ministers; Canada Meeting and Summit on Aboriginal Education (Tapardjuk) 901
084 – 3(2): 2008-2009 Annual Report for the Nunavut Development Corporation (Taptuna) 902
085 – 3(2): Towards a Representative Public Service Statistics as of September 30, 2009 (Shewchuk) 902
086 – 3(2): Towards a Representative Public Service Statistics as of June 30, 2009 (Shewchuk) 902
087 – 3(2): GN’s Response to the Department of Indian and Northern Affairs’ Food Mail Review (Aariak) 902
088 – 3(2): 2008 Annual Report for the Workers’ Safety and Compensation Commission (Curley) 902
089 – 3(2): 2008-2009 Annual Report on the Payment of Indemnities, Allowances and Expenses to Members of the Second Legislative Assembly of Nunavut (Speaker) 902
090 – 3(2): 2008-2009 Annual Report on the Payment of Indemnities, Allowances and Expenses to Members of the Third Legislative Assembly of Nunavut (Speaker) 902
Committee Motion 002 – 3(2): Deletion of $200,000 from the 2010-2011 Capital Estimates of the Department of Environment (Okalik) 923
Bill 08 – Appropriation (Capital) Act, 2010-2011 – Economic Development and Transportation – Consideration in Committee 903
Bill 08 – Appropriation (Capital) Act, 2010-2011 – Environment – Consideration in Committee 917
Honourable Eva Aariak, Honourable James Arreak, Honourable Tagak Curley, Mr. Ron Elliott, Mr. Adamee Komoartok, Honourable Lorne Kusugak, Mr. John Ningark, Mr. Johnny Ningeongan, Mr. Paul Okalik, Mr. Enuk Pauloosie, Honourable Keith Peterson, Mr. Allan Rumbolt, Mr. Fred Schell, Honourable Daniel Shewchuk, Honourable Louis Tapardjuk, Honourable Peter Taptuna.
Speaker (Hon. James Arreak) (interpretation): Thank you. Before we proceed with the orders of the day, I would like to ask Mr. Ningeongan to say the opening prayer.
A very good afternoon, Premier, Ministers, Members of the Legislative Assembly, as well as Nunavummiut.
At this time, I would like my colleagues to know that we will allow the cameramen in the Chambers at this time for a short period while the Rangers are in the House.
We will allow cameras in the Chambers for a bit because we are so proud of them.
Minister’s Statement 073 – 3(2): Together at a Distance (Tapardjuk)
I rise today to announce a three-year adult literacy online distance learning project titled “Together at a Distance.”
This pan-arctic, Internet-based e-learning project is led by the Department of Education, with associates in the Northwest Territories, Nunavik, and Nunatsiavut, and is supported by the federal government’s Office of Literacy and Essential Skills of Human Resources and Skills Development Canada (HRSDC).
Mr. Speaker, I believe online learning will help us develop and make new courses and learning resources available to adult learners across northern Canada.
Online or as it is better known, e-learning, will help us share our culture, maintain our language, and increase our ability to participate in the world economy by helping to improve literacy levels and teaching essential skills to adult learners.
The first two workshops will provide information to adults who want to know what e-learning involves and what types of skills they need in order to take an e-course.
The remaining four workshops target educators in a variety of roles, including teaching participants how to create e-learning resources for northern adult learners.
Inuit elders and northern educators worked in close collaboration to ensure Inuit Qaujimajatuqangit principles formed the framework for this groundbreaking project.
Workshops have been piloted in Taloyoak and Arctic Bay.
The six free online e-learning workshops, related learning materials, and published project research will be available from www.togetheratadistance.com upon completion of the project in July 2010.
Mr. Speaker, I would like to thank Ron Elliott, MLA for Quttiktuq.
His participation, support, and dedication to this project and his continued support while promoting the importance of education in Nunavut have been invaluable.
Minister’s Statement 074 – 3(2): Climate Registry (Kusugak)
Hon. Lorne Kusugak (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Speaker. (interpretation ends) I rise today to inform members about an important step that Nunavut has recently taken in the global effort to fight the effects of climate change.
In 2007, Premiers across the country agreed to support the development of consistent and verifiable measurement of greenhouse gas emissions by joining the Climate Registry.
The registry is a non-profit organization that sets standards for calculating, verifying, and publicly reporting greenhouse gas emissions.
Mr. Speaker, as of September, Nunavut has joined the other Canadian provinces and territories as a member of the Climate Registry Board of Directors.
This is an important step as every Canadian province and territory is now a member of the registry.
The Climate Registry Board also includes hundreds of members from throughout North America, including 41 US states, the District of Columbia, six Mexican states, and four native sovereign nations.
Members of the registry represent 85 percent of the North American population.
Mr. Speaker, joining the registry is an important first step for Nunavut as we continue to move forward with climate change mitigation policies and initiatives.
By joining the registry, Nunavut is demonstrating that we recognize the importance of a clear and consistent reporting mechanism as well as our own role in addressing greenhouse gas emissions.
Minister’s Statement 075 – 3(2): Continuing Care Centres in Nunavut (Curley)
I am pleased to announce that on November 4, 2009, I officially opened the continuing care centre in Gjoa Haven. Early in the New Year, I will be opening another new continuing care centre in Igloolik.
Bringing care closer to home is a commitment that my department has made and these continuing care centres are a step towards that goal.
It is our plan that by March 2010, several Nunavutmiut currently living in the south will have returned to our territory and be living in the new centre in Gjoa Haven.
Not long after that, other Nunavutmiut will be able to return to Nunavut to call the new centre in Igloolik home.
We have seen the facility in Gjoa Haven and it is spacious, with room for nine beds, although there is only one bed for palliative care residents.
Currently, these residents have to be placed outside of Nunavut away from their families.
Health and Social Services is committed to ensuring that all Nunavutmiut receive the best possible care as close to home as possible.
These new facilities in Gjoa Haven and Igloolik will not only provide better care for Nunavutmiut but will provide much needed employment opportunities as well.
Nunavut Arctic College, in partnership with the department, offered the Home and Continuing Care Program in Gjoa Haven last February.
Thirteen students graduated in August and these students will all be hired for this new facility. The same program ran in Igloolik and the 11 graduates will also be offered full-time employment at the centre in their home community.
The Department of Health and Social Services and our partners have worked hard to provide these new continuing care centres in our ongoing effort to provide high quality and consistent care for our continuing care patients within Nunavut.
Minister’s Statement 076 – 3(2): Language Statutes Implementation (Tapardjuk)
I would like to take this opportunity to inform my colleagues and our constituents about the ongoing implementation of the Inuit Language Protection Act and the Official Languages Act.
I would like to begin, Mr. Speaker, by highlighting activities related to the implementation of the Inuit Language Protection Act.
The provisions for education in the Inuit language came into force on July 1, 2009 for kindergarten to grade 3, and we are on schedule with our implementation activities.
As well, I am pleased to report that the Nunavut Teacher Education Program has been expanded from five to ten communities in the past two years with programs being offered in Iqaluit, Rankin Inlet, Cambridge Bay, Cape Dorset, Pangnirtung, Pond Inlet, Baker Lake, Kugaaruk, and Kugluktuk.
Other implementation activities include the appointment of the Inuit Uqausinginnik Taiguusiliuqtiit, or the Inuit Language Authority, and the recruitment of its staff.
The work of Taiguusiliuqtiit will be crucial to the success of our new language legislation.
Mr. Speaker, I would like to congratulate the Department of Health and Social Services for its H1N1 information and vaccination campaign.
Not only is its most current information available in Nunavut’s official languages on the newly created H1N1 website at www.flunu.ca, but Nunavutmiut were welcomed and served in their language of choice at the various vaccination clinics held in Nunavut communities.
As the Minister of Languages, I am preparing a comprehensive implementation plan that will identify, in consultation with territorial institutions and municipalities, all of the activities, human and financial resources needed to effectively implement and administer both the Official Languages Act and the Inuit Language Protection Act.
I will be presenting the plan to the Legislative Assembly in 2010.
Mr. Speaker, public dialogue, participation, and consensus building have served as the foundation for our work to date. Our consultation activities so far have included:
March 2009, meeting with members of the francophone community;
April 2009, Inuit Language Leadership Retreat in Arctic Bay;
Fall 2009, Minister of Languages held four regional round tables in collaboration with regional Inuit associations, Nunavut Tunngavik Incorporated, and Nunavut’s Languages Commissioner
The views and input received through these consultations and others in early 2010 will help ensure that the comprehensive implementation plan reflects the needs of Nunavummiut.
A language legislation as far reaching and complex as ours must, however, be implemented carefully.