This is page numbers 211 - 238 of the Hansard for the 12th Assembly, 6th Session. The original version can be accessed on the Legislative Assembly's website or by contacting the Legislative Assembly Library. The word of the day was information.

Further Return To Question 113-12(6): Notification Of Changes To Power Subsidy Program
Question 113-12(6): Notification Of Changes To Power Subsidy Program
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 224

Nellie Cournoyea Nunakput

Madam Speaker, the subsidy is provided taking into consideration the Yellowknife base rate. That is how the subsidy is determined, so those calculations are made on the basis of what Yellowknife pays. Thank you, Madam Speaker.

Further Return To Question 113-12(6): Notification Of Changes To Power Subsidy Program
Question 113-12(6): Notification Of Changes To Power Subsidy Program
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 224

The Speaker Jeannie Marie-Jewell

Thank you. Supplementary, Mr. Patterson.

Supplementary To Question 113-12(6): Notification Of Changes To Power Subsidy Program
Question 113-12(6): Notification Of Changes To Power Subsidy Program
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 224

Dennis Patterson Iqaluit

I understand how the rates are calculated, Madam Speaker. My question was, is that process governed by policy or by legislation? Thank you.

Supplementary To Question 113-12(6): Notification Of Changes To Power Subsidy Program
Question 113-12(6): Notification Of Changes To Power Subsidy Program
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 224

The Speaker Jeannie Marie-Jewell

Thank you. Madam Premier.

Further Return To Question 113-12(6): Notification Of Changes To Power Subsidy Program
Question 113-12(6): Notification Of Changes To Power Subsidy Program
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 224

Nellie Cournoyea Nunakput

Madam Speaker, I believe it is by policy.

Further Return To Question 113-12(6): Notification Of Changes To Power Subsidy Program
Question 113-12(6): Notification Of Changes To Power Subsidy Program
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 224

The Speaker Jeannie Marie-Jewell

The time frame for oral questions has lapsed. Item 7, written questions. The honourable Member for Iqaluit, Mr. Patterson.

Further Return To Question 113-12(6): Notification Of Changes To Power Subsidy Program
Question 113-12(6): Notification Of Changes To Power Subsidy Program
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 224

Dennis Patterson Iqaluit

Thank you, Madam Speaker. My written question is lost on my desk. I'll wait until tomorrow. Thank you.

Further Return To Question 113-12(6): Notification Of Changes To Power Subsidy Program
Question 113-12(6): Notification Of Changes To Power Subsidy Program
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 224

The Speaker Jeannie Marie-Jewell

Item 8, returns to written questions. Item 9, replies to opening address. Item 10, replies to budget address. Item 11, petitions. Item 12, reports of standing and special committees. Item 13, reports of committees on the review of bills. Item 14, tabling of documents. The honourable Member for Iqaluit, Mr. Patterson.

Item 14: Tabling Of Documents
Item 14: Tabling Of Documents

Page 224

Dennis Patterson Iqaluit

Thank you, Madam Speaker. I would like to table, Tabled Document 29-12(6), a letter to Premier Nellie Cournoyea from myself, dated June 7, 1993, entitled, "Paid Propaganda, Above and Beyond, Spring of 1993." Thank you.

Item 14: Tabling Of Documents
Item 14: Tabling Of Documents

Page 224

The Speaker Jeannie Marie-Jewell

Thank you. Item 14, tabling of documents. Item 15, notices of motion. Item 16, notices of motions for first reading of bills. Item 17, motions. Item 18, first reading of bills. Item 19, second reading of bills. Item 20, consideration in committee of the whole of bills and other matters: Tabled Document 14-12(6), "Open for Business" - Privatizing the Northwest Territories Power Corporation; Tabled Document 23-12(6), Report of the 1993-94 Electoral District Boundaries Commission, Northwest Territories; Minister's Statement 11-12(6), Return to Session; Committee Report 4-12(6), Report on the Review of Bill 6 - Access to Information and Protection of Privacy Act; Committee Report 6-12(6), Report on the Review of Bill 3 - Guardianship and Trusteeship Act; Committee Report 7-12(6), Report on the Review of Bill 7 -An Act to Amend the Arctic College Act; Bill 1, Appropriation Act, No. 1, 1995-96; Bill 2, Aboriginal Custom Adoption Recognition Act; Bill 3, Guardianship and Trusteeship Act; Bill 6, Access to Information and Protection of Privacy Act; Bill 7, An Act to Amend the Arctic College Act; Bill 8, An Act to Amend the Public Utilities Act, with Mr. Ningark in the chair.

Item 20: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Item 20: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

October 11th, 1994

Page 224

The Chair John Ningark

I would like to call the committee to order. What is the wish of the committee? Mr. Gargan.

Item 20: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Item 20: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

Page 225

Samuel Gargan Deh Cho

Mr. Chairman, can we deal with Committee Report 4-12(6) on Bill 6?

Item 20: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Item 20: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

Page 225

The Chair John Ningark

Thank you, Mr. Gargan. Do we agree then that we will deal with Committee Report 4-12(6) on Bill 6, Access to Information and Protection of Privacy Act, after a break?

Item 20: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Item 20: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

Page 225

Some Hon. Members

Agreed.

---Agreed

Item 20: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Item 20: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

Page 225

The Chair John Ningark

We'll take a 15-minute break, okay? Thank you.

---SHORT RECESS

Item 20: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Item 20: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

Page 225

The Chair John Ningark

I would like to call the committee to order. We are in the process of dealing with Committee Report 4-12(6), Report on the Review of Bill 6 - Access to Information and Protection of Privacy Act. Mr. Gargan.

Item 20: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Item 20: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

Page 225

Samuel Gargan Deh Cho

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I would like to express my appreciation to the Members present in this House for dealing with this bill. This bill is important and I think we have gone a long way to having it implemented in this House. It bothers me that we don't have enough Members to deal with it right now. I would like to ask you, Mr. Chairman, if we could get more Members before we can start on this.

Item 20: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Item 20: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

Page 225

The Chair John Ningark

Thank you, Mr. Gargan. Mr. Gargan asked me to note that there isn't a quorum. I will ring the bells.

Thank you. I would like to call the committee back to order, please. We are dealing with Committee Report 4-12(6). Mr. Gargan.

Committee Report 4-12(6): Report On The Review Of Bill 6 - Access To Information And Protection Of Privacy Act
Item 20: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

Page 225

Samuel Gargan Deh Cho

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Mr. Chairman, the Standing Committee on Legislation has completed Bill 6, Access to Information and Protection of Privacy Act. The committee heard the concerns of various stakeholders, including the Languages Commissioner, representatives of the various unions, the Yellowknife Chamber of Commerce, the city of Yellowknife, Dene Nation President Bill Erasmus and the Western Arctic New Democratic Party.

The committee has carefully considered the comments made by each presenter and made several recommendations to Bill 6, based on the comments received. In its report, the committee highlighted several issues which were expressed during its review. These concerns included: the exclusion of the office of the Legislative Assembly from the definition of public body; the application of the act to municipal governments; the override of exemptions to be 25 years; the inclusion of a definition of aboriginal government; the authority of the Information and Privacy Commissioner to enforce a provision of the legislation; the charging of fees for services; and, the translation of documents into the official languages.

All the concerns were addressed by the Commissioner during the hearing in committee, with the exception of translation services. Mr. Chairman, I would be pleased to hear comments from Members about the standing committee's report and, when this is concluded, I will have a recommendation to move.

Committee Report 4-12(6): Report On The Review Of Bill 6 - Access To Information And Protection Of Privacy Act
Item 20: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

Page 225

The Chair John Ningark

Thank you, Mr. Gargan. Do we have any comments from the committee? Are there any comments on the report of the Standing Committee on Legislation? General comments. Mr. Arvaluk.

General Comments

Committee Report 4-12(6): Report On The Review Of Bill 6 - Access To Information And Protection Of Privacy Act
Item 20: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

Page 225

James Arvaluk Aivilik

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I need some clarification on page 2 of 8 of the Standing Committee on Legislation report. Can I get that, Mr. Chairman?

Committee Report 4-12(6): Report On The Review Of Bill 6 - Access To Information And Protection Of Privacy Act
Item 20: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

Page 225

The Chair John Ningark

Thank you, Mr. Arvaluk. Go ahead.

Committee Report 4-12(6): Report On The Review Of Bill 6 - Access To Information And Protection Of Privacy Act
Item 20: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

Page 225

James Arvaluk Aivilik

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I have a concern that although there are other motherhood statements assuring that Legislative Assembly Members may be exempt from the definition of public body, in the first paragraph it reads, "Presenters felt the office of the Legislative Assembly is an institution different from the Members of the Assembly and the background papers and research information should be accessible by the public."

A lot of research needs to be done some time with our researcher. There has to be some legal advice acquired before that can be tabled in the House or we can make a Member's statement or even ask questions to some Ministers. However, with the request to have the research material available to the public, I feel very uncomfortable with it because sometimes initial research findings require further study, whether there is a liability involved from our own constituency office, not us necessarily.

The second point is on the second paragraph, Mr. Chairman. I would like to get an explanation as to exactly what the comments the Standing Committee on Legislation had when they stated that because the authority of the Speaker and the Management Services Board has a stature of being the executive arm of the rest of the Assembly and therefore should remain exempt from the definition of public body. Is the committee stating that we should be exempt? Is that what the recommendation is, to have that exemption in the legislation or Bill 6?

Committee Report 4-12(6): Report On The Review Of Bill 6 - Access To Information And Protection Of Privacy Act
Item 20: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

Page 225

The Chair John Ningark

Thank you, Mr. Arvaluk. I will recognize the chairman of the Standing Committee on Legislation. Perhaps I could suggest that the Law Clerk could

try to explain the item Mr. Arvaluk is concerned about. First of all, I recognize the chairman, Sam Gargan.

Committee Report 4-12(6): Report On The Review Of Bill 6 - Access To Information And Protection Of Privacy Act
Item 20: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

Page 226

Samuel Gargan Deh Cho

Mr. Chairman, the section that deals with the public bodies is in...This bill itself was presented as an action paper about a year and a half ago. All the general public was aware of it. We've travelled to several communities to address the bill itself and those are the presenters who gave us presentations. One of the things said at that time, or that the Members suggested is that because of the type of work Members do, all the Legislative Assembly Members are excluded from this act. I didn't see any great opposition to it when we travelled to communities. This whole thing was through a two-year process. Since the government made a commitment to go ahead with it, it has been in the public domain. Where we went to the communities, there doesn't seem to be anybody upset over the direction the government is going. So I don't see what the problem seems to be now.