This is page numbers 271 - 299 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 languages.

Topics

Committee Motion 20-12(6): To Amend Clause 7, Carried
Item 20: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

Page 289

Stephen Kakfwi

Stephen Kakfwi Sahtu

The Member points out, correctly, that it's subject to review. The Commissioner can take the

government to task for failing to comply with a reasonable request, whatever "reasonable" would be in the eyes of the Commissioner. And whether or not, for instance, the request for translation of certain documents was reasonable, it would eventually come to this Legislature.

I think what we didn't point out yesterday, because we ran out of time, is what this legislation is going to do to the government, I would think we would begin very soon after, if it is enacted, to come up with some guidelines to help the head of public bodies such as deputy ministers to have guidelines by which to make these decisions. So there's overall policy that the government abides by in trying to comply with this request. Otherwise, we will have, possibly, a huge back-up of complaints and perhaps lots of difficulties because we're not complying in a uniform way.

The impact of this act would be to force the government to comply, and if not, then to be able to explain in some rational way why it is not complying across the board. It would, I think, force us to do that very quickly. And in these economic times, it would be arguably cheaper to comply where we should comply. Therefore, the argument would be made that we will work very hard and very quickly to create guidelines so it would help us with that so we don't come into conflict needlessly with this act.

Committee Motion 20-12(6): To Amend Clause 7, Carried
Item 20: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

Page 290

The Chair John Ningark

Thank you. To the motion. Please stick to the motion. I would like to remind the Members to stick to the motion. Mr. Arvaluk.

Committee Motion 20-12(6): To Amend Clause 7, Carried
Item 20: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

October 13th, 1994

Page 290

James Arvaluk Aivilik

Just a comment to the motion, for clause 7. Just a scenario right now that the Nunavut Implementation Commission probably will now start disseminating information, especially information on the existing GNWT acts and regulations that are in force for the communities to review and prepare for 1999. They can do that right now and they cannot force the government to translate them. They can request information now, they can get these acts and regulations now, but with the 1999 enforcement of this act, they may want to...At least they will know that if that material is not available in Inuktitut, because they will know this act, they may want to have these things translated.

I am a little bit leery about what additional costs we'll have to claim from that because NIC probably will have the responsibility to inform the communities quite intensively as public education, here is what the government's existing laws are that you must abide by. These existing laws that are in force will be transferred or grandfathered when Nunavut comes about in 1999. These will become common law of Nunavut, unless repealed; but then again, that's very difficult.

I have no right not to support this clause, but I am nervous that this might be misused like other clauses might be misused as Mr. Patterson stated, because with this bill we're putting the government or the Legislative Assembly in the vulnerable position for abuse by those who want to, unless there is, as the deputy minister stated, another section protecting that. But it will be a questionable kind of protection that the government will have. Just a comment, Mr. Chairman.

Committee Motion 20-12(6): To Amend Clause 7, Carried
Item 20: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

Page 290

The Chair John Ningark

Thank you, Mr. Arvaluk. To the motion.

Committee Motion 20-12(6): To Amend Clause 7, Carried
Item 20: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

Page 290

An Hon. Member

Question.

Committee Motion 20-12(6): To Amend Clause 7, Carried
Item 20: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

Page 290

The Chair John Ningark

Question is being called. All those in favour of the motion, please signify. Thank you. All those Members who are opposed to the motion, please signify. The motion is carried.

---Carried

Clause 7, as amended. Agreed?

Committee Motion 20-12(6): To Amend Clause 7, Carried
Item 20: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

Page 290

Some Hon. Members

Agreed.

---Agreed

Committee Motion 20-12(6): To Amend Clause 7, Carried
Item 20: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

Page 290

The Chair John Ningark

Thank you very much. Clause 8 of Bill 6. Agreed?

Committee Motion 20-12(6): To Amend Clause 7, Carried
Item 20: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

Page 290

Some Hon. Members

Agreed.

---Agreed

Committee Motion 20-12(6): To Amend Clause 7, Carried
Item 20: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

Page 290

The Chair John Ningark

Thank you. Clause 7. Pardon me, I'm going backwards here. I was trying to ensure that somebody had their hand up or hand down, so I was temporarily distracted. Clause 9. Agreed?

Committee Motion 20-12(6): To Amend Clause 7, Carried
Item 20: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

Page 290

Some Hon. Members

Agreed.

---Agreed

Committee Motion 20-12(6): To Amend Clause 7, Carried
Item 20: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

Page 290

The Chair John Ningark

Thank you. Clause 10 of the act.

Committee Motion 20-12(6): To Amend Clause 7, Carried
Item 20: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

Page 290

Some Hon. Members

Agreed.

---Agreed

Committee Motion 20-12(6): To Amend Clause 7, Carried
Item 20: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

Page 290

The Chair John Ningark

Thank you. Clause 11. Agreed?

Committee Motion 20-12(6): To Amend Clause 7, Carried
Item 20: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

Page 290

Some Hon. Members

Agreed.

---Agreed

Committee Motion 20-12(6): To Amend Clause 7, Carried
Item 20: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

Page 290

The Chair John Ningark

Thank you. Clause 12.

Committee Motion 20-12(6): To Amend Clause 7, Carried
Item 20: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

Page 290

Some Hon. Members

Agreed.

---Agreed

Committee Motion 20-12(6): To Amend Clause 7, Carried
Item 20: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

Page 290

The Chair John Ningark

Merci. Clause 13. Mr. Patterson.

Committee Motion 20-12(6): To Amend Clause 7, Carried
Item 20: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

Page 290

Dennis Patterson Iqaluit

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Just one question about this. This has to do with the whole business of disclosing information on negotiated contracts. I think the Minister of Public Works has committed to providing that information through the commitments to the Standing Committee on Finance and elsewhere. I'm just wondering, Mr. Chairman, would this section 13 in any way prevent this kind of disclosure being made by the Minister as he has agreed to do? Is this likely to be something that reveals Cabinet deliberations and is thereby privileged?

Committee Motion 20-12(6): To Amend Clause 7, Carried
Item 20: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

Page 290

The Chair John Ningark

Thank you, Mr. Patterson. Mr. Kakfwi.

Committee Motion 20-12(6): To Amend Clause 7, Carried
Item 20: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

Page 291

Stephen Kakfwi

Stephen Kakfwi Sahtu

Mr. Chairman, the intent of the section is to protect the confidence of the recommendations to Executive Council by staff, briefing documents, minutes of deliberations by Cabinet and Members of the Executive Council. But it does not limit the capacity of Ministers, for instance, to share information with Members of this Legislature. This section deals with how applicants who, for instance, request minutes of Executive Council meetings will be dealt with. Thank you.

Committee Motion 20-12(6): To Amend Clause 7, Carried
Item 20: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

Page 291

The Chair John Ningark

Thank you. Clause 13. Agreed?

Committee Motion 20-12(6): To Amend Clause 7, Carried
Item 20: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

Page 291

Some Hon. Members

Agreed.

---Agreed

Committee Motion 20-12(6): To Amend Clause 7, Carried
Item 20: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

Page 291

The Chair John Ningark

Thank you. Clause 14.

Committee Motion 20-12(6): To Amend Clause 7, Carried
Item 20: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

Page 291

Some Hon. Members

Agreed.

---Agreed