This is page numbers 39 - 61 of the Hansard for the 13th Assembly, 7th 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 nunavut.

Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

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The Chair John Ningark

Thank you. Clause 6. Agreed?

Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

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Some Hon. Members

Agreed.

Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

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The Chair John Ningark

Thank you. Clause 7. Agreed?

Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

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Some Hon. Members

Agreed.

Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

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The Chair John Ningark

Thank you. Clause 8 of Bill 1. Agreed?

Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

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Some Hon. Members

Agreed.

Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

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The Chair John Ningark

Thank you. Clause 9 of Bill 1. Agreed?

Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

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Some Hon. Members

Agreed.

Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

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The Chair John Ningark

Bill as a whole. Agreed?

Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

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Some Hon. Members

Agreed.

Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

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The Chair John Ningark

Does the committee agree that Bill 1 is ready for third reading?

Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

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Some Hon. Members

Agreed.

Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

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The Chair John Ningark

Thank you. I would like to thank, on behalf of the committee, Mr. Todd and the witnesses. Bill 1 is now ready for third reading. Mr. Todd, thank you. Witnesses, thank you.

Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

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The Chair

The Chair Jane Groenewegen

We have now Bill 2, Nunavut Statutes Amendment Act, 1999. I will call on Minister Arlooktoo to introduce the bill.

Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

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Goo Arlooktoo Baffin South

Thank you, Madam Chair. It is my pleasure to present to you today the Nunavut Statutes Amendment Act, 1999, which, along with the companion Division Measures Act, 1999, amends various acts so that plans and agreements relating to the establishment of Nunavut can be implemented. Together these two bills will conclude the necessary amendments required to the legislative framework of each new territory prior to April 1st. Many of these amendments are editorial in nature or formalities which now require implementation.

Madam Chair, representatives of the OIC and NTI worked closely with GNWT staff in the development of these bills and I would like to acknowledge the considerable contribution they made. The Interim Commissioner has reviewed the proposed legislative amendments, in keeping with section 76 of the Nunavut Act, and has indicated his approval of this bill in a letter dated March 11, 1999. As well, NTI has been consulted and have indicated their support in a letter dated March 1, 1999.

I will quickly summarize the amendments which are proposed with this omnibus bill. First of all, we are recommending that the Public Service Act be amended in order to ensure that GNWT employees, who will become employees of the Government of Nunavut will retain all of their terms and conditions of employment as if they were continuing to be GNWT employees. A companion amendment to the Northwest Territories Public Service Act contained in the Division Measures bill supports this and ensures a smooth transition from the GNWT side. This is an important amendment because it ensures a seamless transition of staff from one government to the other. It provides the Government of Nunavut with a skilled and capable workforce. In particular, it provides a level of assurance and security to employees during this time of transition. The Union of Northern Workers and the newly formed Nunavut Employees Union have been consulted and indicated their support. The Union of Northern Workers Act will be amended to reflect the name of the union representing the public sector workers in Nunavut, namely the Nunavut Employee Union.

Once again, both the UNW and the NAU have been consulted on these amendments and have indicated their support. The Legal Profession Act is amended so that directors of the Nunavut Bar Association form the executive of the Law Society of Nunavut until elections can be held, also to allow for temporary certification to be issued to allow employers to practise law before being certified as members of the Nunavut Bar Association. The Commissioner's Land Act and the Northwest Territories Housing Corporation Act are amended here, as well as in the Division Measures Bill in order to provide for the transfer of interest and obligations from the GNWT to the GN for affected lands under both acts. To the Commissioner of Nunavut and the Northwest Territories Housing Corporation and the Nunavut Housing Corporation respectively. Amendments of a purely technical and editorial nature are proposed for the Income Tax Act, the Business Corporations Act, the Document Registry Act, the Interpretation Act, and the WCB Act. Madam Chair, I will conclude my opening comments now, and I welcome any comments or questions the Members may have. Thank you, Madam Chair.

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Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

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The Chair

The Chair Jane Groenewegen

Thank you, Minister Arlooktoo. I will now call on Levi Barnabas, the co-chair of the Special Committee on Nunavut legislation to bring the committee's remarks.

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Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

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Levi Barnabas High Arctic

Thank you, Madam Chair. The Special Committee on Nunavut Legislation reviewed Bill 2, the Nunavut Statutes Amendment Act, 1999, at its meeting on March 17, 1999.

The committee would like to thank the Honourable Goo Arlooktoo and his officials for presenting the bill and responding to issues raised by the committee.

Bill 2 amends the Nunavut version of 11 acts that will be duplicated for Nunavut. The amendments will come into force April 1, 1999. Corresponding amendments to several of these acts are being made in the Division Measures Act, 1999, and the Legal Registries Division Measures Act, 1999.

Madam Chair, this bill amends the Public Service Act to ensure that GNWT employees, whose positions are located in Nunavut at division will become members of the Nunavut public service under the same terms and conditions of employment and with their seniority protected.

As well, amendments are made to the Interpretation Act to provide for the continuation of appointments of public officers in Nunavut after division.

The Union of Northern Workers Act is amended for Nunavut to rename it the Nunavut Employees Union Act and to change other references to reflect the new union. Minor amendments are made to the Children's Law Act and the Workers' Compensation Act, and the Business Corporation Act and the Document Registry Act are amended to reflect the fact that a single document registry system will be used in both territories until a new registry system is put in place under the Personal Property Security Acts for both territories.

The bill also amends the Income Tax Act to ensure that Nunavut businesses and corporations will have simplified tax responsibilities for their first fiscal year in the new territory. Amendments are also made to the Commissioner's Land Act and the Northwest Territories Housing Corporation Act duplicated for Nunavut to recognize the transfer of rights, interest and obligations in land situated in Nunavut from the Northwest Territories Commissioner and the western Housing Corporation.

Finally, the Legal Profession Act will be amended to provide for the transitional executive for the first Nunavut Law Society, and to provide for temporary certificates to be issued to allow current members of the Northwest Territories Law Society to practise in Nunavut until May 31, 1999, before joining the Nunavut Law Society.

This concludes the Special Committee's comments on Bill 2, the Nunavut Statues Amendment Act, 1999. Thank you, Madam Chair.

Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

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The Chair

The Chair Jane Groenewegen

Thank you, Mr. Barnabas. Does the committee agree that the Minister should be allowed to bring in witnesses at this time? Mr. Arlooktoo.

Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

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Goo Arlooktoo Baffin South

Yes, I will bring in two witnesses.

Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

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The Chair

The Chair Jane Groenewegen

Mr. Arlooktoo, could you please introduce your witnesses for the record?

Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

March 21st, 1999

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Goo Arlooktoo Baffin South

Yes, Madam Chair, I have with me, Mr. Richard Bargery with the Division Secretariat and Mr. Shaw Flynn, with the Department of Justice. Thank you.

Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

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The Chair

The Chair Jane Groenewegen

Thank you. General comments. Mr. Ningark.

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Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

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John Ningark Natilikmiot

Thank you, Madam Chair. Madam Chair, I have to excuse myself from this meeting. My boss is coming and I have to be at the airport to meet her. Thank you.

Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

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The Chair

The Chair Jane Groenewegen

Thank you, Mr. Ningark. I am glad to see you have your priorities straight and we will happily excuse you. General comments on the bill. Do we agree we will proceed clause by clause. Clause by clause review of Bill 2, Nunavut Statutes Amendment Act, 1999. We will stand down clauses 1 through 12 and proceed with consideration of the schedules. Agreed?

Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

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Some Hon. Members

Agreed.