1 Standing Committee on Legislation
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Standing Committee on Legislation ᒪᓕᒐᓕᕆᓂᕐᒧᑦ ᑲᑎᒪᔨᕋᓛᑦ Hearing on Bill 55, An Act to Amend the ᑲᑎᒪᓂᖏᑦ ᐱᔾᔪᑎᒋᓪᓗᒍ ᒪᓕᒐᖅ 55, ᒪᓕᒐᖅ Property Assessment and Taxation Act ᐋᖅᑭᒋᐊᖅᑕᐅᖁᓪᓗᒍ ᐱᖁᑎᓪᓚᕇᑦ Iqaluit, Nunavut ᖃᐅᔨᓴᖅᑕᐅᓂᖏᑕ ᐊᒻᒪᓗ ᑖᒃᓰᔭᐃᓂᕐᒧᑦ ᒪᓕᒐᖓ June 23, 2021 ᐃᖃᓗᐃᑦ, ᓄᓇᕗᑦ ᔫᓂ 23, 2021 Members Present: Tony Akoak ᒪᓕᒐᓕᐅᖅᑏᑦ ᐅᐸᒃᑐᑦ: Pat Angnakak ᑑᓂ ᐋᖁᐊᖅ Pauloosie Keyootak ᐸᑎᑯᓗᒃ ᐊᕐᓇᒃᑲᖅ Adam Lightstone ᐸᐅᓗᓯ ᕿᔪᒃᑖᖅ John Main, Chair ᐋᑕᒻ ᓚᐃᑦᓯᑑᓐ Calvin Pedersen ᐋᕐᓗᒃ ᒪᐃᓐ, ᐃᒃᓯᕙᐅᑕᖅ David Qamaniq ᑳᓪᕕᓐ ᐲᑐᓴᓐ Emiliano Qirngnuq ᑕᐃᕕᑎ ᖃᒪᓂᖅ Allan Rumbolt ᐃᒥᓕᐊᓄ ᕿᓐᖑᖅ Craig Simailak ᐋᓚᓐ ᕋᒻᐴᑦ ᑯᕆᒡ ᓯᒪᐃᓚᒃ Staff Members: Michael Chandler ᐃᖅᑲᓇᐃᔭᖅᑏᑦ: Stephen Innuksuk ᒪᐃᑯᓪ ᓵᓐᑐᓗ ᓯᑏᕙᓐ ᐃᓄᒃᓱᒃ Alex Baldwin ᐋᓕᒃᔅ ᐹᓪᑐᐃᓐ Interpreters: ᑐᓵᔩᑦ: Andrew Dialla ᐋᓐᑐᓘ ᑎᐊᓚ Philip Paneak ᐱᓕᑉ ᐸᓂᐊᖅ Jacopoosie Peter ᔭᐃᑯᐴᓯ ᐲᑕ Blandina Tulugarjuk ᐸᓚᓐᑏᓇ ᑐᓗᒑᕐᔪᒃ Witnesses: ᐊᐱᖅᓱᖅᑕᐅᔪᑦ: Thomas Ahlfors, Acting Director, Legislation ᑖᒪᔅ ᐋᓪᕗᐊᔅ, ᑐᑭᒧᐊᖅᑎᑦᑎᔨᐅᑲᐃᓐᓇᖅᑐᖅ, Division, Department of Justice ᒪᓕᒐᒃᓴᓕᕆᔨᒃᑯᑦ, ᒪᓕᒐᓕᕆᔨᒃᑯᑦ Ken Armstrong, President, Northwest ᑭᐊᓐ ᐋᒻᓯᑐᕌᖕ, ᐊᖓᔪᖅᑳᖅ, ᓄᓇᑦᓯᐊᕐᒥ ᓄᓇᕗᒥᓗ Territories and Nunavut Chamber of ᐅᔭᕋᕐᓂᐊᖅᑎᒃᑯᑦ ᑲᑐᔾᔨᖃᑎᒌᒃᑯᑦ Mines ᐋᓕᒃᔅ ᐹᓪᑖᕝ, ᐅᖃᐅᔾᔪᐃᔨᒻᒪᕆᒃ, ᕋᐃᔭᓐ Alex Baltov, Senior Consultant, Ryan LLC ᒪᓕᒐᓕᕆᔨᒃᑯᑦ ᐊᒡᓃᑯ ᐄᒍᓪ ᐅᔭᕋᕐᓂᐊᖅᑎᒃᑯᓐᓄᑦ for Agnico Eagle Mines ᑖᓐ ᑳᓪᓴᓐ, ᑮᓇᐅᔭᓕᕆᓂᕐᒧᑦ ᒥᓂᔅᑕᐅᑉ ᑐᓪᓕᐊᑕ Dan Carlson, Assistant Deputy Minister of ᐃᑲᔪᖅᑎᖓ Finance ᑎᐊᕆ ᑖᐱᓐ, ᐊᐅᓚᑦᑎᔨ, ᓄᓇᕗᒥ ᐊᓪᓚᕝᕕᒃ, Terry Dobbin, General Manager, Nunavut ᓄᓇᑦᓯᐊᕐᒥ ᓄᓇᕗᒥᓗ ᐅᔭᕋᕐᓂᐊᖅᑎᒃᑯᑦ Office, Northwest Territories and Nunavut ᑲᑐᔾᔨᖃᑎᒌᒃᑯᑦ Chamber of Mines ᔩᓂ ᐃᖃᓪᓗᐊᖅ, ᓄᓇᓕᓐᓄᑦ ᒐᕙᒪᒃᑯᓐᓄᓪᓗ Jeannie Ehaloak, Minister of Community and ᐱᔨᑦᑎᕋᖅᑐᓕᕆᓂᕐᒧᑦ ᒥᓂᔅᑕ Government Services ᑳᓴᓐ ᒋᓕᔅ, ᑐᑭᒧᐊᖅᑎᑦᑎᔨ ᓄᓇᓕᕆᓂᕐᒧᑦ ᐊᒻᒪᓗ Carson Gillis, Director of Lands and 1 Resources, Nunavut Tunngavik ᐱᓕᕆᔾᔪᑎᒃᓴᓄᑦ, ᓄᓇᕗᑦ ᑐᓐᖓᕕᒃᑯᑦ Incorporated ᑖᒻ Hᐅᐃᕗ, ᑐᑭᒧᐊᖅᑎᑦᑎᔨᒻᒪᕆᒃ, ᓄᓇᑦᓯᐊᕐᒥ Tom Hoefer, Executive Director, Northwest ᓄᓇᕗᒥᓗ ᐅᔭᕋᕐᓂᐊᖅᑎᒃᑯᑦ ᑲᑐᔾᔨᖃᑎᒌᒃᑯᑦ Territories and Nunavut Chamber of ᑭᓕᒃᕙᒃ ᖃᑉᓗᓈᖅ, ᐊᐅᓚᑦᑎᔨᒻᒪᕆᒃ, ᓄᓇᕗᑦ Mines ᑐᓐᖓᕕᒃᑯᑦ Kilikvak Kabloona, Chief Executive Officer, ᐊᓗᑭ ᑰᑦᑎᖅ, ᐊᖓᔪᖅᑳᖅ, ᓄᓇᕗᑦ ᑐᓐᖓᕕᒃᑯᑦ Nunavut Tunngavik Incorporated ᐹᑦ ᒫᒃᓇᒫᕋ, ᐊᖓᔪᖅᑳᑉ ᑐᓪᓕᐊ, ᑖᒃᓯᓕᕆᓂᖅ, ᐊᒡᓃᑯ Aluki Kotierk, President, Nunavut Tunngavik ᐄᒍᓪ Incorporated ᐋᓐᑐᕉ ᒧᐊ, ᐊᐅᓚᑦᑎᔨ ᒐᕙᒪᒃᑯᓐᓂᑦ Pat McNamara, Vice-president, Taxation, ᐱᓕᕆᖃᑎᖃᕐᓂᕐᒧᑦ ᐊᒻᒪᓗ ᑭᒃᑯᓕᒫᓂᑦ Agnico Eagle Mines ᑐᓴᐅᒪᑦᑎᑦᑎᓂᕐᒧᑦ, ᓄᓘᔮᓐᓂ ᓴᕕᕋᔭᒃᓴᓕᕆᔨᒃᑯᑦ Andrew Moore, Manager of Government ᒫᑎᓐ ᐸᓛᓐᑦ, ᐊᖓᔪᖅᑳᑉ ᑐᓪᓕᐊ, ᓄᓇᕗᑦ, ᐊᒡᓃᑯ Relations and Public Affairs, Baffinland ᐃᒍᓪ ᐅᔭᕋᖕᓂᐊᖅᑏᑦ Iron Mines Corporation ᑲᐃᔪᓪ ᓰᓕ, ᓄᓇᓕᓐᓄᑦ ᒐᕙᒪᒃᑯᓐᓄᓪᓗ Martin Plante, Vice-president, Nunavut, ᐱᔨᑦᑎᕋᖅᑐᓕᕆᓂᕐᒧᑦ ᒥᓂᔅᑕᐅᑉ ᑐᓪᓕᐊ Agnico Eagle Mines Kyle Seeley, Deputy Minister of Community and Government Services >>Committee commenced at 13:30 >>ᑲᑎᒪᓯᒋᐊᖅᑐᑦ 13:30ᒧᐊᖅᑎᓪᓗᒍ ᐃᒃᓯᕙᐅᑕᖅ (ᒪᐃᓐ): ᐅᑉᓗᑦᓯᐊᖅ. ᑐᓐᖓᕼᐅᒋ’ᕼᐃ. Chairman (Mr. Main)(interpretation): Good ᐱᒋᐊᖅᑳᖅᑎᓐᓇᑕ ᐊᐱᕆᕼᐅᐊᖅᖢᒍ ᒥᔅᑕ ᕿᔪᒃᑖᖅ day. Welcome, everyone. Before we proceed, ᑐᒃᕼᐃᐊᕐᓂᒃᑯᑦ ᐱᒋᐊᖅᑎᑦᓯᔫᓪᓗᐊᕐᓂᖅᐸᑦ? ᒪ’ᓇ. I would like to ask Mr. Keyootak to say the opening prayer, please. Thank you. >>ᑐᒃᓯᐊᖅᑐᑦ >>Prayer ᐃᒃᓯᕙᐅᑕᖅ: ᒪ’ᓇ ᒥᔅᑕ ᕿᔪᒃᑖᖅ. ᕼᐃᕗᓪᓕᖅᐹᒥᒃ ᐅᕙᓃᑦᑐᓗᒃᑖᑦ ᑐᓐᖓᕼᐅᖁ’ᖢᒋᒃ ᑲᑎᒪᒋᐊᖅᕼᐃᒪᔪᑦ Chairman (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. ᐊᒻᒪᓗ ᖃᕆᑕᐅᔭᒃᑯᓪᓗ ᑲᑎᒐᑎᖃᑎᒋᓂᐊᒃᑲᕗᑦ Keyootak. I am pleased to begin by ᑐᓐᖓᕼᐅᖁᖅᖢᒋᑦ. ᑲᑎᒪᔨᐊᓛᖑᐃᓐᓇᖅᑐᑎᒍᑦ welcoming everyone to this meeting of the ᒪᓕᒐᒃᕼᐊᓕᕆᓂᐅᑉ ᒥᒃᕼᐋᓄᑦ Legislative Assembly’s Standing Committee ᑲᑎᒪᓂᖃᕐᓂᐊᓕᖅᑎᖦᖢᑕ. on Legislation. ᒪᓕᒐᒃᕼᐊᒃ 55 ᐱᔾᔪᑎᒋᑉᓗᒍ ᐅᑉᓗᒥ ᑲᑎᕼᐃᒪᒐᑉᑕ. We have convened today on the occasion of ᑐᕼᐊᕆᐊᖃᕐᓂᐊᕋᑉᑕᐃᓛᒃ ᑕᒪᑐᒪ ᒪᓕᒐᒃᕼᐊᐅᑉ the Standing Committee’s televised hearing ᒥᒃᕼᐋᓄᑦ ᑖᓐᓇ ᒪᓕᒐᒃᕼᐊᖅ on Bill 55, An Act to Amend the Property ᐊᕼᐃᐊᓐᖑᕆᐊᕈᑕᐅᓇᔭᕐᒪᑦ ᒪᓕᒐᕐᔪᐊᕆᔭᐅᔪᒥᒃ Assessment and Taxation Act. ᐱᖁᑎᒻᒪᕇᑦ ᖃᐅᔨᕼᐊᖅᑕᐅᓂᖏᑦᑕ ᒥᒃᕼᐋᓄᑦ ᑖᒃᓰᔭᐃᔭᕈᑕᐅᓂᖏᑦᑕᓗ ᒥᒃᕼᐋᓄᑦ. I would first like to introduce my Standing Committee colleagues: ᕼᐃᕗᓪᓕᖅᐹᒥᒃ ᐅᑯᐊ ᑲᑎᒪᔨᐅᖃᑎᒃᑲ ᑭᑐᖕᒪᖔᑕ ᓇᓗᓇᐃᔭᕐᕕᒋᐊᓪᓚᒡᓚᒃᑲ: Tony Akoak, Member for Gjoa Haven; Pat Angnakak, Member for Iqaluit- ᑑᓂ ᐋᖁᐊᖅ, ᐅᖅᑯᖅᑑᒧ ᒪᓕᒐᓕᐅᖅᑎ, Niaqunnguu; ᐸᑦ ᐊᕐᓇᒃᑲᖅ, ᐃᖃᓗᐃᑦ-ᓂᐊᖁᓐᖒᒧᑦ ᒪᓕᒐᓕᐅᖅᑎᐅᔪᖅ, Pauloosie Keyootak, Member for ᐸᐅᓗᓯ ᕿᔪᒃᑖᖅ, ᐅᖅᑯᒻᒥᐅᓄᑦ 2 Uqqummiut; ᒪᓕᒐᓕᐅᖅᑎᐅᔪᖅ, Adam Arreak Lightstone, Member for ᐋᑕᓐ ᐋᕆᐊᒃ ᓚᐃᑦᓯᑑᓐ, ᐃᖃᓗᐃᑦ-ᒪᓂᕋᔭᕐᒧᑦ Iqaluit-Manirajak; ᒪᓕᒐᓕᐅᖅᑎᐅᔪᖅ, David Qamaniq, Member for Tununiq; ᑕᐃᕕᑦ ᖃᒪᓂᖅ, ᑐᓄᓂᕐᒧᑦ ᒪᓕᒐᓕᐅᖅᑎᒋᔭᐅᔪᖅ. Good day, Mr. Qamaniq. ᐅᓪᓗᑦᓯᐊᖅ ᒥᔅᑕ ᖃᒪᓂᖅ. Emiliano Qirngnuq, Member for Netsilik; ᐃᒥᓕᐊᓄ ᕿᓐᖑᖅ, ᓇᑦᓯᓕᕐᒧᑦ Allan Rumbolt, Member for Hudson Bay; ᒪᓕᒐᓕᐅᖅᑎᐅᔪᖅ, and ᐋᓚᓐ ᕋᒻᐹᑦ, ᑕᕼᐃᐅᔭᕐᔪᐊᒧᑦ ᒪᓕᒐᓕᐅᖅᑎᐅᔪᖅ, ᑯᕌᒃ ᓯᒪᐃᓚᒃ, ᖃᒪᓂᑦᑐᐊᕐᒧ ᒪᓕᒐᓕᐅᖅᑎᐅᔪᖅ, Craig Simailak, Member for Baker Lake. ᐊᒻᒪᓗ Also joining us through Zoom is Calvin ᖃᕆᑕᐅᔭᒃᑯᑦ ᑲᑎᒪᖃᑕᐅᖕᒥᔪᖅ ᑭᐅᕙᓐ ᐲᑕᓴᓐ Pedersen, Member for Kugluktuk. ᖁᕐᓗᖅᑑᒧ ᒪᓕᒐᓕᐅᖅᑎᐅᔪᖅ. The Standing Committee had previously ᑲᑎᒪᔨᕋᓛᖑᐃᓐᓇᖅᑐᑎᒍᑦ ᑲᑎᒪᓐᓂᕆᔭᕗᑦ ᑕᒪᓐᓇ scheduled a televised hearing on the bill in ᐋᖅᑭᓐᓂᐊᓚᐅᖅᕼᐃᒪᒐᓗᐊᕐᒪᑦ ᑎᕆᓪᓗᐃᑦ April of this year. However, this hearing was ᐊᐃᐳᓗᖑᓚᐅᖅᑎᖦᖢᒍ ᑕᖅᑭᓂᒃ ᖄᖏᖅᑐᓂᒃ postponed as a consequence of the COVID-19 ᑭᕼᐃᐊᓂ ᑕᒪᓐᓇ ᑲᑎᒪᓐᓂᕆᓂᐊᒃᑲᕗᑦ outbreak. We are pleased that it is able to ᑭᖑᕙᕆᐊᕆᐊᖃᓚᐅᕐᒪᑦ ᓄᕙᖕᓇᕐᔪᐊᖅ ᐱᔾᔪᑎᒋᑉᓗᒍ. proceed today. ᖁᕕᐊᕼᐅᒃᑐᒍᑦ ᐅᑉᓗᖅ ᑲᔪᕼᐃᔫᓪᓗᐊᕐᒪᑦ. (interpretation ends) The territorial Property (ᑐᓵᔨᑎᒍᑦ) ᐅᑭᐅᖅᑕᖅᑐᒥ ᐱᖁᑎᓪᓚᕆᓐᓄᑦ Assessment and Taxation Act provides the ᖃᐅᔨᓴᐅᑏᑦ ᐊᒻᒪᓗ ᑖᒃᓰᔭᐃᑎᑦ ᑕᐅᓄᖓ ᒪᓕᒐᕐᔪᐊᖅ legal framework for the levying of property ᑐᓐᖓᕕᒋᔭᕗᑦ ᑖᒃᓰᔭᐃᑎᑦᑎᖃᑦᑕᕈᓐᓇᕐᓂᐊᕐᒪᑕ. taxes. Property taxes are an important source of ᑖᒃᑯᐊ ᑮᓇᐅᔭᓕᐅᕈᑎᒋᔭᐅᔪᑦ ᒐᕙᒪᒃᑯᓐᓄᑦ ᐊᒻᒪᓗ revenue for the territorial government. The ᒫᓐᓇᕈᓘᓚᐅᖅᑐᖅ ᓈᓴᐅᑎᖏᑦ most recent public accounts indicate that ᑮᓇᐅᔭᖅᑐᕈᑎᕕᓂᖏᓐᓂᒃ ᕿᒥᕐᕈᓇᒃᑐᑕ $8.3-8.4 $8,384,000 was raised during the 2019-2020 ᒥᓕᐊᓐ ᑮᓇᐅᔭᓕᐊᕆᔭᐅᓚᐅᖅᑐᑦ 2019-2020-ᒥ fiscal year through the levying of property ᑖᒃᓰᔭᐅᑎᑎᒍᑦ. 2021-22 ᑮᓇᐅᔭᑦ ᐊᑐᕈᒫᕐᓂᐊᖅᑐᑦ taxes. The 2021-22 main estimates project ᐅᖃᖅᓯᒪᔪᑦ $11.6 ᒥᓕᐊᓐᓂᒡᒎ that $11.6 million will be raised from property ᑮᓇᐅᔭᓕᐅᕐᓂᐊᖅᑐᖅ ᑕᒪᑐᒪᓂ ᐊᕐᕌᒍᒥ. taxes during the current fiscal year. These revenues flow to the Consolidated ᑖᒃᑯᐊ ᑮᓇᐅᔭᑦ ᐃᓯᖅᐸᓪᓕᐊᕗᑦ ᐊᒻᒪᓗ ᒐᕙᒪᒃᑯᑦ Revenue Fund. Through the annual budget ᑮᓇᐅᔭᒃᑯᕕᖓᓐᓅᖅᑕᐅᖃᑦᑕᖅᖢᑎᒃ ᐊᕐᕌᒍᑕᒫᖅᓯᐅᑎᑦ process, the elected Members of the ᐊᑐᕈᒫᕐᓂᐊᖅᑐᑦ ᐱᕙᓪᓕᐊᔾᔪᓯᖏᑦ ᒪᓕᒃᖢᒋᑦ Legislative Assembly approve the ᒪᓕᒐᓕᐅᖅᑏᑦ ᐊᖏᖅᓯᔨᐅᕗᑦ. ᒐᕙᒪᒃᑯᑦ government’s proposed operations and ᐊᐅᓚᔾᔪᑎᒋᔪᒪᔭᖏᑦ ᒪᑭᒪᐅᑎᖏᓪᓗ ᐊᑭᑐᔪᖅᑐᕈᑏᓪᓗ maintenance and capital expenditures, which ᓲᕐᓗᖃᐃ ᐱᒋᐊᕈᑎᖃᖅᖢᑎᒃ ᓄᑖᓄᑦ ᐃᓕᓐᓂᐊᕐᕕᓐᓄᑦ encompass everything from the construction ᐊᓯᖏᓐᓂᓪᓗ ᓄᓇᓕᓐᓂᑦ ᒪᓕᒐᕐᔪᐊᓄᑦ of new schools and other community ᐊᑐᖅᑐᒃᓴᒫᖑᓪᓗᑎᒃ ᐱᔨᑦᑎᕈᑎᓄᓪᓗ infrastructure to the provision of health care ᓄᓇᕗᒻᒥᐅᓕᒫᓄᑦ. and other public services to Nunavummiut. 3 (interpretation) Bill 55 received second (ᑐᓵᔨᑎᒎᕈᓐᓃᖅᑐᖅ) ᐱᖁᔭᒃᓴᖅ 55 ᑐᒡᓕᐊᓂ reading in the Legislative Assembly on ᐅᖃᓕᒫᖅᑕᐅᓂᖃᓚᐅᖅᑐᖅ ᑕᕝᕙᓂ ᒪᓕᒐᓕᐅᕐᕕᖕᒥ October 23, 2020, and was referred to the ᐅᑐᐱᕆ 23, 2020-ᖑᑎᖦᖢᒍ ᐊᒻᒪᓗ ᑭᖑᓂᐊᒍᑦ Standing Committee for consideration. ᐅᕙᑦᑎᓐᓄᑦ ᑲᑎᒪᔨᕋᓛᖑᐃᓐᓇᖅᑐᑦ ᐱᕈᔭᒃᕼᐊᓕᕆᓂᐅᑉ ᒥᒃᕼᐋᓄᑦ ᑐᓂᔭᐅᓕᓚᐅᖅᐳᖅ (interpretation ends) The government’s ᐱᓕᕆᐊᕆᔭᐅᖁᑉᓗᒍ. official description of the bill indicates that it “amends the Property Assessment and (ᑐᓵᔨᑎᒍᑦ) ᒐᕙᒪᒃᑯᑦ ᒪᓕᒐᒃᓴᒥᒃ ᐅᓂᒃᑲᐅᑎᖃᖅᖢᑎᒃ Taxation Act to provide for taxation of Inuit ᐅᖃᖅᓯᒪᔪᑦ ᐋᖅᑭᒋᐊᖅᑕᐅᖁᓪᓗᒍ ᐱᖁᑎᓪᓚᕆᖕᓄᑦ Owned Lands in accordance with Article 22 ᖃᐅᔨᓴᐅᑏᑦ ᑖᒃᓰᔭᐅᑎᓕᕆᓂᕐᒧᓪᓗ ᒪᓕᒐᕐᔪᐊᖅ of the Nunavut Agreement. It also abolishes ᐃᓄᐃᑦ ᓄᓇᖁᑎᖏᑦ ᐊᑭᓕᖅᓱᐃᑎᑕᐅᓂᐊᕐᒪᑕ the territorial board of revision, makes other ᑖᒃᓯᑎᒍᑦ ᐊᑐᕐᓗᒍ ᓈᓴᐅᑎᓕᒃ 22 ᐊᖏᕈᑎᐅᑉ updates to appeal processes, expands ᐃᓗᐊᓂ ᑖᒃᑯᐊᓗ ᓄᖑᑎᑕᐅᓪᓗᑎᒃ ᐋᖅᑭᒋᐊᖅᓯᔩᑦ enforcement powers and makes various other ᑲᑎᒪᔨᖏᑦ ᓄᑖᓐᖑᕆᐊᖅᑎᑕᐅᓪᓗᑎᒡᓗ. ᐊᓯᖏᑦ amendments to the Act.” ᐊᔪᐃᓐᓈᕈᑎᓄᑦ ᑐᕌᖓᔪᑦ ᐱᔪᓐᓇᕐᓂᓕᕆᓪᓗᑎᒃ ᐊᓯᖏᓐᓂᓪᓗ ᐊᓯᔾᔨᖅᑐᐃᓪᓗᑎᓐ. (interpretation) The Minister of Community and Government Services, who is the sponsor (ᑐᓵᔨᑎᒎᕈᓐᓃᖅᑐᖅ) ᓄᓇᓕᖕᓄᑦ ᒐᕙᒪᒃᑯᓄᓪᓗ of the bill, is appearing before the Standing ᐱᔨᑦᓯᕋᖅᑐᓕᕆᔨᒃᑯᑦ ᒥᓂᔅᑐᖓᑦ ᑕᒪᑐᒥᖓ Committee to respond to Members’ questions ᒪᓕᒐᒃᕼᐊᕐᒥᒃ ᕼᐊᖅᑮᕼᐃᒪᑎᖦᖢᒍ ᒪᓕᒐᓕᐅᕐᕕᖕᒧᑦ concerning its provisions. Welcome, Minister ᑲᑎᒪᐅᑎᒋᓂᐊᕋᑉᑎᒍ, ᐃᓛᒃ ᐅᕙᓃᒻᒪᓂᓛᒃ ᐅᑉᓗᒥ. ᐊᐱᖅᑯᑎᒃᕼᐊᕆᔭᐅᔪᓂᒃ ᑭᐅᑦᑕᖅᑑᕐᓗᐊᓂᐊᕋᒥᒃ. Ehaloak. ᑐᓐᖓᕼᐅᒋᑦ ᒥᓂᔅᑐ ᐃᖃᓪᓗᐊᖅ. A number of other witnesses will be ᐊᒻᒪᑦᑕᐅᖅ ᐊᕼᐃᖏᑦᑕᐅᖅ ᑲᑎᒪᓚᐅᖅᑎᑉᓗᑕ appearing before the Standing Committee ᑐᕼᐊᕐᕕᒋᓂᐊᕋᑉᓂᒍ ᒪᓕᒐᒃᕼᐊᐅᑉ ᒥᒃᕼᐋᓄᑦ during this hearing, including: ᐃᓚᒋᔭᐅᑉᓗᑎᒃ: Nunavut Tunngavik Incorporated; ᓄᓇᕗᑦ ᑐᓐᖓᕕᒃ ᑎᒥᖁᑎᒋᔭᖏᑦ; Agnico Eagle Mines; ᐅᔭᕋᑦᑕᕆᐊᑦ ᐊᓐᓃᑯ ᐄᒍ; Baffinland Iron Mines; and ᐅᔭᕋᑦᑕᕆᐊᑦ ᐹᐱᓪᓛᓐ; ᐊᒻᒪᓗ The Northwest Territories and Nunavut ᐅᔭᕋᑦᑕᕆᐊᑦ ᑲᑐᔾᔨᖃᑎᒌᒃᑯᖏᑦ ᓄᓇᑦᓯᐊᕐᒥ Chamber of Mines. ᓄᓇᕗᒻᒥ ᑖᑉᕕᐊ ᑎᒥᐅᔪᑦ ᐅᔭᕋᕐᓂᐊᖅᑎᒃᑯᓐᓂ. This hearing will provide an opportunity for ᑲᑎᒪᓂᖃᓚᐅᖅᑎᓪᓗᑕ ᑲᑎᒪᔩᑦ ᐱᕕᖃᖅᑎᑕᐅᓂᐊᕐᒪᑕ Members of the Standing Committee to pose ᐊᐱᖅᑯᑎᒃᕼᐊᕆᔭᕐᒥᓂᒃ ᐊᐱᖅᑯᑎᖃᖅᑑᓪᓗᐊᕐᒪᑕᐃᓛᒃ questions to stakeholders regarding their ᐅᖃᓪᓚᒋᐊᖅᑐᒃᕼᐃᒪᔪᓂᒃ ᑕᒪᑐᒪ ᒪᓕᒐᒃᕼᐊᐅᑉ submissions on the bill. ᒥᒃᕼᐋᓄᑦ. ᑲᔪᕼᐃᒋᐊᖅᑳᖅᑎ’ᓇᑕ ᐅᑯᓂᖓ I will now cover a number of housekeeping ᓇᓗᓇᐃᔭᐃᕌᓪᓚᒡᓚᖓ. matters. ᑲᑎᒪᕕᐅᑉ ᐃᓗᐊᓂᑦᑐᓘᒃᑖᑦ ᐃᖅᑲᐅᒪᓂᐊᖅᐳᑦ I ask all Members and witnesses to ensure that ᐅᖃᓘᑎᐊᓛᕆᔭᕼᐃ, ᖃᕆᑕᐅᔭᓕᔭᕐᓂᕈᑉᕼᐃᓘᓐᓃᑦ their cellphones and other electronic devices ᓂᐱᖃᕈᓐᓃᖅᑎᖔᖅᕼᐃᐅᒃ ᐃᓱᐃᓪᓗᑕᐅᖁᓇᒋᑦ. do not disrupt these proceedings. ᐊᒻᒪᓗ ᐊᖅᑯᑎᒋᔭᐅᑦᑕᕈᐊᖅᖢᖓ ᐃᖅᑲᐃᑎᑉᐸᑉᕼᐃ In order to assist our interpreters and technical ᑲᑎᒪᒋᐊᖅᑐᖅᕼᐃᒪᔪᕼᐃ. ᐅᑯᐊ ᑐᕼᐋᔨᒋᔭᕗᑦ 4 staff, I ask that all Members and witnesses go ᐅᐊᑦᓯᔨᒋᔭᕗᓪᓗ ᑕᕐᕆᔭᐅᕼᐃᐅᖅᑐᓕᕆᓂᕐᒧᑦ through the Chair before speaking. ᐃᕼᐅᒪᒋᑉᓗᒋᑦ ᐊᖅᑯᑎᒋᔭᐅᕈᖅᐳᖓ ᐃᒃᕼᐃᕙᐅᑕᕆᔭᐅ’ᖢᖓ. Members of the Standing Committee have been provided with a number of documents ᐊᒻᒪᓗ ᑲᑎᒪᔩᑦ ᐊᔾᔨᒌᓐᖏᑦᑐᓂᒃ ᑎᑎᖅᑲᓂᒃ for their ease of reference during this televised ᑎᒍᒥᐊᕐᒪᑕ ᐅᖃᓕᒫᒐᒃᕼᐊᓂᒃ hearing. For the benefit of our witnesses and ᑎᑎᖅᑲᓕᐊᕆᔭᐅᕼᐃᒪᔪᓂᒃ ᒪᓕᒐᒃᕼᐊᐅᑉ ᒥᒃᕼᐋᓄᑦ interpreters, I ask Members to be precise ᐊᑐᖅᑑᓪᓗᐊᕐᓂᐊᕋᑉᕼᐃᐅᒃ ᑕᒪᒃᑯᐊ ᑲᑎᒪᓂᖃᑉᑎᓪᓗᑕ. when quoting from or making reference to ᓇᓗᓇᐃᔭᐃᑦᓯᐊᕐᓂᐊᖅᑕᕐᓂᐊᖅᐳᕼᐃ ᐊᐱᖅᑯᕆᐊᕌᖓᑉᕼᐃ ᕼᐅᓇᒥᒃ ᑎᑎᖅᑲᒥᒃ specific documents. ᑕᐅᑐᖕᒪᖔᖅᐱᑦ ᓇᓗᓇᓐᖏᓐᓂᖅᕼᐊᐅᓂᐊᕐᒪᑦ. ᑕᒪᓐᓇ ᑲᑎᒪᓐᓂᕆᓂᐊᖅᕼᐊᕗᑦ ᕼᐅᓇᒥᓪᓗ This hearing is being televised live across ᐊᐱᖅᑯᑎᒃᕼᐊᕐᒪᖔᑉᕼᐃ. Nunavut on community cable stations and the direct-to-home satellite services of both the ᑕᒪᓐᓇ ᑲᑎᒪᓐᓂᕆᔭᕗᑦ ᒫᓐᓇᑦᑕᐃᓐᓇᖅ ᑕᑯᒃᕼᐊᐅᔪᖅ