Legislative Reports
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
Legislative Reports debate in the House of Commons and leasing activities. To date, on this issue. a number of Ministers have On March 22, Mr. Okalik appeared before the Committee moved a motion recommending of the Whole to respond that the Auditor General to Members’ questions on departmental and Crown agency Nunavut of Canada be requested to undertake a comprehensive activities and initiatives in these performance audit of the Qulliq areas, including Premier Aariak, number of substantive Energy Corporation, which is one Community and Government motions were considered A of the territory’s major Crown Services Minister Lorne and voted on by the House agencies. The motion, seconded Kusugak, Health and Social during its winter 2010 sitting, by James Arvaluk, was passed Services Minister Tagak Curley, which began on March 4, 2010. without opposition. Finance Minister Peterson, and On March 11, 2010, Fred the Minister responsible for the On March 22, Mr Elliott moved Schell moved a motion calling Nunavut Housing Corporation a motion to refer a number of on the Government to impose a Hunter Tootoo. the Government of Nunavut’s moratorium on purchases by the most recent annual reports Significant time during the Nunavut Liquor Commission on departmental and Crown spring sitting was also devoted of products originating from agency contracting, procurement to the consideration of a number the European Union until such and leasing activities to the of proposed supplementary time as the issue of the EU’s seal Committee of the Whole for appropriation acts to address product ban has been resolved consideration. The motion, the shortfall in the Nunavut to the territory’s satisfaction. seconded by Mr. Schell, was Housing Trust. Messrs. Peterson The motion, seconded by Paul passed without opposition. and Tootoo made a number of Okalik, was supported by Ministerial Statements during all Regular Members of the The proceedings of the the sitting concerning the Legislative Assembly. Members Committee of the Whole during government’s action plan to of the Executive Council the winter 2010 sitting of the address the shortfall. abstained on the vote. House were dominated by the scrutiny of the Government’s The House adjourned on June On March 18, 2010, Johnny proposed 2010-2011 main 10 for the summer recess. The Ningeongan moved a motion nd rd estimates and departmental 2 Session of the 3 Legislative calling on the Government of business plans. The main Assembly will reconvene on Canada to fully reinstate federal estimates were referred to October 19, 2010. funding for the Aboriginal the Committee of the Whole Healing Foundation. The Legislation following the delivery of Finance motion, seconded by Ron Elliott, Minister Keith Peterson’s Budget Twenty bills have been passed was passed unanimously. Address of March 8, 2010. by the Legislative Assembly Approximately two-thirds of since January 1, 2010. Bills 24, the Legislative Assembly’s The spring sitting began 33 and 34 were House Bills membership delivered remarks in on June 1. The proceedings of introduced under the authority support of the motion, including the Committee of the Whole of the Legislative Assembly’s Premier Eva Aariak. A number during the spring sitting were Management and Services Board. dominated by the scrutiny of the of Members’ interventions were Speaker James Arreak appeared subsequently quoted during aforementioned annual reports before the Committee of the the March 30, 2010, emergency on contracting, procurement Whole on the occasion of its 66 CANADIAN PARLIAMENTARY REVIEW/AUTUMN 2010 clause-by-clause consideration of on the Financial Management Order of Nunavut. each bill. Practices of the Department of On July 9, 2010, member of Bill 24 implemented the Health and Social Services and the the Advisory Council and Senior recommendations contained Follow-up on the 2005 Report to the Judge of the Nunavut Court in the final report of the Legislative Assembly of Nunavut of Justice, Robert Kilpatrick, Independent Commission to on the Financial Management unveiled the winning design at a Review Members’ Indemnities, Practices of the Government of ceremony held during Nunavut Allowances, Expenses and Nunavut. On June 10, the Finance Day festivities at the Legislative Benefits, which was tabled in Minister tabled the Government Assembly. The winning design the House by Speaker Arreak on of Nunavut’s response to the was submitted by Iqaluit artist December 8, 2009. Standing Committee’s report. Claude Roussel. Both documents are available for Bill 33 implemented a number downloading from the Legislative A number of dignitaries of recommendations contained Assembly’s website. participated in the Nunavut Day in the 2008-2009 annual report events, including Premier Eva of the Integrity Commissioner of The Standing Committee Aariak and Nunavut Member of Nunavut. The Bill also introduced on Oversight of Government Parliament and federal Minister new provisions concerning Operations and Public Accounts of Health Leona Aglukkaq. time limitations with respect to is anticipated to hold hearings in investigations conducted by the September 2010 on a number of Noteworthy Appointments Integrity Commissioner. reports of independent officers On May 12, 2010, the Prime of the Legislative Assembly. The Minister of Canada announced Bill 34 made a number of reports to be considered are the amendments to the Legislative the appointment of Edna Elias Auditor General’s 2010 report to the position of Commissioner Assembly and Executive Council to the Legislative Assembly on Act, including the introduction of Nunavut. Originally from the human resource capacity in community of Kugluktuk, Ms. of new provisions with respect the Government of Nunavut, to the tabling of annual reports Elias is a former educator and in addition to the most recent interpreter-translator. Ms. Elias by the Speaker and Premier annual reports of the Languages concerning such matters was sworn into office on May Commissioner of Nunavut and 31, 2010, in a ceremony held in as Members’ absences and the Information and Privacy Ministerial allowances. the Chamber of the Legislative Commissioner. Assembly Bill 35, the Licensed Practical Nurses Act and Bill 37, the Tobacco The Order of Nunavut On March 4, 2010, the Damages and Health Care Costs On January 1, 2010, The Order Legislative Assembly adopted Recovery Act, were referred to of Nunavut Act came into force. a motion unanimously the Standing Committee on The objective of the Order is to recommending that Elaine Legislation for scrutiny following recognize individuals who have Keenan Bengts be re-appointed their second reading during the made outstanding contributions as the Information and Privacy spring sitting and remain under to the cultural, social or economic Commissioner of Nunavut for consideration. The Standing well-being of Nunavut. The a five-year term of office. Ms. Committee is chaired by Mr. Order is the highest honour of Keenan Bengts was appointed Okalik. Nunavut and takes precedence Nunavut’s first Information and over all other orders, decorations Privacy Commissioner in 1999. Committee Activities or medals conferred by the She also serves as the Information On March 18, 2010, Standing Government of Nunavut. and Privacy Commissioner of the Northwest Territories. Committee on Oversight of On April 8, 2010, the Speaker Government Operations and of the Legislative Assembly Nattilik By-Election Public Accounts Chairperson and Chairperson of the Order On February 22, 2010, Enuk Mr. Arvaluk presented the of Nunavut Advisory Council Pauloosie resigned from the Standing Committee’s Report on issued a public invitation to the Review of the 2009 Reports of Legislative Assembly. A by- Nunavut artists to submit election for the constituency the Auditor General of Canada to the designs for the medal that will Legislative Assembly of Nunavut of Nattilik, which includes the be presented to members of the communities of Gjoa Haven and CANADIAN PARLIAMENTARY REVIEW/AUTUMN 2010 67 Taloyoak, was held on April 26, as Minister responsible for the former Minister of Tourism, 2010. Three candidates stood Public Service Commission but Parks, Culture and Sport, Dustin for election. Jeannie Ugyuk takes over as the Minister of Duncan, becomes the new of Taloyoak won a majority of Social Services and the Minister Minister of the Environment votes cast and was sworn into Responsible for the Status of and the Minister Responsible for office by Commissioner Elias Women. First-term MLA Tim SaskWater. on the morning of June 1, 2010. McMillan and former Chair Four Ministers maintain their Ms. Ugyuk rose in the House of the Standing Committee on current cabinet portfolios while that afternoon to deliver her Crown and Central Agencies an additional three are receiving first Member’s Statement and to becomes Minister Responsible for additional responsibilities. Bob pose her first oral and written Crown Investments Corporation, Bjornerud remains the Minister questions. Ms. Ugyuk is a former Information Technology Office, of Agriculture, Don McMorris, social worker, Inuit Language Information Services Corporation remains as the Minister of teacher and municipal councillor. and Saskatchewan Government Health, Jim Reiter maintains his Insurance. position as Minister of Highways Alex Baldwin Another first time and Transportation, Minister Office of the Legislative Assembly MLA receiving ministerial Responsible for Saskatchewan of Nunavut responsibilities is Laura Ross. Transportation Company and Ms.