Legislative reports: Nunavut.

The Fifth Session of the First Legislative Assembly of Nunavut reconvened on May 17 in Cambridge Bay. For the second time since the creation of Nunavut, the Assembly sat in a community outside of the capital.

Cambridge Bay is the administrative centre of the Kitikmeot region in western Nunavut. The community lies on the south end of Victoria Island, north of the Arctic Circle. Proceedings of the Assembly took place at the Kullik Ilihakvik School.

A major piece of legislation considered by the House during the sitting was the Integrity Act. This replaced the conflict of interest provisions in the Legislative Assembly and Executive Council Act with a new, stand-alone statute. The Integrity Act followed a comprehensive review of existing legislation conducted by Nunavut's Conflict of Interest Commissioner, Robert Stanbury.

Mr. Stanbury's report, For a Culture of Integrity, was tabled in the House during the sitting by Speaker Kevin O'Brien. The Bill, which received unanimous support in the House, was introduced by Kelvin Ng, MLA for Cambridge Bay.

Mr. Stanbury has now assumed the position of Integrity Commissioner of Nunavut. He is one of four statutory officers who report directly to the Legislative Assembly. The others are the Information and Privacy Commissioner, the Languages Commissioner and the Chief Electoral Officer.

On May 24, the Assembly held its first Midnight Sun Sitting. Cambridge Bay experiences 24-hour daylight from late April until early September. Proceedings began at 10:01p.m. The House rose at 2:05a.m., with the majority of seats in the public gallery still filled.

Several major documents were tabled during the sitting, including Nunavut's first set of Public Accounts. The Public Accounts are automatically referred to the Standing Committee on Government Operations and Services for review. This Committee is chaired by Hunter Akat Tootoo, MLA for Iqaluit Centre.

Bills passed in the Fifth Session to date are:

* Appropriation Act, 2001-2002

* Supplementary Appropriation Act, No. 2, 2000-01

* Utility Rates Review Council Act

* An Act to amend the Interpretation Act (Time Zones)

* Nunavut Power Corporation Utility Assets Transfer Confirmation Act

* An Act to amend the Labour Standards Act (parental leave)

* Integrity Act

* Loan Authorization Act, 2001-02

* An Act to amend certain Acts concerning Health Professions

* Supplementary Appropriation Act, No. 1, 2001-02

Bill 9, Change of Name Act, 2001, received second reading...