Legislative reports: Nunavut.

The Fifth Session of the First Legislative Assembly convened in Iqaluit on February 21, 2001. The Fourth Session had prorogued on November 3, 2000.

Several noteworthy events took place during the period of extended adjournment. A by-election was held in the electoral district of Quttiktuq on December 4, 2000. Rebekah Uqi Williams was sworn in as MLA on January 30, 2001, following confirmation of the results by a judicial recount held earlier in the month. The communities that comprise the constituency are Arctic Bay, Resolute Bay, Nanisivik and Grise Fiord. Grise Fiord is Canada's most northerly inhabited community.

In November, the Standing Committee on Government Operations and Services, chaired by Hunter Akat Tootoo, MLA for Iqaluit Centre, held a public meeting with Nunavut's Information and Privacy Commissioner, Elaine Keenan Bengts. The Committee reviewed her first annual report to the Assembly.

During the same month, the Standing Committee on Culture, Education and Health, chaired by Jobie Nutarak, MLA for Tunnuniq, met with the Languages Commissioner of Nuanvut, Eva Aariak. Proceedings of these appearances have been broadcast in Nunavut on the Aboriginal Peoples Television Network (APTN).

The Fifth Session began with an Opening Address delivered by Commissioner Peter T. Irniq. One of the announcements in the Opening Address was the Government's plan to initiate a program review exercise over the coming year.

The Standing Committee on Government Operations and Services tabled its review of the Information and Privacy Commissioner's annual report on February 23. The Committee has requested that the Government provide a comprehensive response to the Committee's recommendations within 120 days.

The Standing Committee on Culture, Language and Health tabled its review of the Languages Commissioner's annual report on February 26. One of the recommendations made was for the Legislative Assembly to establish a Special Committee to review Nunavut's Official Languages Act. The Committee was established by unanimous motion on February 26. This is the first Special Committee established by the Assembly. It has a two-year mandate to review the statute. The Committee is comprised of four Regular MLAs and one Minister, Peter Kattuk, MLA for Sanikiluaq. The Committee elected Rebekah...