Nunavut.

• Author: Baldwin, Alex
• Position: Legislative Reports

The winter 2011 sitting of the Legislative Assembly convened on February 22, 2011. The House unanimously adopted motions at its sitting of February 25, 2011, to invite witnesses from the Government of Canada and Northern retailers to appear before the Committee of the Whole during the spring sitting to respond to Members' questions concerning the federal Nutrition North Canada Program. The motions were moved by Quttiktuq MLA Ron Elliott and seconded by Rankin Inlet North MLA Tagak Curley.

The 2nd Session of the 3rd Legislative Assembly was prorogued on February 25, 2011. The 3rd Session convened on February 28, 2011. Commissioner of Nunavut Edna Ekhivalak Elias delivered the Opening Address.

Minister of Finance and Cambridge Bay MLA Keith Peterson delivered the Budget Address on March 1, 2011. The proceedings of the Committee of the Whole during the winter 2011 sitting of the House were dominated by the scrutiny of the Government of Nunavut's proposed 2011-2012 main estimates and departmental business plans. The winter sitting concluded on March 10, 2011.

In April of 2011, Speaker and Iqaluit West MLA Paul Okalik resigned his seat in the Legislative Assembly in order to stand for office in the 41si Canadian general election, which was held on May 2, 2011.

When the Legislative Assembly reconvened on May 31, 2011, for its spring sitting, lqaluit Centre MLA Hunter Tootoo was elected to serve as Speaker. Speaker Tootoo is the longest-serving Member of the Legislative Assembly, having been elected in the 1st territorial general election of February 1999.

Senior executives from the North West Company, Arctic Co-operatives Limited and Arctic Ventures appeared before the Committee of the Whole from June 1-2, 2011. Members from both sides of the House posed a number of questions and interventions during these deliberations.

Committee of the Whole proceedings during the spring sitting also included Members' consideration of the Government of Nunavut's most recent annual reports on departmental contracting, procurement and leasing activities, in addition to those of the Qulliq Energy Corporation.

The House adjourned for the summer recess at the conclusion of its sitting of June 9, 2011. The 3rd Session will reconvene on October 18, 2011. It is anticipated that the proceedings of the fall sitting will be dominated by the scrutiny of the Government of Nunavut's proposed 2012-2013 capital estimates.

Legislation

A dozen bills have been passed to date by...