Nunavut.

• Author: Baldwin, Alex
• Position: Legislative reports

The Third Session of the Second Legislative Assembly of Nunavut reconvened on February 21, 2006. Finance Minister and Baker Lake MLA David Simailak delivered his first Budget Address on February 22. The proceedings of the House during the February-March sitting were dominated by the Assembly's scrutiny of the Government of Nunavut's 2006-2007 Main Estimates and departmental business plans.

During the morning of February 27, the Nunavut Leadership Forum, an informal body consisting of all MLAs, met to select a new member of the Executive Council of Nunavut, to replace Pangnirtung MLA Peter Kilabuk, who resigned from Cabinet in January. Nanulik MLA Patterk Netser and Uqqummiut MLA James Arreak were nominated to serve on Cabinet. Mr. Netser was chosen in a secret ballot election following remarks from both candidates. A formal motion to recommend Mr. Netser's appointment was made during the afternoon sitting of the House.

On March 1, the Legislative Assembly recommended by way of motion the appointment of the members of the Nunavut Electoral Boundaries Commission, which was established pursuant to the Nunavut Elections Act. Beverley Browne of Iqaluit, Senior Judge of the Nunavut Court of Justice, serves as Presiding Member of the Commission. John Ningark of Kugaaruk and Bernadette Niviatsiak of Rankin Inlet also serve on the Commission. The Commission has a mandate to examine Nunavut's current electoral boundaries and develop recommendations for consideration by the Legislative Assembly. The Commission is required to report its findings to the Legislative Assembly by the fall of this year.

On March 6, Mr. Kilabuk was appointed by the Assembly to serve as Deputy Speaker and Chairperson of the Committee of the Whole. He also sits on two Standing Committees of the Legislative Assembly.

A total of six Bills were passed during the February-March sitting, including amendments to the Conflict of Interest Act, the Financial Administration Act and the Exemptions Act. A new Statistics Act and Bills to amend the Liquor Act, the Senior Citizens and Disabled Persons Property Tax Relief Act and the Fire Prevention Act are presently under consideration by Standing Committees of the Legislative Assembly. Substantive amendments to the Nunavut Elections Act were passed during the fall 2005 sitting.

The Legislative Assembly recessed on March 14. On March 15, Premier Paul Okalik announced the appointment of Mr. Netser as Minister of Environment and Minister...