Nunavut.

• Author: Baldwin, Alex
• Position: Legislative Reports

Ann Meekitjuk Hanson, a former journalist, author and Deputy Commissioner of the Northwest Territories, was appointed Nunavut's new Commissioner in April of this year. Her first official appearance in the Chamber was on May 5, when she gave assent to a number of Bills immediately prior to proroguing the Second Session of the Second Legislative Assembly.

A total of nineteen Bills were passed during the Second Session, including the Legislative Assembly Statutes Amendment Act, which includes provisions to clarify the procedure for giving assent to Bills.

The Second Session witnessed the introduction of a number of formal motions. During consideration of the 2005-06 main estimates, two motions were passed deleting specific line items from the proposed budgets of the Department of Community and Government Services and the Department of Environment. Recorded votes took place on both motions.

Rankin Inlet North MLA Tagak Curley introduced a number of motions, including one to set the date of the Assembly's mid-term leadership review of Cabinet. The review will take place in the fall of 2006.

Nanulik MLA and Deputy Speaker Patterk Netser, seconded by Sanikiluaq MLA Peter Kattuk, introduced a motion to formally express the Legislative Assembly's support of the House of Commons Standing Committee on Aboriginal Affairs and Northern Development's request that the Government of Canada appoint a judicial inquiry into the issue of the slaughter of Inuit sled dogs. The motion was unanimously adopted by the House.

Arviat MLA David Alagalak introduced a motion empowering the Legislative Assembly's Standing Committee on Health and Education to hold public hearings and consultations on the long-term role of Nunavut Arctic College.

The Legislative Assembly also unanimously passed a motion recommending the appointment of Johnny Kusugak of Rankin Inlet to serve as the territory's second Languages Commissioner.

The Rules of the Legislative Assembly were amended during the sitting. The amendments dealt with such areas as the tabling of documents and returns to written questions.

The government's formal response to the Legislative Assembly's Standing Committee on Government Operations and Accountability's report on the review of the Auditor General's most recent annual report was tabled during the sitting. All Standing Committee reports and government responses thereto are posted on the Assembly website. Committee Chair Hunter Tootoo (MLA--Iqaluit Centre) also...