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November 1, 2002
No advice is good advice
The standing committee
on health and education is not due to present its report on Bill 1, the proposed
Education Act until at least January, but Hunter Tootoo, MLA for Iqaluit West,
refered Education Minister Peter Kilabuk to a prediction he made in the spring
that the bill could be deemed unconstitutional.
He asked the minister if
the department of education sought a legal opinion before releasing the proposed
act.
Kilabuk hesitated before
answering, saying he found it difficult to respond to the question while the
bill is still before the standing committee, but admitted that, yes, the department
had sought advice from the department of justice while preparing the bill.
Tootoo asked if the minister
would tell members of the House what the department of justice had advised.
Kilabuk agreed only to provide the information to the standing committee, and
to MLAs, only if the committee approved it.
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