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.