How COVID-19 will influence Nunavut's special sitting of the legislature

COVID-19 will be front and centre when the Nunavut legislature resumesMonday.

The legislature is having a special sitting after thespring sitting was cancelled due to COVID-19.Acting House LeaderLorne Kusugaksaid they will have two bills coming forward specifically dealing with COVID-19.

Kusugak said Bill 46deal with costs related to the pandemic, ranging fromisolation hubs to assisting food security.

"That will include everything to do with the airlines, the essential workers wage program and the contract management," said Kusugak.

The other legislationrelated to COVID-19 will be Bill47, which will deal with capital projects, such as the Iqaluit port and the Pond Inletsmall craft harbour,which require construction workers to stay in isolation hubs predominantly hotels in the South.

As of Sept. 14, 1,367 construction workers have gone throughisolation hubs prior to coming into the territory. In June a special financial warrant was issued to the Department of Community and Government services for $18 million to isolate out-of-territory construction workers.

Kusugak said there will also be amendments made to theLabour Standards Act to protect employees from disciplinaryactions for leave related to COVID-19.

Arviat North-Whale Cove MLA John Mainsays pandemic-related issues will be top of mind for him this sitting.

"There's been a lot of hardship and there's been a lot of anxiety," said Main about the pandemic. Overall, he said he'sproud of the government of Nunavut's response.

"They made some very tough decisions early in the game to establish the isolation hubs, which was not popular. But I think, in hindsight, it was the right thing to do," said Main.

He wants to see more money for infrastructure, such ashealth-care facilities, and to see more Nunavummiut employed in them.

But Mainpoints out that Nunavut had urgent problems that needed to be addressed before the pandemic started.

"Establish a better ... situation where we have less reliance on outside labour and greater self-sufficiency within the territory to meet our needs."

House will be physically distanced

While the legislatureis discussing COVID-19, memberswill also be adjusting to new physically distancedrules.

Ministers and MLAs will be splitinto two groups: one groupwill sitatdesks on the floor of the legislature, and the otherwill sit behind them in the public gallery. When the first cohort is done speaking they will switch spots with members sitting in the gallery.

Everyone in the chamber will be physically distanced by two metres and will not have to wear masks.

Because members will take up the whole chamber, the public is not allowed in the legislature. Residents will be able to view the proceedings on cable TV on the legislative channel, and over the radio.

Media will have to spread out throughout the building between two media booths and a screen broadcasting in the lobby. They will only be allowed to interview members by appointment, which will happenat a podium in the foyer.