Nunavut Legislative Beat

On September 21st, 2020, the Nunavut Legislative Assembly met for the first time since March 12^th. Originally scheduled to sit on May 26^th, 2020, the Assembly decided cancel that sitting as a result of the global Covid-19 pandemic. In September, the Nunavut Assembly welcomed two new members elected in by-elections over the summer (Calvin Pedersen for Kugluktuk and Craig Simailak for Baker Lake). The focus of the September sitting was largely on Covid-19 issues and budgetary bills, however, in addition to passing three supplementary appropriations bills and two write off bills, all financial in nature, the Assembly considered and passed the following bills:

• Bill 49 – An Act to Amend the Labour Standards Act – to allow for employees to take unpaid leave due to public emergencies, such as Covid-19, and to allow for employees to take leave due to family abuse.