NPC appoints new chair in time for fall land use plan meetings

The NPC’s acting chair, Andrew Nakashuk, has now been appointed as the commission’s chairperson for a three-year term. (FILE PHOTO)

The Nunavut Planning Commission has named Andrew Nakashuk as its new chairperson, the organization announced this week.

Nakashuk, from Pangnirtung, has served on NPC’s board of directors since May 2013.

The commission’s board of directors appointed Nakashuk to a three-year term as chair July 8.

Nakashuk isn’t new to the role; he served as acting chair to the commission’s board of directors since its former chair, Hunter Tootoo, left the position in 2015 to run as member of Parliament for Nunavut.

His appointment comes as the NPC completes its Draft Nunavut Land Use Plan and prepares to host public information sessions across Nunavut this coming fall.

Following those meetings, the NPC will host a public hearing on the plan in March 2017 in Iqaluit.

But the NPC is still waiting to hear if the federal government plans to fund those hearings.

The federally-funded commission has requested extra money from Ottawa to host an additional final round of consultations and a final hearing, although the NPC said those funding discussions are ongoing.