Nunavut MLAs issue public spanking to AWOL colleague

Uqqummiut MLA Samuel Nuqingaq stifles a yawn at a swearing-in ceremony for new MLAs Nov. 19. The assembly’s internal management committee will dock Nuqingaq’s pay following a two-day absence from last week’s MLA orientation lesson and a half-day absence from the Nunavut leadership forum on Nov. 15. (PHOTO BY DAVID MURPHY)

The Nunavut legislative assembly’s internal management committee will impose a pay cut on Uqqummiut MLA Samuel Nuqingaq following a two-day absence from part of an orientation session for newly-elected MLAs held between Nov. 4 and Nov. 15.

Nuqingaq also showed up late for the Nunavut leadership forum Nov. 15, when MLAs gathered to elect a speaker, premier and executive council.

On that day, he missed the morning session but did appear at the beginning of the afternoon.

At the time, he told Nunatsiaq News he had been “sleeping.”

In response, the assembly’s management and services board, an internal committee of MLAs that manages the house and oversees the conduct of MLAs, has decided to dock Nuqingaq’s pay.

“The board is very disappointed at member Nuqingaq’s recent absences from our meetings and deliberations. As a consequence of his actions, the board has directed that recoveries be made from his allowances to reflect these absences,” speaker George Qulaut said in a statement.

As speaker, Qulaut is chair of the management and services board.

“It is our hope that the member will reflect on his actions and his obligations to his constituents,” Qulaut said.

Sections 2, 11 and 18 of the Legislative Assembly and Executive Council Act give MLAs the power to discipline members, up to and including suspension or expulsion from the house.