Iqaluit council names committee chairs

Meeting for the first time in 2010, Iqaluit city councillors selected chairs and co-chairs for most committees Tuesday.

Coun. Mat Knickelbein proposed striking a committee to push for improvements to Iqaluit’s marine infrastructure, but Mayor Elisapee Sheutiapik said that issue should be included under a proposed economic development and sustainability joint committee.

Councillors will choose members of that committee later, because it’s still without terms of reference.

All chairs and co-chairs serve a one-year term, except for the Development Appeal Board, which carries a three-year term.

The chairs and co-chairs for the city’s main committees are: Finance committee of the whole: Romeyn Stevenson, chair, David Ell, co-chair. Public works and engineering committee of the whole: Mat Knickelbein, chair, Jimmy Kilabuk, co-chair. Planning and lands committee of the whole: Mary Wilman, chair, Mary Akpalialuk, co-chair. Niksiit committee: Simon Nattaq, chair, Jimmy Kilabuk, co-chair.

Council has three representatives on each of the following committees: Recreation committee, Romeyn Stevenson, chair, Mary Akpalialuk, co-chair, Simon Nattaq, regular member. Public safety committee: Mary Wilman, chair, Mary Akpalialuk, co-chair, Mat Knickelbein, regular member.

Simon Nattaq will once again serve as the chair of the Search and Rescue committee, a position he’s held for the last six years. Mayor Elisapee Sheutiapik, by law, is chair of the Emergency Management Plan committee, and Mat Knickelbein will serve as a regular member.

Romeyn Stevenson will chair the Development Appeal Board and Simon Nattaq will chair the Board of Revision.