Housing shortage affects all Nunavummiut: Elliott

“The rules and procedures for allocating social housing units are very clear,” said Quttiktuq MLA Ron Elliott, here, at centre, in the Nunavut legislature. (PHOTO BY SARAH ROGERS)

Quttiktuq MLA Ron Elliott says he respects a decision made by the Nunavut Housing Corp. to deny a social housing unit to Tununiq MLA Joe Enook.

“Obviously, he had the support of his community because he won the election,” Elliott said. “[But] there are rules, and as MLAs, we constantly tell corporations to do their jobs and follow the rules.

“The rules and procedures for allocating social housing units are very clear.”

Enook, a former vice-president with Nunasi Corp, lived in Iqaluit for at least 16 years before he won the September by-election in Tununiq.

During his campaign, he promised to return to Pond Inlet if elected.

Enook did go back to his native Pond Inlet in early November, expecting to move into a social housing unit approved for him in October by the local housing association.

But the Nunavut Housing Corp. stepped in to deny the allocation, saying Enook didn’t meet the criteria.

The issue came to a head last week when Enook went public saying he felt betrayed by the Government of Nunavut’s decision, which has forced the MLA and his wife to move into a shack since relocating to Pond Inlet.

Elliott acknowledged that Enook is in a “unique situation” being one of the few MLAs who was living outside his riding at the time he was elected.

The issue all ties into the housing shortage felt across the territory, he said.

“Social housing is a very serious issue across the territory,” Elliott said. “The Nunavut Housing Needs Survey showed that 3,580 more units are immediately required. Housing is a concern for us all.”

Elliott, who owns a home in Arctic Bay, added that Enook is not eligible for the $4,800 housing allowance offered to MLAs because he is not a homeowner in Pond Inlet.

Elliott was the only regular member of Nunavut’s legislative assembly to respond to a request for an interview by Nunatsiaq News.

The newspaper contacted all regular MLAs last week (excluding Akulliq MLA John Ningark, who was taking time off.)

The only other MLA who responded to the request was Iqaluit West MLA Monica Ell, who declined to comment on the issue.