It’s back to normal routine for Nunavut capital’s city council

Norah Whitfield, appearing as a delegate for Pilimmaksarniq, or “Coming Together for Children and Youth in Iqaluit,” gives an update on her group’s efforts to engage the city’s youth to Iqaluit city councillors May 11. (PHOTO BY STEVE DUCHARME)

Spectators may have wanted a sequel to Iqaluit city council’s previous bombshell meeting of April 26, which saw the removal of “Waterless Wednesdays,” and a contentious debate over the benefits allotted to Mayor Madeleine Redfern, along with the resignation of a councillor.

But they would have been disappointed with the council’s return to routine business May 10.

The abrupt resignation of former councilor Gideonie Joamie May 4 went largely unacknowledged by Iqaluit councillors during their first regular council meeting following his departure.

“It is regretful that our colleague resigned from his seat. I know he was very capable doing council’s job. It’s unfortunate that he resigned, he was very helpful in the chambers and he had a lot to say about our issues,” Coun. Jonanasie Akumalik said in a statement to council.

Akumalik was the only councilor to mention Joamie’s resignation.

In an internal email obtained by Nunatsiaq News last week, Joamie told fellow councillors that he was resigning, effective immediately, citing several issues including the controversy over proposed vacation travel assistance benefits to mayor Madeleine Redfern.

In that email, Joamie called the VTA issue a “side show” and “self-serving.”

Council has not yet set a date to determine what becomes of Joamie’s vacant seat. It can either appoint an unsuccessful candidate from the last election in October or hold a by-election.

The only contender who didn’t earn a council seat in the October election was former councillor Lynda Gunn.

Council also addressed two other resignations from the city’s grievance and economic development committees, vacated by councillors Terry Dobbin and Megan Pizzo-Lyall respectively.

Coun. Akumalik was appointed as the new chairperson for the grievance committee.

Akumalik appeared reluctant at first to accept the nomination and asked city administration how often the grievance committee meets.

“They may have met once in five years,” Redfern said — which is the main reason Coun. Dobbin cited for his resignation.

“Then I accept the nomination,” Akumalik said to a round of snickering from council.

Pizzo-Lyall was also appointed as a council member on the grievance committee.

Dobbin, currently on vacation, was nominated to co-chair the city’s economic development committee by Coun. Kuthula Matshazi, but the issue was deferred to a later meeting pending his acceptance.

And discussion over the economic development committee’s long debated “Destination Marketing Fee,” which proposes to collect a three per cent voluntary tax on every hotel room booking, is expected to occur in the near future.

Matshazi, the committee’s chair, recommended the fee be considered by council during his committee report.

“It is a very useful tool to promote our city,” Matshazi said to council, adding that meetings with the hotel industry and Nunavut Tourism on the issue have gone over well.

With summer vacation on the horizon for many Iqaluit youths, council received an update on the “Coming Together for Children and Youth in Iqaluit Project,” an initiative spearheaded locally by Taylor Newbury Consulting, using funds from national youth organizations such as the Boys and Girls Clubs of Canada.

Norah Whitfield, appearing as a delegate for the program, now known as Pilimmaksarniq, listed several successes from the program, which began in 2012.

Two national program packages focusing on mental wellness, distributed to local youth centre coordinators, have been carried out with great success, she said.

That includes “Flex Your Head,” a general program focusing on exercise and mental wellness and “Go Girls,” a program designed to promote positive self-esteem among young girls.

Pilimmaksarniq is approaching the end of its funding schedule from national youth organizations, Whitfield told councillors.

Its co-ordinators are looking for local partners to continue financing their efforts.

Deputy mayor Romeyn Stevenson said he was glad the initiative is reporting strong support from Iqalungmiut.

“I’m glad to see some of the programs got a foothold,” he told Whitfield, adding that there is a “need for activities in the community” for youth.

Whitfield told council she was “not directly interested in approaching city for funding” but to give councillors an update on the program and to seek advice for any potential partner going forward.

Councillors suggested Whitfield contact the department of recreation or the Qikiqtani Inuit Association for assistance on the matter.

According to Whitfield, the program has six months remaining before its coordinator funding runs out.

Iqaluit’s next city council meeting is scheduled for May 24.