Nunavut cabinet stays at eight members as Tom Sammurtok quits

Tom Sammurtok, then the minister of CGS, at the launch of construction for the new Iqaluit airport last summer, when he promised jobs galore for Inuit on the project. Premier Peter Taptuna removed all of Sammurtok’s cabinet responsibilities following the laying of drunk driving charges against the MLA this past April 13. On May 5, Sammurtok quit cabinet for good. (FILE PHOTO)

(Updated 6 a.m., May 7)

Tom Sammurtok, the MLA for Rankin Inlet North-Chesterfield Inlet, quit cabinet May 5, but for now, MLAs won’t add another cabinet member, said a Nunavut legislative assembly news release issued late in the afternoon May 6.

Premier Peter Taptuna stripped Sammurtok of all cabinet duties this past April 14, after Sammurtok had been charged on April 13 with impaired driving and operating a motor vehicle while under the influence of alcohol.

Sammurtok, who had served as minister of Community and Government Services, had until yesterday sat in cabinet as minister without portfolio, qualifying him for the big extra salary payment that goes to cabinet ministers.

All MLAs, as of October 2013, received a basic indemnity of at least $97,355 per year. On top of that, cabinet ministers receive an annual ministerial indemnity that stood at $76,422 a year in 2012-13 and is likely more now.

The territorial premier has the power to assign or withdraw cabinet portfolios, but does not have the power to remove members from cabinet. Only MLAs may do that.

So, in resigning now, Sammurtok avoids the potential public embarrassment of having to face a non-confidence motion in the house after MLAs resume sitting later this month.

Sammurtok announced his decision at a meeting May 5 of the legislature’s full caucus, but his decision did not become public knowledge until May 6. The full MLAs’ caucus usually sits behind closed doors in advance of public legislative assembly sittings and committee hearings.

The caucus chairperson, Steve Mapsalak said that for now, the size of cabinet will remain at eight members and that MLAs will not choose another minister to replace Sammurtok.

But MLAs will review the size of cabinet at a mid-term leadership review to be held later this year.

After the October 2013 election, which produced an enlarged house with 22 members, MLAs had agreed to a nine-member cabinet, the premier plus eight ministers, but pending the mid-term review, will stick with the premier and seven ministers

Sammurtok is scheduled to appear before the Nunavut Court of Justice in Iqaluit May 21 to face the charges laid against him last month.

The legislative assembly’s spring sitting is scheduled to start May 25.

“When the legislative assembly reconvenes in May for our spring sitting, I will accept whatever discipline my colleagues deem appropriate,” Sammurtok said this past April 14 in a statement.

Sammurtok will stay on as regular MLA for Rankin Inlet North-Chesterfield Inlet.