Ottawa to hire help for Anawak

ANNETTE BOURGEOIS

Nunavut’s interim commissioner may be responsible for hiring Nunavut’s first public service, but not his own deputy.

Indian Affairs and Northern Development Minister Ron Irwin recently informed Jack Anawak that a deputy commissioner for the new territory will be assigned to help him in his new job.

A copy of a letter dated April 17, obtained by Nunatsiaq News, suggests that the decision to add a senior bureaucrat to the interim commissioner’s office was made by Nunavut Tunngavik Inc, the GNWT and the federal government.

“As discussed with the premier of the Northwest Territories and the president of Nunavut Tunngavik Incorporated, it has been agreed that your office should be strengthened by the appointment of a deputy interim commissioner,” Irwin writes.

“In view of the importance of this position, the Parties (to the Nunavut Political Accord) will be involved in the selection process,” the letter continues.

There was no mention of a deputy interim commissioner in the Nunavut Implementation Commission’s reports, which detail the set up of the Nunavut government.

Anawak, who recently resigned his seat as Nunatsiaq riding’s Member of Parliament, was named interim commissioner on April 15.

Both Nunavut Tunngavik Inc and the GNWT have said they’d rather leave the choice of deputy interim commissioner to Anawak.

Let Anawak choose

“If we selected the best out of a pretty incredible list to be the interim commissioner, we should allow that person to choose the deputy interim commissioner,” Kusugak said.

Kusugak said he’s never discussed staffing the position with either Irwin or Morin.

Prior to Anawak’s appointment, Kusugak did ask Irwin to appoint a deputy interim commissioner. He made that request, he said, because of months of delay in appointing the interim commissioner.

But since the appointment has now been made, it should be Anawak’s job to hire the deputy interim commissioner, Kusugak said.

The GNWT also says it’s up to Anawak to hire his own staff ­ including the position of deputy interim commissioner.

“In our view it’s the interim commissioner who’s responsible for hiring and making those decisions,” Richard Bargery, executive assistant to Finance Minister John Todd said on behalf of Premier Don Morin’s office.

The interim commissioner is bound by section 71 (2) of the Nunavut Act to take direction from the Minister of Indian Affairs and Northern Development. Irwin outlined Anawak’s duties in a letter of instruction.

“It was not in the letter of instruction to the interim commissioner how the deputy interim commissioner was to be chosen,” Kusugak said. “There is nothing that says the interim commissioner shouldn’t (choose his own deputy).”

The letter of instruction does state, though, that the interim commissioner must also follow current GNWT hiring regulations.

Attempts were made to reach both Irwin and Anawak, but those calls were not returned by press time.