Fourth Nunavut legislature gets ready to start work

Premier Peter Taptuna at a swearing-in ceremony on the morning of Nov. 19. One of Taptuna’s next tasks will be the assignment of portfolios to his new cabinet ministers. (PHOTO BY DAVID MURPHY)

(UPDATED 7:40 p.m.)

Despite a blizzard that closed businesses, schools and most government buildings in the Iqaluit, MLAs went ahead with the first sitting day of the fourth Legislative Assembly Nov. 19, when they formally endorsed a new speaker and executive council, or cabinet.

The sitting followed a swearing-in ceremony in the morning, when the new MLAs took their oaths of office.

In the afternoon, the assembly passed a motion officially naming Amittuq MLA George Quviq Qulaut as speaker of the house and Kugluktuk MLA Peter Taptuna as premier of Nunavut.

The MLAs announced Nunavut’s executive council at the assembly as well, which includes nine names.

The cabinet is as follows:

• Peter Taptuna: premier; minister of executive and intergovernmental affairs; minister responsible for aboriginal affairs; minister responsible for the Utility Rates Review Council.

• Monica Ell: deputy premier; minister of health.

• George Kuksuk: minister of economic development and transportation; minister responsible for mines; minister responsible for the Nunavut Housing Corp.

• Johnny Mike: minister of environment.

• Paul Okalik: minister of justice; minister of culture and heritage; minister of energy; minister responsible for Qulliq Energy Corp.; minister responsible for immigration; minister responsible for labour; minister of languages; minister responsible for the Liquor Licensing Board.

• Keith Peterson: minister of finance; minister responsible for the liquor commission; minister responsible for Workers’ Safety and Compensation Commission.

• Paul Quassa: minister of education; minister responsible for Nunavut Arctic College.

• Tom Sammurtok: minister of community and government services.

• Jeannie Ugyuk: government house leader; minister of family services; minister responsible for poverty reduction; minister responsible for homelessness; minister responsible for the status of women.

(See list embedded below)

During members’ statements, Taptuna thanked MLAs for electing him as premier, as well as his family and constituents. He also thanked members of the outgoing assembly.

“I’m very humbled and honoured that faith and trust taken upon me by electing me as premier of Nunavut,” Taptuna said.

“I congratulate Mr. Okalik, Mr. Quassa, for putting their names in for candidates for the premiership,” he said.

Taptuna also touched on one of his “key beliefs,” the necessity of better employment for Nunavummiut.

“Employment leads to better self esteem, self confidence and overall healthier, happier families in our communities,” the premier said.

The next sitting of the legislative assembly will start March 6, 2014.

Premier and Executive Council of Nunavut