Tipsy school rep ejected from meeting

ANNETTE BOURGEOIS

­The chair of the Keewatin Divisional Board of Education is demanding the dismissal of school board offical who attended a meeting under the influence of alcohol.

Board chairman Noel Kaludjak asked André Tautu, who represents Chesterfield Inlet on the regional board, to leave an April 16 meeting when he came to the 1:30 p.m. session smelling of booze. It was Tautu’s first meeting of the board’s new term.

“I assumed he was (intoxicated) because of his actions,” Kaludjak said. “I will not tolerate this kind of behaviour on our board. We have to draw the line somewhere.”

Kaludjak said the board’s policy on the issue is clear.

“Anybody who is smelling of alcohol or that I notice has been drinking by his action or stuttering­our policy is, if I notice anything unusual like that I can take action.”

The regional board has notified to the local education board in Chesterfield explaining the situation. That local board must now decide whether or not it wants Tautu to continue to represent the area.

It’s the second instance of public drunkenness among members of prominent Nunavut boards in the last two weeks.

Last week, the Qikiqtani Inuit Association executive committee said it would seek the removal of two executive members after they failed to attend a regional meeting because they were too intoxicated.

Kaludjak said this type of behaviour is not acceptable.

“It’s important to let the people know,” he said. “This sends a message out to the people that you cannot have alcohol in your blood when you’re at these important meetings.”