Two Nunavut deputy ministers start new jobs in July

Premier Eva Aariak announced March 11 that two people will start new deputy minister jobs with the Government of Nunavut at the beginning of July.

Janet Slaughter, a family lawyer who has worked for the Nunavut Legal Services Board for the past three years, will serve as deputy minister of justice starting July 1.

She succeeds Koovian Flanagan, who departed the job in September 2009.

Aluki Rojas, now the deputy minister of Human Resources, will start work July 2 as deputy minister of Intergovernmental Affairs.

“I look forward to working more closely with Aluki in this new role where she will be advising and assisting me on a regular basis as we strive to enhance Nunavut’s recognition in Canada and the world,” Aariak said in a news release.

Rojas, who is fluent in English, Inukitut and Spanish, has a masters degree in Canadian studies.

She succeeds David Omilgoitok, a 22-year veteran of the public service, who will depart the job July 1.

“I want to thank David for 22 years of public service with the Government of Nunavut and the Northwest Territories. He was clearly extremely committed to the government not just as his employer, but more generally to Nunavummiut as a public servant,” Aariak said in a news release.

The deputy minister position at the Department of Culture, Language, Elders and Youth is still unfilled, having been vacated by Phoebe Hainnu for personal health reasons.

“It is very encouraging to hear that Phoebe, through her tenacious nature, has already made much progress and we continue to wish her a speedy recovery,” Aariak said.

The premier’s news release said the deputy minister’s job at CLEY will be filled by “a competitive executive search process over the coming months.”