Inuit delegates dump Kaludjak from NTI presidency

Inuit beneficiaries in Nunavut will elect a new president for Nunavut Tunngavik Inc. Dec. 13, following the removal of Paul Kaludjak from the position in a vote held Oct. 26 at the organization’s annual general meeting in Rankin Inlet.

Kaludjak has been under suspension from the president’s job since Aug. 30, following an Aug. 26 decision by NTI’s board of directors.

At the time, NTI’s board said Kaludjak ran up unauthorized expenditures of about $52,000 on the organization’s corporate credit card. The board ordered Kaludjak to repay the money and suspended him for the period between Aug. 30 and Oct. 30.

But this week, delegates meeting in Rankin Inlet voted unanimously to remove Kaludjak and to include the president’s position in a Nunavut-wide election that had already been scheduled for Dec. 13.

The resolution, which was discussed in camera, suggests that Kaludjak created new issues for them after Aug. 30.

“Mr. Paul Kaludjak while under suspension has contravened the NTI Code of Conduct s. 2 by failing to conduct himself so as to justify and maintain the trust and confidence of Inuit and s. 3 (a) by failing to act honestly and loyally to NTI and s. 3 (c) by placing his own interest before the best interest of NTI,” the resolution states.

The resolution was moved by Okalik Eegeesiak, the president of the Qikiqtani Inuit Association and seconded by Philip Paneak of Pond Inlet.

On Dec. 13, Nunavut beneficiaries will be asked to elect someone to serve out the remainder of Kaludjak’s term, which was to expire in December 2012.

NTI had already announced an election on that date to fill two vice president positions, now held by James Eetoolook and Raymond Ningeocheak.

The nomination period for all three votes opens Nov. 1 and closes Nov. 5 at 5:00 p.m.

To be eligible, a candidate must be at least 16, an enrolled beneficiary of the Nunavut land claim agreement and a Canadian citizen.