'A clear indication of how pervasive violence against women is in this territory'

Qulliit, Nunavut's Status of Women Council, said in a statement this week that Nunavut Premier Paul Okalik's abusive treatment of an Iqaluit woman in Labrador last week "clearly indicates disrespect for women" and is "a clear indication of how pervasive violence against women is in this territory."

Okalik was forced to apologize last week for an obscene remark he made about a female constituent, which he admits was "unbecoming behavior" for the premier of Nunavut.

Lynda Gunn, the executive director of the Nunavut Association of Municipalities, is the woman to whom Okalik directed the remarks.

In a July 3 letter, Gunn said she does not accept Okalik's apology and calls on him to resign. If he stays, she says Nunavut MLAs should remove him from the premier's job.

The controversy began when Elisapee Sheutiapik, president of the Nunavut Association of Municipalities and mayor of Iqaluit, overheard Okalik say, "What is that fucking bitch, Lynda Gunn, doing here?" at a June 25 dinner in Happy Valley-Goose Bay.

She said Okalik made the comment to his principal secretary, Bill Clay.

"I said, ‘Where's a bottle of Javex when you need it?' And I walked away," Sheutiapik said in an interview on June 29 last week.

"That, in my opinion, is unbecoming conduct of the premier," Sheutiapik said. "It's terrible, actually. I don't want this to happen again."

The incident prompted Sheutiapik and Gunn to each write letters denouncing the premier's behavior. They sent the letters to all Nunavut MLAs, and distributed them to Iqaluit city councillors.

Sheutiapik's letter, dated June 28, said Okalik showed "a clear lack of respect for NAM and women in Nunavut."

She also questioned whether Okalik is fit to serve as premier.

"Communities of Nunavut, representatives of NAM and women of Nunavut should be very concerned with your quality of representation for the territory at this time… after all, my impression is that you have determined that you are accountable to no one," Sheutiapik wrote.

Okalik issued a letter of apology that day, which said, "my behavior was inexcusable and I must tell you how sorry I am."

"I apologize for my behavior and hope we can move on," Okalik said later in an interview. "It was a difficult week."

"From time to time, we all make mistakes, and I apologize and it was totally unacceptable."

Sheutiapik and Gunn both met Okalik on Friday afternoon last. Gunn walked out of the meeting and now says she does not accept the apology.

"I just couldn't sit there any more and listen to it," Gunn said.

Sheutiapik remained and accepted Okalik's apology, because she said it's important for both of their organizations to work together.

"[Gunn] left because she said I was being too nice, but that's my style," said Sheutiapik.

Sheutiapik and Gunn pointed out that the Nunavut legislature passed a resolution that denounces violence against women. And they wonder if MLAs will vote to censure the premier. "Abuse includes emotional abuse," Gunn said.

Okalik's comments followed his appearance at the National Aboriginal Women's Summit in Corner Brook, Nfld. Nunavut is also set to host a meeting of ministers responsible for the status of women next week in Iqaluit.

But Okalik said his track record shows he supports women. He pointed to the $2 million that will be spent this year to carry out the Family Abuse Prevention Act, a controversial bill that would allow police to bar alleged wife beaters from their homes, before violence is done, after a phone call has been made by a concerned spouse.

Sheutiapik also said she worries Okalik's apparent anger towards Gunn was due to disagreements between her organization and the Nunavut government over how revenues from mining companies should be shared, once a devolution agreement with the federal government is struck.

NAM wants some of that money to flow directly to communities. Okalik has dismissed this idea, and says such money should be administered by his government.

"The only reason which I can determine why you'd convey such irrational behavior and clear lack of good judgment is because you're frustrated with NAM's attempt to work on the preparation of Nunavut's communities to meet the demands of the resource industry…," Sheutiapik wrote.

Prior to Okalik's inflammatory remark, Sheutiapik and Gunn said, other GN officials discouraged them from attending the dinner, which was held as part of Labrador's Resource Conference and Trade Exhibition. That event brought together delegates from Nunavut and the Nunatsiavut region of Labrador.

Sheutiapik and Gunn said they were told by David Simailak, the finance minister, that the dinner would be a "government-to-government meeting," and not include NAM.

But other non-government organizations, such as the Nunavut Economic Developers' Association and Nunavut Tunngavik Inc., were allowed in.

Okalik said the comments by his officials were simply based on a misunderstanding.

"That's the information I was working on," Okalik said, "that it was a government-to-government function, and a private dinner."

Sheutiapik also expressed concern that NAM's funding, provided by Nunavut, may be in jeopardy now that she has publicly criticized the premier. Okalik, in his letter, assured Sheutiapik that her organization's funding is secure.