Akeeagok to meet Trudeau in Ottawa on Tuesday
Meeting marks second for Nunavut premier and PM in recent weeks
Nunavut Premier P.J. Akeeagok, left, is scheduled to meet Prime Mininster Justin Trudeau in Ottawa on Tuesday, according to an itinerary released by the Prime Minister’s Office. (File photos by Mélanie Ritchot)
Nunavut Premier P.J. Akeeagok is scheduled to meet Prime Minister Justin Trudeau in person in Ottawa Tuesday afternoon, about two weeks after they held their first meeting by phone.
The two government leaders are scheduled to meet at 3:15 p.m. in Trudeau’s West Block office, according to the itinerary released by the Prime Minister’s Office Monday afternoon.
The meeting is to take place shortly before the federal Liberals unveil their fiscal update in the House of Commons.
Tuesday will be the second recent meeting between the two since Akeeagok was picked to be Nunavut’s premier on Nov. 17. Trudeau was also recently re-elected when his Liberal party formed a minority government in the Sept. 20 federal election.
Trudeau and Akeeagok spoke on the phone for about 20 minutes on Nov. 29 — about two weeks after Akeeagok became premier.
Akeeagok said then he was “very optimistic” he and Trudeau would work together on priorities they discussed, such as housing, infrastructure and mental health needs.
The premier said he had worked with the prime minister on other projects while Akeeagok was the president of the Qikiqtani Inuit Association, a post he gave up in order to run for a seat in Nunavut’s legislature.
PJ, I hope your meeting with Trudeau II is more productive than his was with Joe.
You could offer to help Justin in his trade dispute with Washington.
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Nunavut could diversify its economy by producing made-in-Nunavut electric vehicles. They could be built of steel made from iron ore from Mary River. We just need to tap some of the gas available under those high arctic islands and use it to smelt the iron that Baffin Iron Mine wants to sell.
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Doing this would require re-investing in education. Having something positive like this to do would certainly help with mental health issues in Nunavut. I bet it could generate enough money to cover the cost of elder care in every Nunavut Community.
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In exchange, you could ask Justin for the start-up money for the electric vehicle industry and some extra to build the houses needed to solve Nunavut’s housing crisis.
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See, its a win, win.
Do electric vehicles work here?
Are there any charging stations?
I’d switch if it’s feasible.
Will Akeeagok hold discussions with the Prime Minister in Inuktitut (like Lori Idlout)?? LOL
How will PM Hood Wink NU this time around? What promises as speaking notes will be given to NU? Lol
The Prime Minister will promise the moon and the stars and those eager to believe will, without guile, fall easily to the seductions of celebrity and power.
In the end all will prove to be what it has long been, performative, aspirational and devoid of any real substance or sacrifice.
PJ ask the Prime minister if Nunavut will get away from diesel generation as promised by every candidate from every party in the federal election within 10 years and what type electrical generation will be used within 10 years as promised.
Caribou Hunter: Ask Nunavummiut not say NO to proposed power alternatives just because their grand father fished in a stream or pond.
What do you seriously expect? More money from Ottawa? It’s time that Nunavut and its residents grow up and start managing their life and their Territory themself. Obviously, anything done by Ottawa is considered not good enough or offensive
FYI it was the Premier and QEC minister that removed the hydro site committee because they selected the wrong river in their opinion and not by Nunavumiut because there was a election coming up in the fall and that was the end of that and there goes the possibilities of alternative energy.
Honestly, what’s the point? Trudeau has had 6 years and has done absolutely nothing for the north. Harper was far from perfect, but at least he actually invested in the north. For Trudeau, the North is just a convenient photo op once every 2-3 years.