CGT portfolio not a demotion

The article by Patricia D’Souza (April 11) is somewhat misleading. I refer specifically to where she writes that the premier demoted Peter Kilabuk by moving him from the government’s largest department to its smallest. She states he also has responsibility for the department of community government and transportation.

Ninety-nine per cent of Nunavut’s population lives in the City of Iqaluit or in one of the 25 hamlets that exist through territorial legislation. The department of community government and transportation has direct responsibility for water and sewage, fire protection services, emergency preparedness, search and rescue, recreation, airports, roads, garbage collection and disposal, community development and municipal buildings.

The CGT department allocates tens of millions of dollars every year for the operation and maintenance of municipal systems. It also allocates tens of millions annually for municipal and transportation capital projects. Add to this the training and development initiatives, and you have a department that rivals any in importance, and runs a close third or fourth in budget requirements.

When the premier gave CGT to Kilabuk, he basically said that you have responsibility for where people live, their sanitation, safety and recreation in the communities, and also how most of the food and other necessities of life get there.

You also have to ensure they receive training to do the tasks and activities in the most effective and efficient manner. And one more thing, we can’t give you adequate funding to do it properly. On the plus side, you do have excellent staff.

The only regret here is that Kilabuk and his deputy minister, Tom Rich, will not have enough time to truly do the department justice before the next election.

Robert Janes
Rankin Inlet