Curley won’t talk about his premier-platform

GREG YOUNGER-LEWIS

Tagak Curley has thrown his hat in the ring to be Nunavut’s next premier, but won’t reveal what he’ll do if that hat is picked.

After receiving news that he was the acclaimed MLA for Rankin Inlet North, Curley confirmed that he is eyeing the top political position in the territory.

However, he declined in an interview to comment on what he hopes to do if he is elected premier. Moreover, he said his proposed action plan would be for elected officials only.

“I’m not going to go into those things now,” Curley said. “That’s something we discuss, the MLAs among ourselves. If it was a free election, I would have an announcement to make as to why (I should be premier).”

But while Curley remains mum, his main challenger for the premier’s seat laid out his plan freely.

Long before the election campaign began, Premier Paul Okalik announced his hopes of remaining government leader. Since the election writ was dropped, Okalik’s promises have been as much about leadership, as his constituency.

In a recent interview, Okalik repeatedly pointed to the past government’s record as reason to re-elect him.

Among other promises, Okalik hopes to keep what he describes as the former government’s vision for a trilingual education system in Nunavut. He’s also highlighting government programs that he would expand, such as training programs to boost Inuit representation in government.

However, unlike Curley, Okalik still has to battle with another candidate for a seat in the next government. Doug Workman, president of the Nunavut Employees Union, is going head-to-head with the premier in Iqaluit West.

Workman recently said he is not running to be premier.

Pangnirtung MLA Peter Kilabuk has not ruled out running to be premier, but said he won’t make a decision until speaking with the new MLAs. Before he decides, Kilabuk would also need to beat the other candidate running in Pangnirtung, Simeonie Keenainak.

Unless Nunavut election candidates decide to announce their intentions to be premier or who they would choose for the job, voters have little influence over who becomes the next government leader.

In contrast to the party system in federal and provincial elections, Nunavut’s consensus model of government leaves that decision to MLAs, who elect a premier, cabinet and speaker from among themselves after the election.

While Curley waits for the next premier to be chosen in the legislative assembly after Feb. 16, he said he’ll be busy preparing his constituency office, speaking with residents of Rankin Inlet North, and fielding calls from other candidates seeking advice.

“The candidates, people that know me, they call, I speak to them, and we share ideas,” Curley said. “It’s nothing to do with a strategy with what’s going to happen [in the next assembly], but there is a common relationship we have with some candidates.

“We’re not developing a coalition or anything. It’s just a friendly chat we have with younger candidates and so on. That’s normal.”