Deputies must master Inuktitut or lose jobs: Okalik

JOHN THOMPSON

Nunavut’s deputy ministers will lose their jobs if they are not fluent in Inuktitut by 2008, says Premier Paul Okalik.

“They should be able to understand and communicate with Nunavummiut who are unilingual,” Okalik said. Okalik broke the news during a mid-term leadership review held in the legislative assembly this Tuesday.

“I recall when I learned English, and I didn’t have any help,” Okalik told reporters during a break.

Okalik, dressed in a white shirt, bright blue embroidered vest and red tie, was calm and composed as he fended off questions from members of the legislative assembly about his performance as premier and minister of justice.

He didn’t have much to worry about. Okalik took a bruising during his first leadership review in 2001 over the time-zone debacle. But this time members mostly asked vague questions about social issues like drugs abuse, violence and gambling, as well as the lack of traditional knowledge in the day-to-day running of government, rather than more pointed questions.

Okalik fended off critics with promises of more goodies and some smooth talking.

Faced with criticism that non-decentralized communities need more support, Okalilk promised $5 million in hand-outs for these communities. More details will be released next week when the legislature is in session, he said, adding, “We do know that further support is needed.”

Also expect new justice legislation to be introduced in the new session, which begins today.

The Family Abuse Prevention Act would give police more power to prevent men accused of spousal violence from returning to their homes, until they’re dealt with in court.

Okalik promised the legislation would give Nunavummiut more control over violence in their communities.

A few MLAs focused on his performance as premier, not his promises.

Keith Peterson, MLA for Cambridge Bay, asked Okalik to explain why the premier’s name had been used in the House of Commons to justify scrapping the Kelowna deal — a plan made by the previous Liberal government to spend $5.1 billion over five years to improve the lives of aboriginal people.

Jim Prentice, federal minister of Indian and Northern Affairs, announced Okalik supported abandoning the Kelowna agreement, Peterson said.

Okalik replied that when he spoke to Prentice, he told him that Nunavut’s first priority was housing, and that he supported the Conservative plan to give Nunavut $200 million.

“But I also mentioned it wasn’t enough,” Okalik said. “I told the minister that I’d pursue the matter with him in the long term. But it’s a good start.”

And Tagak Curley, MLA for Rankin Inlet North, hinted that Okalik, first elected as premier in 1999, had perhaps been government leader for too long.

He said he wants a commission to review the number of years before the premier is re-elected.

He also said he wants the premier elected by voters, not members — a scheme that would be difficult to introduce into Nunavut’s existing political system.

“You’re the people who put me in this position. If you’re looking for a change, I’d be more than supportive to the idea,” Okalik replied.

Members also criticized how Okalik has been running the government.

David Alagalak, MLA for Arviat, said he’s heard comments that government staff aren’t showing up for work.

“It seems like there’s a lot of people not working at all,” Alagalak said. “When it’s bingo day, Nevada day, then there’s staff no longer working in their offices.”

“I’ve never heard anything about this, outside statutory holidays,” replied Okalik, who said he would ask his human resources minister to investigate.

Levi Barnabas, MLA for Quttiktuq, said the number of Inuit employed in some departments has declined dramatically.

“It’s going to be a gradual increase over the years. Of course it’s too slow at times, but it’s something we’re going to keep working at,” Okalik replied.

Nunavut’s sketchy finances also came up.

Keith Peterson asked what’s been done since Auditor General Sheila Fraser released a scathing report earlier this year that said Nunavut’s decentralized finance department was weak, fragile and susceptible to fraud.

“I take exception to ‘not being able to manage finances,’” Okalik replied. “I haven’t seen any sponsorship scandal,” he added, referring to the high-profile case currently in front of the courts that involves the misspending of hundreds of millions of federal dollars.

“It’s a matter of maybe counting all the beans, so that’s what we’re responding to.”

When Okalik mentioned that Iqaluit will host an upcoming Western Premiers Conference, Steve Mapsalak, MLA for Akulliq, asked why the conference was not held in a non-decentralized community, such as his home town of Repulse Bay.

Okalik said it was the other premiers’ choice.

“They selected Iqaluit, which was totally out of my control,” he said.

The leadership review continued for ministers on Wednesday, past the Nunatsiaq News press-time this week.