Ethics boss: Akesuk should say sorry in public

Environment Minister Olayuk Akesuk ought to hold public meetings in his constituency to apologize for twice violating the Integrity Act, Nunavut’s Integrity Commissioner, Robert Stanbury, recommends in a report issued last week.

But if Akesuk wants to, he may take nearly half a year just to think about it.That’s because Stanbury’s recommendations aren’t binding on Akesuk until after they are accepted by the Nunavut legislative assembly. The Integrity Act says MLAs may either accept or reject those recommendations, but not change them.

And since MLAs are taking a five-and-a-half month break in their legislative duties this year, the issue will be on ice for a while. The assembly’s first session ended June 3, and its second session won’t start until Nov. 16.

In his report, Stanbury confirmed that Akesuk violated the Integrity Act not once, but twice, when in 2003 and 2004 he failed to dislose a debt worth more than $10,000 owed to the Muncipality of Cape Dorset for back-rent on a social housing unit he once occupied.

Stanbury said the first violation, in 2003, deprived his constituents of “one means of judging the merit of his candidacy for re-election.”

Akesuk, who gets $120,000 a year plus other payments under the GN’s generous benefit and bonus system, is now having $300 deducted from his bank account every two weeks and sent to the Hamlet of Cape Dorset, which runs social housing in that community.

Premier Paul Okalik appears unconcerned about his minister’s transgression. Okalik’s press secretary, Bill Clay, said this week that Okalik will let MLAs handle Stanbury’s report.

In addition to the recommendation that Akesuk apologize at public meetings in Cape Dorset and Kimmirut, Stanbury also recommends that:

* Akesuk be reprimanded by the assembly;
* Akesuk make a statement in the legislative assembly, “apologizing to his peers, his constituents and all Nunavummiut;”
* Akesuk send a letter to all of his constituents acknowledging his wrongful conduct, apologizing for it, and promising not to do it again, and provide copies of Stanbury’s report to his constituents.