Facing assault charge, Netsilik MLA takes leave of absence
Joseph Quqqiaq announces leave of absence, says he will return to home community
Netsilik MLA Joseph Quqqiaq speaks in the legislative assembly on Wednesday. (Photo by Meral Jamal)
Netsilik MLA Joseph Quqqiaq has taken a leave of absence from the Nunavut legislative assembly after both he and his partner were charged with assault.
“This is a difficult day for both my family and me,” Netsilik MLA Joseph Quqqiaq told the assembly on Wednesday in his member’s statement.
“Earlier this month, an incident occurred in my home community of Taloyoak. The incident involved both my partner and I.”
He said he intends to return to his home community, and left the building after making his statement on the first day of the legislative assebmly’s fall sitting.
John Quirke, clerk of the legislative assembly, told reporters that Quqqiaq decided that morning he would take a leave of absence.
“By coming to the assembly everybody got to hear what it’s all about because at the end of the day, if by chance there is a conviction, the assembly, as a whole, has to take action,” Quirke said.
He also explained there are two possible ways the charge could move through the court system, and Quqqiaq’s future as an MLA will depend on which track it takes.
“There are two types of charges. If it’s by indictment, it’s very clear in the legislation the seat is declared vacant. If it’s by summary, it’s up to the assembly to decide if it’s within the public interest to expel the member,” Quirke said.
Quqqiaq has a court appearance scheduled in January.
He should do what’s right and step down. The article doesn’t mention the details of the assault, but “The incident involved both my partner and I” pretty much sums it up.
If you’re implying it’s domestic assault, which unfortunately is all-to-common, I think in this case you’re wrong. Normally domestic assault cases do not result in both partners being charged with assault. In this case, my guess would be that it involves both the MLA and his partner assaulting a third party.
This is not always the case. I am aware of a number of domestic assault cases where both parties were charged.
You’re right, it’s not always the case. It’s just unusual, and if you’re weighing the probabilities of this being domestic assault versus both of them assaulting a third party(ies), I would think the latter is more likely.
The RCMP seem to charge both husband and wife in circumstances where they think something happened but they are not sure what or who was the victim. To be honest we see this often when the male was the victim but the police say: no one is talking to us, let the courts sort it out.
I predict both charges will be dropped. Most likely, she wasn’t a victim and he was battered and bruised but won’t talk, in order to protect her.
Hope the family gets help.
Poor Talurjuak and Kugaaruk. They get the short end of the stick most of the time.
he got one flukey video about suicide on tiktok helping people about suicide.
I don’t know how many views it had but his first speech at the Legislative Assembly was like “my video helped hundreds of people. it not only stopped one person from suicide but hundreds. does that make me a king and a saviour, I dunno”
um. yeah. wow.
It should not have made you and MLA i know that.
It’s a sad world when someone’s credibility as a politician is measures by his tiktok views.
What? Are you serious? Who elects these people?
Wow, where can I find this? The hansard?
https://assembly.nu.ca/sites/default/files/Draft-20211117-Nunavut-Leadership-Forum.pdf
Page 47
This is elite level cringe ?
Resign now and prevent further embarrassment for your constituency. Let them hold a by-election.
Agree. If he does not resign it is up to us VOTERS and residents to call for it. Save yourself and our time by stepping down. we do not want this on our hands. STOP now
Protect the women, the MLA and GN is about protecting spousal abuse.
He has to resign. No questions asked. Taloyoak and Kugaaruk are always left behind and Netsilik riding need a true leader who can do this. Do the right thing, resign your seat as MLA. Remember you’ll feel the same air we do.
No questions asked? This may truly encapsulate your opinion. But simply because a Mountie filled out a form, I am not willing to assume that they knew or understood what was happening in a household.
Be just a tiny bit patient. There is such a thing as innocent until proven otherwise.
Asking questions IS the whole point.
Damn people are in a hurry with almost no facts!
Can somebody actually fix the Netsilikmeot riding. I am from Taloyoak but both of our communities have to pay for this nonsense. I am tired of our so called leaders/ housing managers and SAOs. It is like we’re living in a communist/fascist community. Will somebody please help us! We are paying so much rent for mouldy outdated units yet they cannot find new units? No wonder the suicide rate is so high. Feels like nobody gives a Damn!
No one is going to fix it, your best bet is to GTFO if you can
I agree, we need to recognize that many of these tiny communities are veritable prisons. The cost of getting out for a break is simply too high, way too high, and so only a very few have the means (usually through employment) of getting respite from local dramas and dysfunction.
This is our reality in Nunavut and it is one many will fight to deny, but they deny it at the peril of every single one of us.
I realize everyone here is saying guilty even before its in the faces of the courts, so let’s spare the family without making assumptions. People are quick to judge, don’t be that person. I am not saying they didn’t do this or that, all I am saying is if you can’t say anything nice, don’t say anything at all.