Forest fires no disaster for Nunavummiut

Olayuk Akesuk, the minister of environment, told Rankin Inlet North MLA Tagak Curley that he’s reviewing the rules and regulations regarding compensation for hunters and fishermen who lose equipment in natural disasters.

As it stands now, they’re only covered when they are on the ice, Akesuk said.

“When the ice floe comes off the ice and they start floating, those are the natural disasters,” Akesuk said.

Curley suggested natural disasters eligible for compensation should include ice, snow, or wind instead of forest fires.

“Could you undertake to change that one wording, really? Thank you,” Curley asked Akesuk.

Curley said there was money left over in the compensation budget, which could be used if the wording was changed and forest fires would no longer be considered as a potential natural disaster in treeless Nunavut.