Fueling the fire

After reading a story in Nunatsiaq News regarding problems with heating fuel in Cape Dorset, Uqqummiut MLA David Iqaqrialu ran straight to his furnace to see if everything was all right.

But after checking, he still wasn’t sure. So when MLAs returned to the legislative assembly on Tuesday, he was quick to ask Peter Kattuk, the minister of public works and services, if he had cause to worry.

“I want to know if any studies are being done to see if the diesel fuel is good in my community,” Iqaqrialu said.

He went on to suggest that faulty heating fuel may have been the cause of the fire that burned down the fire hall in Clyde River, his home community.

“It brings up the question of whether the heating fuel is of good quality,” he said. “Can your department do a study on it before any other problems come about?” he asked Kattuk.

The minister said he had heard about the problems in Cape Dorset, and that samples had indeed been sent out for testing.

At that, Iqaqrialu seemed pleased, but informed Kattuk that, “the [diesel] stank and seems almost lethal if you smell it.”