‘I’m getting scared about this’: Iqaluit councillor says he was robbed, threatened
RCMP detachment commander promises to assign officer to investigate Coun. Simon Nattaq’s worries
Coun. Simon Nattaq, pictured at a March council meeting, says his guns were stolen and someone has been threatening to burn his house down. (File photo by Jeff Pelletier)
Iqaluit RCMP say they will investigate after a city councillor claimed he was robbed and repeatedly threatened.
Coun. Simon Nattaq raised a number of concerns at Tuesday’s city council meeting in response to detachment commander Sgt. Vlatko Nikolovski’s presentation of the RCMP’s May and June statistics.
“All my guns were stolen, all my rifles have been taken,” Nattaq said, speaking in Inuktitut.
“Someone has been threatening, saying that they want to burn my house down, and I’m getting scared about this.”
He added: “I know one person who has been threatening me.”
Nattaq didn’t say when the incidents happened. He said he wants police to interview him about it.
He raised other concerns, including dangerous drivers, as well as the smell of cannabis from people’s homes.
“I’d like to thank the RCMP for investigating the things that they need to investigate in order to protect us,” he said.
Nikolovski responded, saying he will assign an officer to follow up with Nattaq.
In response to the councillor’s concerns about cannabis, Nikolovski reminded him the drug is legal now, and people can smoke at their homes.
The RCMP’s activity reports highlighted 952 calls for service in May and 967 in June. About half of each of those totals were alcohol-related.
Some of the highlighted policing activity includes the resumption of officers’ ATV patrols for public alcohol consumption, drunk-driving checkpoints, and the arrest of a man accused of defrauding Qikiqtani Inuit Association of $2 million.
“As a banker who’s dealt with a lot of fraud over the years, it’s very encouraging to see the prosecution move forward in that recent fraud case,” said Coun. Kyle Sheppard.
“Fraud is a major issue in Nunavut, whether it’s Facebook or more sophisticated frauds.”
Iqaluit RCMP has been more involved in the community in recent months, Nikolovski said, including making presentations to students on topics such as bike safety, tobacco and cannabis use, and online safety.
“We have to help each other,” Nattaq said after Nikolovski’s presentation.
“It’s good that we’re able to have discussions.”
Sgt. George Henrie, Nunavut RCMP’s spokesperson, confirmed Wednesday an investigation of Nattaq’s complaints is underway, but “there is no additional information” to offer.
He said people should always report stolen or missing firearms to police.
That beer store has to go,!
People who get caught with hard drugs should be banned from Nunavut
Most people in Iqaluit does not want to be a “Dumping Ground” for criminals. And you suggest this? What if the province or territory says no too?
If someone gets arrested and remanded in a small community, why do they get released in Iqaluit? Why not release them back in the community they were arrested in?
More like they need to stop all the crack 🙄 🍻 😂 it’s the crack
Nunavut Court of Justice should stop dumping criminals from smaller communities in Iqaluit! Send them back to their hometown! Its getting dangerous out there. Something needs to be done.
It’s not the people from smaller criminals, most of the drug dealers and drinkers are from Iqaluit or southern transients. Most people released from BCC probably don’t even Simon, or even the Mayor of Iqaluit.
You obviously don’t live in Iqaluit
oh you caught me, just like I don’t know where upper lower Plateau, Happy Valley, Apex and who the counsellors are and that Simon use to be a supervisor and cultural advisor at Ukiivik, but thanks for exposing me for not living in Iqaluit. How’s the renovation going at the NorthMart
I live in Iqaluit, I’m not from here and I also had my prejudices about this place before I moved here, now living here for more than 20 years that prejudice has faded and know more about this community and the hardships it has gone through and is still going through.
Majority of the problem people in the place comes from outside, from other communities where their problem people are kicked out for others to deal with and they are sent here to Iqaluit.
Living in the group homes, on the streets, breaking into homes and businesses.
Most of the people from Iqaluit are good people just like in your home town, the difference is you don’t get other communities problems, the criminals from other places dropped off in your community like how it is in Iqaluit.
All three regions seem to just drop off their unwanted in Iqaluit and then we have people like you blaming Iqaluit and pointing fingers without really knowing anything.
Remember when Mr. Nattaq told an RCMP officer “I can get you fired” ?
Also if firearms are being stolen, they’re probably not properly secured.
Also if firearms are being stolen, they’re probably not properly secured.
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You can’t make that assumption. Canadian storage laws are designed around the use of trigger/cable locks, which do nothing to prevent theft. There is no legal obligation on the part of non restricted firearms owners to prevent theft in Canada. As it should be.
We need the hard drugs GONE AS WELL!
This guy continues to use his position
Why is he using this public meeting as a means of reporting this to police? Am I missing something? If someone steals guns from your house, call the police right away. He keeps waiting for meetings and using that time to bring up his personal crap with the rcmp. Is he above calling the police or walking into the station?
Power tripping member?
Abuse of position?
Or… just plain entitlement as he is in “authori-TAAH”!!🤪
you are right space cowboy, just like carmen said in south park, listen to my “authori-TAAH”
also, yes hard drunk must be stop and convicts shoul’nt be release and set loose in our beloved iqaluit if they are not living here allready, before the offences yhey did and will do again here. send them ottawa bye bye
I am pretty sure he did, that’s why RCMP are making sure he isn’t assaulted or attacked in. He’s an elderly man and served the community well, he made some mistakes but keeps trying. He comes from old school just because some of the issues we may not agree with doesn’t mean he isn’t entitled to speak as an man who is being harassed and I am pretty other elderly Inuit are being harassed too.
The article does not match what you are saying.
Elders of all race and background are harassed. That’s why the term elder abuse exists.
Using his role as a councilor to bring up his lived experiences is where the line was crossed—abuse of power.
A council meeting is not the time and place to file a police report, he can call 1111 like the rest of us normies.
And about the weed smoking in the houses, he is right, they’re not allowed to smoke within 9m of any public housing unit, but I doubt the cops care about that.
Maybe he forgot to say, “Do you know who I am? How dare you do this to me!!
I might go to cops and have you arrested and fired!!!”😡🤬
Read previous posts. He did complained to the rcmp. Why are you people on the dumb thieves side. As well threats are scary. I bet the threats came from the thief so he the victim doesn’t report to the authorities. Sounds like you also need to be dealt with, shame on you.
“The sense of entitlement is strong in this one.”🤡👮
I didn’t know that living free of harassment and threats is an entitlement. Call me entitled too because you and I don’t have to be threaten.
It should be harassment free living, especially for the elders. Where are you from? Shame on you to talk this way.
I am saying what you just posted.
But isn’t this just keeping up with the rest of dangerous Canada?
The Liberals/NDP were busy over the years opening their free injection and safe drug supply sites. As crime, gangs, money laundering, triads grew and Canada became known as top manufacture and world exporter of meth and fentanyl but isn’t a problem.
Even Iqaluit MLAs were talking about a safe drinking place for the homeless in Iqaluit. Stepping stone to the acceptance “safe”.
But no worries now that Nova Scotia has kicked off the start of climate lockdowns.
The rebranding of lockdowns. This time, climate is to be feared. So, traveling to and walking in a forest is now illegal in Nova Scotia. Comes with a $25,000 fine, and or jail if you do. Even the snitch lines are back to snitch out someone who enters a forest to enjoy, refresh their mind, hike, camping, fish.
Will we soon hear wannabe MLA’s boast they won’t climate-lockdown us? Until after the election. Then in a snap climate lock down us until climate change is defeated. And… what crime they’ll say.
Thanks Mass Formation.
I don’t know how many years Nattaq has been a member of council but if it has been ten years, it’s ten years too many. As I mentioned in a previous, but unpublished post, his behavior is reminiscent of someone whose ego surpasses accepted social-norms (even for a politician) or he’s just plain out-of-it
s are you from Iqaluit or Nunavut? Just curious.
SHAME, on you for attacking a
respected elder, hang your heads, NN you are no better printing this, shameful, editor should, filter this garbage, and no I am not a relative, only in Nu.
How is this an attack on an elder? The RCMP did a presentation about crime stats. Simon Naataq told them his guns were stolen and he was being threatened. it sounds like he hadn’t reported any of that to the police up until that point, but it isn’t clear in the article because it wasn’t clear at the meeting. What am I missing? Where is the attack? People are commenting on it. That isn’t an attack. And it isn’t an attack to disagree with someone’s actions. He is an elected member of the council. That is his role. He isn’t on the council as an appointed honorary elder.
Whats really scary. Is a city councillor. No matter the age or culture. That is trying to be given special treatment. By the Iqaluit RCMP detachment. If his claims of theft and harassment are true. Call 911 like any other citizen. Don’t wait to bring it up at a council meeting.
in other news…