Iqaluit councillor confronts RCMP about treatment during call for service
Sgt. Zhivka Ivanova tells Coun. Simon Nattaq her ‘door is always open’ if he wants to discuss incident further
Coun. Simon Nattaq speaks at an Iqaluit city council meeting in July 2021. (Photo by David Venn)
Iqaluit Coun. Simon Nattaq included a clear message in a meandering speech to RCMP Tuesday evening: I can get you fired.
“I have numbers in my pocket,” Nattaq said in Inuktitut through an interpreter during Tuesday night’s council meeting.
“I will be able to report certain RCMP members that are not serving like I expect and they can be removed.”
Nattaq offered the warning as part of a lengthy comment after RCMP updated council on crime and police activity statistics for the months of January and February in Iqaluit.
Nattaq did not provide names in his account of an interaction with police he said happened when he called them to his house. The incident was “not recent,” he said.
“I was asked, ‘Do you want to leave?’” Nattaq said. “That’s what I was told, even though I called for another person to be held. They asked if I wanted to leave the community. I don’t want to hear that again.”
Sgt. Zhivka Ivanova offered Nattaq an apology for his experience and told him that every officer in Iqaluit is there to serve and protect.
She told Nattaq she couldn’t comment on his experience because she didn’t have the details.
“But I can tell you there are processes for that if you wish to come in and discuss further,” she said. “My door for sure is always open.”
People can file official complaints about RCMP through the police public complaints process. Nunavut RCMP’s handling of complaints has recently come under fire.
The Civilian Review and Complaints Commission released a report in November describing years-long backlogs of complaints and a higher than average rate of withdrawn complaints.
The report recommended Nunavut RCMP take into account the territory’s unique circumstances and hire a special constable to review complaints.
It also noted the number of complaints — 75 over four years between 2018 and 2022 — was lower than the national average, which may be attributed to a lack of trust and lack of awareness of the public complaints system.
At the time, RCMP spokesperson Cpl. George Henrie said the RCMP had made several improvements to the system, including hiring a dedicated employee to investigate complaints.
Henrie did not respond immediately on Wednesday when asked whether that role is still filled and what other improvements may have been made since then.
Nunatsiaq News was unable to reach Nattaq via phone or email for further comment.
People can make complaints against the RCMP online, through the mail, or via fax through the Civilian Review and Complaints Commission or by contacting Nunavut RCMP directly.
“I can get you fired”
Oh really?
There comes a time when I believe it’s time to call it quits. This is not the first time I am hearing Nataq use council meetings to complain. Threatening to fire someone at that, come on.
Do you have a source to back up your claims?
I can get you fired.
Classic little power trip.
Time for Councillor Nattaq to retire.
His threats and disrespect to ANY employee or member of the RCMP are not what one expects from a civic “leader”.
It amazes me how often everyone is quick to attack police and have a million ideas what they can do, but where is that same energy for the people that the police are called for? How about working on a plan to have people a ton more well behaved so we do not need to have the tiny little police force that is in Iqaluit dealing with something every minute of every day.
Also, the comments by the council member are WAY out of line. ““I will be able to report certain RCMP members that are not serving like I expect and they can be removed.” No individual citizen should be able to flex that power, and this is something no city council member should be able to say, or even have. This is almost the kinda stuff you should be resigning for instead of being proud of saying.
It is no wonder the RCMP struggles to get people to come up here, and why the locals have no desire to become RCMP officers.
is it appropriate for a city councillor to tie up city council time on a concillor’s personal matter?
Not very professional for a member of city council to scold and threaten the police because he didn’t like the way he was spoken to. If you are upset with the police, go and make a public complaint.
I wonder if this type of behavior is accepted by other city council and the Mayor?
He go on rants and tangents often and when he make irresponsible or questionable statements they let it fly.
He definitely should have been called out by his fellow council members. Did Nunatsiaq ask why they didn’t say anything to stop it? Or they don’t care to stand up? Wish someone would for a change.
Making any accusation. With no corroborating evidence. Then saying that he could get a RCMP member fired. Would only come out of man. Who doesn’t understand.
The procedure it take to have an officer fired. It’s not jus as simple as ” I can get you
fired.” I am not very smart. But this comment. Is so typical.
I am now over 70 and I remember pre-Colonial times very well.
To me they were mostly a time of hunger & misery.
If people wish to back to the old ways no one is stopping them, just their own B.S. !
Thank you Canada for helping out the Inuit people.
A very good comment, and the honesty to speak out the truth.
When we moved into town it was always the dominant families who got the new houses and
free equipment from the HTA.
Some good people suggested a fair register system, but it was ignored by Inuit bosses and
White bosses.
Ripped of by our own people. Not the honest Canadian tax payer.
I quit paying rent about a year ago, nobody else does,if they ask I say I GOT KIDS.
I am above tha law
The other dumb line often used, “I pay you r wages” . The response ” Great, I’d like to talk to you about getting a raise”.
Nattaq is abusing his position on Council and wasting my time and money. The rest of Council should address this behavior – immediately. If not, then it is a sign that Council members are abusing thier mandates
Coun. Simon Nattaq should read the by-law !
BY-LAW No. 788 —- COUNCILLOR CODE OF CONDUCT BY-LAW
A. CODE OF CONDUCT
3. The Iqaluit community is entitled to expect that:
(d) Councillors shall not act as if s/he were above the law;
(e) The community’s interests shall always be given absolute priority over the private interests of an individual Councillor;
Does the Fover.ebt of Nunavut and the Hamlets have a mandatory retirement age for our Councillors and MLAs
Is so, what is it?
If not, should there be?
My late father in law once said ” just because one is an elder, doesn’t mean one is smart”. Wise words.
Fat fingers. My comment should read “Does the Government of Nunavut and Hamlets”
‘I can get you fired’ oh boohoo sir. Every councillor in every community thinks they have the power to do anything, but they are only preventing some changes because they are still living in the past and are afraid of changes like people of Sanikiluaq.