Iqaluit mayor breaks tie vote, keeps public safety committee alive
Council debates abolishing committee following report questioning its effectiveness
Iqaluit Coun. Amber Aglukark says a proposed repeal of the city’s public safety committee, which she chairs, would have been a “step backwards,” as council considered replacing it Tuesday with an “inter-agency administrative working group.” (Photo by Jeff Pelletier)
Iqaluit’s public safety committee survived a vote Tuesday following a recommendation that it should be abolished.
City councillors were reviewing the recommendation, which came from the city’s governance and priorities committee, to replace the public safety committee with an “inter-agency administrative working group,” that would provide “regular summary reports to council.”
Coun. Amber Aglukark, who chairs the public safety committee, spoke in favour of its survival. She said losing the public safety committee would be a “step backwards.”
After a debate, Mayor Solomon Awa cast a tie-breaking vote to keep the committee alive. For now.
The governance and priorities committee’s recommendation to disband the public safety committee stems from a city staff evaluation.
“There have been few motions originating from the [public safety] committee, limiting the opportunities for council to ratify committee recommendations and provide clear direction for staff to address pertinent issues,” the evaluation said.
Aglukark rebutted that assessment, saying the proposed shakeup “shuts out community voices.”
“Keeping the committee public-facing protects trust, strengthens collaboration, and ensures that Inuit voices, including those of Inuit women who are speaking out bravely, are not pushed to the margins,” she said.
“I urge council to maintain the public safety committee and to strengthen, rather than reduce, community involvement in shaping everyone’s safety and well-being.”
Coun. Romeyn Stevenson, who chairs the governance and priorities committee, reiterated administration’s assessment, saying there have been “some problems with the effectiveness” of the public safety committee.
The current public safety committee was established in 2021 by former mayor Kenny Bell. It includes councillors, city staff, and representatives from the RCMP, Government of Nunavut and community organizations.
There were public safety committee iterations before that. However, two violent incidents in early 2020, including a homicide and an attempted murder, prompted calls for its return.
Since then, the committee has been scheduled to meet at least twice per year, but some meetings have been cancelled. In those that have occurred, there has mainly been open discussion on topics such as public consumption of alcohol, loose dogs, fire prevention and road safety.
The primary recommendation the committee has produced was a community safety plan, which council adopted last year.
Councillors present Tuesday agreed there is a general need to hear more from the community on public safety issues, including potentially through a town hall event.
But the vote on whether to abolish the committee led to a 3-3 tie, broken by Awa’s vote in favour of preserving it.
“I think that we need more consultation from the public on this issue,” Awa said after the meeting, on why he chose to keep the committee alive.
Aglukark said she’s not sure what is the future of her committee, including whether it will proceed with a meeting scheduled for Thursday.
But she said she hopes it stays.
“It’s truly important to me that we continue to provide a public space for Iqalummiut to have an avenue, have a space to advocate for themselves,” she said.
The fate of the public safety committee also delayed approval of council’s meeting schedule for 2026. That’s now expected to happen Dec. 9.
city council should represent everyone. She’s has a very “inuit first” mentality which is totally divisive and goes against IQ principles.
Same issue at the territorial level, too. One of my colleagues skipped this year’s election because he never feels particularly represented anyway. He said it feels like voting for someone else’s MLA.
I don’t think this decision has anything to do with an Inuit first mentality from Amber. She’s just looking out for a marginalized, at-risk community in Iqaluit. Inuit women are disproportionately affected by violence.
Also, there’s really no downside to keeping the Public Safety Committee. A better question would be, given the current public safety issues in this city, public intoxication, dangerous drivers, loose dogs, daylight muggings, etc. why would anyone vote to get rid of the public safety committee?
Sorry, but once you become a city councilor you represent EVERYONE in town. Our representatives can’t be cherry picking. This is a major problem and she’s part of it.
Give Amber a break, she wasn’t even elected.
The reality is that men are more likely than women to experience violence.
I know that doesn’t echo the canned, reflexive string of words you mimic with certainty and imaginary profundity, but it’s actually obvious if you were to think about it.
Thanks for the truth. It doesn’t fit the narrative, but it’s based in fact.
Canned, predictable bromides that betray unoriginality of thought.
Why do you propose itinerant/foreign workers have more involvement in municipal affairs?
Inuit historically have not been represented very well or at all in Iqaluit, still to this day it’s a constant fight for Inuit to be represented in our own home land, people from somewhere else come here and take over, it’s been happening since Frobisher visited here.
I find it interesting that someone not from here when their interests and wants are not followed they think it’s Inuit first or Inuit are over represented, still so much decolonization that needs to happen here, this is a fine example of privilege. Way too much of that continues to happen here.
This is Nunavut for Inuit.
She is Inuk, living on Inuit homeland. She has a right to advocate for Inuit and Inuit voices. Voices that get pushed back by southern mentality and greed for personal successes. Just because Councillor Aglukark said “Inuit voices, including those of Inuit women” doesn’t mean she is against all others.
“Voices that get pushed back by southern mentality and greed for personal successes.”
Behold, the real nonsense…
There will always be individuals—anywhere—who come for personal gain and move on. But using a broad term like “southern mentality” to describe people creates division rather than understanding. It makes newcomers feel unwelcome, even when they genuinely want to build a life and contribute to the community.
Nunavut is part of Canada, and Canadians have the right to live in any province or territory. Instead of labelling people the moment they arrive, welcoming them into the community can encourage them to invest, participate, and feel a sense of belonging. When people are repeatedly treated as outsiders or dismissed as “southerners,” it’s understandable that they may struggle to feel positively about contributing.
This isn’t about dismissing Inuit voices—those are vital. It’s simply about recognizing that how we treat each other affects the kind of community we build. If the goal is a stronger, more united Nunavut, then fostering openness and collaboration will do far more good than assumptions and labels.
I agree that Inuit voices are essential, especially in Inuit homelands. At the same time, using broad terms like “southern mentality” can sometimes make people who move to Nunavut feel unwelcome, even when they’re trying to contribute in a positive way. Most people who come here genuinely want to respect the community and build a life, and feeling included really helps with that.
Nunavut is home for Inuit first and always, but it’s also part of Canada, and people from across the country can choose to live here. Instead of assumptions about newcomers, creating a welcoming environment can encourage them to become supportive and involved community members.
I think we all want the same thing—a strong, respectful, and collaborative Nunavut. Approaching each other with openness makes it easier for everyone to contribute in a good way, Inuit and non-Inuit alike.
That’s all good what you are saying but at the same time people who come here tend to try and do things that they are accustomed to or are used to and want everyone Inuit especially just to do the same, as you say it is Canada, but we have been here before Canada was even a country, we are losing our language very fast in such a short period of time, our culture and have been forced to use another language and culture.
I don’t think a lot of you understand this or care too much about it as long as we are Canadians in your eyes,
More respect needs to happen in understanding this when you move here with your good intentions. How about you learn more about our culture and language and use it instead of the language and culture you bring here? That would be very respectful. That just a small example, there’s many more.
Public safety committee should really urge GN to work with city to increase bylaw to enforce public consumption of alcohol purchase from its store, that will increase safety 10 fold, perhaps have bylaw enforce loitering around the beer and wine store to help with safety..