Iqaluit deputy mayor quits to seek city job

Iqaluit’s deputy mayor, Chris Wilson, resigned his seat on Iqaluit City Council this past Monday to apply for a job with the city’s fire department.

“It was a real, real hard decision,” Wilson said, saying he was torn between two things he loves: his work on Iqaluit city council, and his desire to work for the city’s fire department, where he’s been a volunteer for 10 years.

First elected as a councillor in 2000, Wilson’s fellow councillors appointed him deputy mayor about a year ago. To better define a role for that position, and to take some of the work-load from Mayor Elisapee Sheutiapik’s shoulders, he agreed to become responsible for dealing with Apex residents, and with ratepayers.

“I believe everyone’s got to step up to the plate,” Wilson said in explaining why he decided to run for council in 2000.

Though he served the city during what he calls a turbulent, but productive period, Wilson said he enjoyed his time on council.

One high point for him is the settlement of the bitter strike-lockout of 2001, when city services were paralyzed for nearly 90 days. Though it was a difficult experience, Wilson said it eventually led to a better relationship between the city and its workers, and the resolution of many festering issues.

Another high point is the city’s five-year, $50-million capital infrastructure agreement with the Nunavut government, Wilson said. Under that deal, the city is making improvements to a long list of infrastructure items.

Council may replace Wilson by one of two methods: hold a byelection, or appoint a new councillor. If they choose to appoint a new councillor, the normal practice is to ask one of the non-elected council candidates from the last municipal election.