Kaernerk quits cabinet as premier cites code of conduct violations
Amittuq MLA joined cabinet last September, responsible for Qulliq Energy Corp., other duties
MLA Joelie Kaernerk was stripped of his cabinet portfolios and has resigned from the Government of Nunavut cabinet, Premier P.J. Akeeagok announced Wednesday. (File photo by Meral Jamal)
Citing “violations of our code of conduct,” Premier P.J. Akeeagok says he stripped MLA Joelie Kaernerk of his cabinet portfolios.
“As elected officials leading the Government of Nunavut, ministers are held to the highest standard,” Akeeagok said in a statement Wednesday morning, without providing further details of what led to his decision.
Following the removal of his portfolios, Kaernerk voluntarily resigned from cabinet, the release said.
Kaernerk, the MLA for Amittuq, was named minister of culture and heritage, minister of languages, and minister responsible for the Qulliq Energy Corp. in late September.
Prior to that, he had been suspended from the legislature as an MLA for public intoxication, allegedly for being intoxicated in the legislature.
At the time, he said in the legislature that he takes responsibility for his actions and “I am seeking help on my addiction … I am a man of my word and I will definitely seek help.”
On Wednesday, Akeeagok said Deputy Premier Pamela Hakongak Gross will be the acting minister of culture and heritage and Health Minister John Main will be acting minister responsible for Qulliq Energy Corp.
Disappointed in another one of our MLAs.
I have never seen such a high turnover of Ministers in any assembly such as that of Nunavut’s.
Dallas Cowboys would beg to differ 🤠
Just my opinion Joelie is a great guy he should not be removed from cabinet. Remove John Main instead he thinks he always thinks he’s smarter than everybody
As someone who has worked with/for no less than twenty cabinet ministers… John Main is actually the smartest and most engaged I’ve ever seen. Joelie was given a second chance after his suspension — in his own words he says he needs help before he can be in leadership position again. I feel bad for his constituents and they deserve his resignation as MLA so someone better able can advocate of their needs in the legislature.
“Even if you hate the cheetah, you’ve got to admit it runs fast”.
I know Whale Cove is pretty upset with their MLA, no show MLA they say, sounding brass at the house. But hey, everyone for themselves; retirement, pension that sort of thing eh? I have an idea; why don’t the term of MLAs be limited is to two terms? After all a Consensus Government? No rules, force this idea…..
Why so many turnovers? Is there something wrong with whoever is in charge of the ministers? We want to know.
Fewer minister turnovers, more apple turnovers!
“whoever is in charge of the Minister”? lol…
Adults need to be in charge of themselves, come on..
It’s called they all suck 😂 what have they done besides a few photo ops 😂
Will we see a photo opp of this?
🤣 😂 🤣 😂 🤣 😂Nunavut politics, “laffing stock in the political arena. I wrote before. I rest my case 😅 🤣 😂
In what way did he violate your code of conduct? Did Joelie tell someone that Trudeau would be coming to Iqaluit on Thursday to sign a devolution agreement with PJ, as it says in a Nunatsiaq article? Is that his crime?
Who is the acting minister of Languages?
This makes me question weather Nunavut is mature enough to take on Devolution.
Maybe the Federal Government needs to put a pause on the land transfer to the Nunavut Territory.
Right now, in the most powerful and wealthy democracy in the world, there are tens of millions of voters ready to vote in a rapist con man that is under multiple federal, state and criminal indictments as the most powerful politician in the world.
No, Nunavut is not a political laughing stock. We actually made one of our leaders accountable for their personal actions. Nunavut deserves some sort of medal.