Legislative assembly soap opera signs off until February

IQALUIT — With its moments of high drama and excruciating boredom, the second week of the Nunavut legislature’s fall sitting unfolded like a slow-moving daily soap opera.

Take the last-minute walk-out of Baffin MLAs David Iqaqrialu, Jobie Nutaraq and Enoki Irqittuq on Nov. 2, just before the final vote on Bill 3, the legislation that gives formal assent to Nunavut’s single time zone.

As these three sulked outside, the remaining MLAs scurried to form a quorum and at one point even planned to enlist Speaker Levi Barnabas in the vote.

But even this tension was short-lived. The MLAs finally came back to vote. The three dissenters — along with South Baffin MLA Olayuk Akesuk, who had remained in the house — returned to vote against the bill’s adoption.

Futile delays

Oddly enough, these MLAs were the same ones who forced postponement of the bill’s discussion from last Friday until Tuesday in a futile effort to stall the time change.

“We were happy on Friday,” said Irqittuq. “But it was short-lived.”

The MLAs learned that a regulation had already been passed on Sept. 30 giving the Nunavut government the go-ahead to proceed on Oct. 31, even before the bill was discussed in the house.

On Tuesday, the MLAs voiced their discontent in a scene with Judge-Judy-like overtones.

Visitor John Illupalik applauded — out of order — every time Amittuq MLA Enoki Irquittuq spoke against the time zone change.

Premier Paul Okalik displayed his skills as a lawyer, answering questions implacably, although not to the satisfaction of all MLAs. Okalik told them that the time change hadn’t been done behind their backs.

“This is not new. We’ve been seeking options for the benefit of Nunavut,” Okalik said. “Irrespective of where you are in Nunavut, you can call me at the same time.”

Okalik did promise to revisit the time change with Baffin mayors and MLAs at a later time.

Ironically, those MLAs who complained about the process leading to the time change were also those who constantly nit-picked over details, slowing progress in the house to a snail’s pace.

During one discussion, Justice Minister Jack Anawak read a newspaper, and at other times, MLAs could be seen discreetly yawning.

Naturally, there were some lighter moments, too, such as when MLAs joked about their loss at a charity hockey game with NTI, or welcomed visitors from Sisimiut, Greenland and Iqaluit’s Joamie School.

Government gets real work done

And as in any slow-moving television series, there was just enough action to keep things moving along.

Health Minister Ed Picco confirmed that Arviat would be getting a mental health worker and that Kimmirut will get a social worker as soon as housing is found.

He also said that nurses and social workers would soon receive part of a $1.25 million retroactive pay package, and announced that over the next few months he would hold a series of focus groups on the retention and recruitment of health workers.

“The purpose of these focus groups is to allow me to consult directly with staff from the community health centres about their concerns and their recommendations about the issues affecting recruitment and retention of health care providers in Nunavut,” Picco said.

But, he also confirmed that there won’t be any doctor en route to Igloolik in the near future.

“I can say at this time that we’re open to the possibility, if we can identify a doctor, and if we can identify a doctor that wants to be based in Igloolik, then that’s something we would try to facilitate as a department. At this time, that’s not the case,” Picco said.

He did promise to enlarge the telemedecine network from Cape Dorset, Pond Inlet and Iqaluit to Rankin Inlet and Arviat early next year.

Some concrete actions also were announced. Nunavut’s first French school will be built in Iqaluit’s new subdivision at a cost of $4.5 million.

“Je suis fier d’annoncer que nous, du gouvernment du Nunavut en reconaissance de ces droits et de ces libertés, nous offrirons l’éducation en français aux jeunes membres de la communauté francophone d’Iqaluit, ” Education Minister James Arvaluk said — in French — to the legislature.

And Pond Inlet can look forward to receiving $400,000 for new classrooms. Its old school was closed for safety reasons and the community has been facing a shortage of classroom space.

New appointments

There were also just enough appointments announced during the third session to give Nunavummiut hope that there will be more government action in the future.

Nunavut appointed its first Official Languages Commissioner, Eva Qammaniq Arreak, a former educator, broadcaster and administrator who was most recently director of training and development for Nunavut’s Department of Human Resources.

And Elaine Keenan Bengts, the current Information and Privacy Commissioner for the Northwest Territories, will also assume those duties in Nunavut as needed.

Donald Havioyak, the minister of culture, language, elders and youth, also announced appointees to the interim advisory council on the status of women for Nunavut who will work on polices “better related to Nunavut’s women’s issues and equality of men and women.”

The appointees are Elizabeth Allakariallak of Resolute Bay, Li ie Anaviapik of Broughton Island, Kanayuk Salomonie of Cape Dorset, Daisy Keenainak of Pangnirtung, Abigail Idlout of Iqaluit, Wilma Pigalak of Kuguluktuk, Elizabeth Lyall of Taloyoak, Rebecca Kudloo of Baker Lake and Joan Kalaserk of Rankin Inlet.

The next sitting of the legislature is scheduled for February 16, 2000.