MLAs want independent review of search and rescue incident
Kivalliq leaders echo call for change in emergency management operations from search and rescue operators, Whale Cove mayor
Craig Simailak, MLA for Baker Lake, called the government’s lack of commitment to conduct an independent review of a search and rescue incident in April, “frustrating.” (File photo)
Two Kivalliq region MLAs want an independent review of a search and rescue operation where a man was found dead on April 21.
Baker Lake MLA Craig Simailak raised the issue in the legislature Thursday, asking Community and Government Services Minister David Joanasie about the search for missing snowmobiler Jason Panika.
“For the third time, I’ll ask this minister, it will be the third time he is being asked: Will he commit to ordering an independent review for this last search that happened in Baker Lake that ended in the tragedy where the body was found?”
Simailak noted that on April 22, he asked Joanasie in person for a review of the search. Aivilik MLA Solomon Malliki made a similar request Wednesday in the assembly.
On April 19, Panika, 21, set out by snowmobile from Baker Lake to Rankin Inlet. He was declared missing later that day.
Search and rescue teams were dispatched from Baker Lake and Rankin Inlet the next day, after they got tasking numbers from Nunavut Emergency Management.
Nunavut’s emergency management agency uses tasking numbers to track emergency operations and to authorize fuel and other expenses for rescuers. Without them, rescuers are forced to cover all the costs of rescue operations on their own.
Without a number, would-be searchers who cannot pay those costs are effectively prevented from engaging in operations.
Searchers from Whale Cove had also asked for a tasking number so they could take part in the search, but Nunavut Emergency Management declined their request.
Panika’s snowmobile was found about 170 kilometres from Whale Cove on April 19, a short distance from a trail used by Whale Cove residents.
His body was later found halfway between Baker Lake and Whale Cove.
“The people of Whale Cove had to scrape [up] some of their own money to buy gas and food and come up and help search with us. That time the government failed us,” Simailak said.
The more people involved in a search the better chance of success, Whale Cove Mayor Oliver Shipton told Nunatsiaq News earlier in May.
“It just doesn’t make any sense to me,” Shipton said.
On Friday, Shipton said he appreciated the MLAs’ call for an independent review.
“The more pressure on the minister, the better,” he said.
Joanasie said he has asked Nunavut emergency operators to review the current tasking number policy. He did not directly address Simailak or Malliki’s requests for an independent review.
Simailak again asked the minister to commit to ensuring his department meets with search and rescue teams from Baker Lake, Rankin Inlet and Whale Cove.
In a Friday interview, Simailak said it appears the government intends to do a review of rescue operations in general, but not specifically the Whale Cove incident.
“It’s a little bit frustrating and surprising,” he said. “If no request or inquiry is made, then how else can we collectively make improvements or push for improvements?”
He said he hopes local search and rescue teams would be consulted on any update to Nunavut Emergency Management.
At the assembly Wednesday, Joanasie said a new association for search and rescue operations is being developed in co-ordination with the Nunavut Association of Municipalities, but he could not say when it would be ready.
“We anticipate over the next year or so that we do hope to have something implemented, but I’ll keep my colleagues abreast on where things stand,” Joanasie said.
“The sooner the better,” Simailak said Friday, noting the minister did not specify when they would be engaging with hamlets.
“So, I’m hoping that will happen over the summer.”
Joanasie did not respond to a request for comment.
Joanasie, ADM, Directors for CGS continue to do what they do best and that is lie and make up excuse for the actions of CGS incompetent decisions.
Mr. Joanasie is from Baffin, he doesn’t care what happened in the Kivalliq region.
So true.😥
If we turn completely to the white/french/outside world ways, maybe they’ll start making decisions for mainland nunavut. What I mean is pick up a third language. Give up our hand made parkas and wear factory made jackets and ski pants. Look fresh. But kivalliq don’t really care about looking fresh. We care about our health. What we’ll eat the next day. Not what we’ll wear. Til than, SAR will have to find help from locals, who will pay out of pocket. Not that we can’t afford it, but that’s how far we’ll go to help SAR. I am just glad CASARA and military are stepping in. So many nunavummiut, so little resources.
Just desolve the Nunavut government. Go back to N.W.T..
Hear. Hear.👏🤘
Better yet can we have an independent inquiry on the GN with the billions that go missing each year without really doing anything for Nunavut!
Now that would be a review.
The bottom line is The Government of Nunavut Ground based Search and Rescue Policy failed Jason Panika and his family. The Government of Nunavut policy document along with many other policy documents are most likely outdated. I tried to find the GN’s Search and Rescue Policy on the GN’s website to reference it but it is not available. I wonder what the Government is hiding as this is a public government document that should be available for public review to hold out public servants accountable.
If Nunavut Emergency Management officials acted sooner and provided a tasking number immediately to the incident the outcome would have been different in my honest opinion,
I agree that an independent inquest/review needs to be conducted, not to point fingers at individuals who were following the policy document but to see how the policy document needs to be changed to prevent similar tragic outcomes.
If David Joanasie, his Deputy Minister and Sr CGS officials refuse they do not have Nunavutmiut’s best interest in mind.
Remember the Government of Nunavut is there to serve the public in Nunavut and not the other way around,
Agree that an inquest should be held. Another thing to bring to account. How was this young man allowed to travel with the equipment he had? Why didn’t someone urge him to travel with the proper travel shelter, heating/ cooking supplies, and clothing? Even if it is a short trip with less then a vehicle gas tank, anything can go wrong. As it did here.
The young man suffered from a mental health crisis, stole a snowmobile and took off. So you want to criminalize people suffering from mental health break downs? Or people trying to feed their family?
Just think about it,, you are proposing criminalizing going to the grocery store for many Inuit, If someone gets lost in a blizzard going to a grocery story without communication, get lost, they can be criminally charged, Bright idea.
BTW this recently happened in Arviat where a young man died trying to go get milk and got lost in a blizzard.
Sat Communication investment
$600-1000 for in-reach or sat phone initial investment
$15-$75 per month depending which service and plan.
Why don’t we just criminalize being poor, lets spend more of our budgets on the legal system and create a large work load for them. Lawyers judges, correction officers.
Yah lets fine people who may be living on income support, or have a low paying seasonal labour job for just trying to feed his family.
You see how flawed your logic is?
Anyone going out on the land or sea without a sat phone or, as a minimum, an inexpensive emergency locator beacon should be punished severely by the courts. Going missing not only costs a ton of money. It puts at risk the lives of searchers.
The guy in question had a mental health crisis but yes way too many so called experienced hunters going out without any communication device they should be severely punished but it’s taboo to bring up that subject
This government cannot appear to fulfil it’s mandate without any actual response that provides infrastructure funds to shed some light with lack infrastructures in Municipalities. That being said the consultants that were hired including legal consultants to prepare Nunavut before it was est. April 1999 is a failure at all level’s to Education, Health, Family services, Environment, and Dept. of ED&T etc.
You’ll notice vacant Job’s on GN website that 95% goes to decentralized GN Job’s i.e. Iqaluit, Rankin, and Cambridge! The GN JOB’s should be open in non-decentralized communities to develop socio-economic development, and sustain the communities! This should have been process in the beginning that is fundamental with foundation.