Nunavut premier talks about ‘opportunity’ at NTI annual meeting
Premier P.J. Akeeagok answers questions on the the key issues facing Nunavut
Premier P.J. Akeeagok speaks at the NTI annual general meeting in Iqaluit on Wednesday. (Photo by Arty Sarkisian)
The heightened interest in the Arctic that resulted from Russia’s 2022 invasion of Ukraine is an “opportunity” for Nunavut infrastructure expansion, Premier P.J. Akeeagok said during Nunavut Tunngavik Inc.’s annual general meeting Wednesday.
Akeeagok said he has been lobbying for the creation of infrastructure that can be used not only by the military in the Arctic, but also by Nunavut communities.
There are some “nation-building programs” that the Nunavut government is promoting, including projects like the Grays Bay road and deep sea port project that will be a big leap to Nunavut’s infrastructure and sovereignty, he said.
Akeeagok along with all seven Nunavut cabinet ministers spoke at the annual general meeting, answering questions on housing, Arctic sovereignty, elders support, environmental protection, Inuit employment and the cooperation between the Government of Nunavut and Inuit organizations.
Akeeagok was also questioned on co-operation between Government of Nunavut and Inuit associations.
“I feel like we are in one corner and the government is in another,” said Clara Evalik, vice-president of Kitikmeot Inuit Association, adding that many of the objectives presented at NTI’s meeting have be discussed for many years at this point.
The premier agreed, saying that it’s only in co-operation with Inuit organization that the Government of Nunavut can come close to solving those issues.
Akeeagok also said farewell to Aluki Kotierk, the president of Nunavut Tunngavik Inc., won’t be running for a third term as the head of the organization she has led since 2016.
“The premier agreed, saying that it’s only in co-operation with Inuit organization that the Government of Nunavut can come close to solving those issues.”
What issues has the GN come close to solving in its 24 year history?
Has poverty been eliminated, or even reduced? Or are more Inuit living in poverty than ever before, even while a few Inuit are very well off financially?
Has the issue of education been resolved? A thousand children, mostly Inuit, start school each year. Only 1 in 4 complete grade 12. How many of those graduates have the required courses to go into a 4-year college or university program? Our Education department won’t tell us.
Has the issue of Inuktitut-speaking teachers been resolved? NTI keeps suing the GN for not providing school in Inuktitut. But how many Inuktitut teachers has the GN trained in 24 years? How many Inuktitut-speaking teachers have retired in the past 24 years and how many can be expected to retire in the next ten years?
Has health been improved? Has TB been eliminated? We get Tylinol and tests, but how many people are in better health today than 24 years ago. “My grandchildren will be doctors.” How many Inuit doctors are working in Nunavut? How many Inuit nurses are working in Nunavut?
How many Inuit engineers are running Inuit-owned construction firms in Nunavut, building the houses and infrastructure we need?
Has family life improved in Nunavut, or has it gotten worse? How many social workers are Inuit?
How much progress has been made towards eliminating crime in Nunavut? Is BCC empty, or overflowing? Are Inuit defendants defended by Inuit lawyers, or by transient lawyers from the south who don’t speak Inuktitut?
Has addiction been eliminated in Nunavut, or is the GN hooked on money from the sale of alcohol and lotery tickets?
Has hunger been eliminated in Nunavut or are more people using food banks than ever before?
Premier PJ, please tell us which of these and many other issues the GN has come close to solving.
Please.
Taima.
Wonderful message, SI; articulate and accurate.
Also, in thinking about PJ gushing at NTI, maybe we’ll see a swap: he’ll be appointed the NTI prez and AK will be appointed the GN prez. Then we’ll get aplenty of ‘co-operation” lolololol, just look:
“[PJ] … spoke at the annual general meeting, answering questions on … the cooperation between the Government of Nunavut and Inuit organizations. Akeeagok was also questioned on co-operation between Government of Nunavut and Inuit associations. … The premier [said] … it’s only in co-operation with Inuit organization that the Government of Nunavut can come close to solving those issues.”
Booooo
GN and NTI are hilarious.🤣
Chambers at the Hill are filled with laughter and giant eye rolls from “real” politicians when the subject of “Nunavut”(welfare turf) comes up.😂🤣
Private Joker; biggest welfare turfs are in inner cities of Canada. when thinking of the worst; Van East Side. hehe. Been to Van twice this year driving through yaii scary….
Now he is shuffling the office to hide documents that inuit suffering. Look at trudeau what he is doing, try to silence the inuit that he was elected by them and now this.
Please specify what Trudeau is doing and how it is relevant to the Premier of Nunavut…
The guy in Joker’s Jammies speaks how people want to hear, and it’s a good thing not all politicians share his approach.