Nunavut government to unveil five-year blueprint

MICHAELA RODRIGUE
Nunatsiaq News

IQALUIT — The Nunavut cabinet has set out its priorities for the next five years, but residents won’t get to see the document until next month.

After a retreat at Bathurst Inlet, Nunavut’s cabinet ministers have drafted a five-year “mandate document.” that pin points the government’s priorities.

Premier Paul Okalik said voters won’t be surprised by what’s in the document, but he won’t release its contents until after the speech from the throne late next month.

“I can’t really disclose it at the moment. We’d like to talk to the MLAs first, before we disclose it,” Okalik said.

“We probably won’t be in a position to disclose it until — as is the custom — the speech from the throne.”

The document spells out what the government wants to accomplish by the end of five years. It should tell Nunavut’s bureaucrats what’s expected of them, he said.

“It will be left to each department and the public service in finding the solutions,” Okalik said.

Okalik would not disclose whether the throne speech will include new government programs to tackle the priorities.

Okalik planned to call each of the 19 MLAs last week to tell them what’s in the document. He said the MLAs will be asked to give their opinions on the plan. But he pointed out it was discussed during retreats with full caucus.

“I wouldn’t expect a lot of surprises, a lot of us were elected on the same sorts of themes. So we feel we have a mandate from the electorate for what we’re going to seek,” he said.

When contacted by Nunatsiaq News

Iqaluit Centre MLA Hunter Tootoo had not seen the document, but he said he hopes the it outlines how the government will attack some of its priorities.

“I would sincerely hope that it does. If it doesn’t, what have they been doing for the last six months?” Tootoo asked.

Tootoo said the MLAs agree the government should focus on housing, education and health care.

The speech from the throne is expected to take place on Oct. 20.