Nunavut leaders: Bare bones design in place by ’99

ANNETTE BOURGEOIS
Nunatsiaq News

IQALUIT – After two days of compromises, political leaders emerged from behind closed doors Wednesday to report agreement on the basic design of Nunavut’s first government.

Indian Affairs Minister Jane Stewart, Nunavut Tunngavik Inc. president Jose Kusugak and GNWT Deputy Premier Goo Arlooktoo, along with Nunavut MP Nancy Karetak-Lindell, Nunavut MLAs and NTI executive members met for a two day in-camera session this week in Iqaluit.

The leaders gathered primarily to hear Interim Commissioner Jack Anawak’s implementation plan for the Nunavut government.

It was the first chance most delegates got for a detailed look at the plan, which only reached the hands of officials late last week.

“There are some areas we need to study a bit more, but it’s basically what we wanted,” Deputy Premier Goo Arlooktoo said during a press conference following the meeting Wednesday.

“We have a much clearer vision of what’s required to have a basic, functioning government in 1999.”

Functional staffing level

Leaders agreed that the goal is not to have a fully staffed Nunavut government by April 1, 1999, but instead to have a bare-bones, functional version. In fact, staffing of the headquarters positions will extend into the year 2002.

They accepted Anawak’s recommendation to boost the number of Nunavut headquarters positions from 624, as recommended by the Nunavut Implementation Commission in its Footprints 2 report, to 675.5.

Stewart also agreed to forward $8 million to the interim commissioner’s office so Anawak can proceed with putting core information systems in place prior to division of the territories.

“We recognize that by April, 1999, the full government will not be in place, but there are some very good reasons for that that are reflective of the intentions of the original commissioners,” Minister Stewart said, citing the need to take full advantage of the training opportunities decentralization provides.

It was decided that Nunavut will have 19 MLAs in the first legislative assembly and operate with a unified justice system.

“It’s a very unique approach,” Stewart said of the court set-up. “It’s very reflective of what we’re trying to do here in Nunavut.”

That recommendation will now go into the hands of the federal minister of justice for review.

Transition funding

Financial commitments from the federal government were expected but not forthcoming. Stewart wouldn’t comment further than to say that $150 million has already been set aside for the creation of Nunavut and other one-time costs, some of which were identified by the GNWT in a report last fall, will be considered.

“Those will be identified during implementation,” Stewart said.

Officials will meet again in Yellowknife on Jan 27 to continue financial discussions. Leaders are expected to make a final decision on Anawak’s plan March 15.

They also expect a comprehensive Inuit employment and staffing plan from the interim commissioner by the end of March.

What they

agreed upon

* There will be 19 MLAs in the first Legislative Assembly;

* Nunavut will have a single-level trial court system, combining superior and territorial courts;

* 675.5 headquarters positions must be filled by the year 2002;

* The process of choosing Nunavut’s premier will be decided by members of the first Legislative Assembly;

* Regional health and education boards will remain unchanged for the time being, pending further review by yet-to-be appointed deputy ministers.