Nunavut’s newest cabinet member resigns 3 months into job
Former justice minister Karen Nutarak voted into executive on March 4
Tununiq MLA Karen Nutarak stands outside Nunavut’s legislative assembly in this file photo. She was voted into cabinet on March 4. She served as justice minister for three months, before resigning Tuesday. (File photo)
Karen Nutarak, who served as Nunavut’s justice minister for three months, has resigned.
Premier P.J. Akeeagok announced her resignation Tuesday evening in a news release, citing personal and family reasons for her departure. Nutarak will stay on as MLA for Tununiq, a position she was elected to in 2021, Akeeagok said.
Nutarak was voted into cabinet March 4 to replace Amittuq MLA Joelie Kaernerk, who left cabinet Jan. 17 in the wake of unspecified code-of-conduct violations.
When Nutarak was assigned the justice portfolio, Nutarak told Nunatsiaq News she wanted to work with the RCMP to improve community safety and focus on updates to the Family Abuse Intervention Act.
Nutarak’s other cabinet assignments included minister responsible for Nunavut Arctic College, minister responsible for labour, and minister responsible for the Human Rights Tribunal.
In addition to Nuntarak’s resignation, Akeeagok also announced a cabinet shuffle Tuesday that reassigned Nutarak’s portfolios and moved some responsibilities for ministers who were taking on her duties.
Pamela Gross retains her education portfolio with the addition of human resources and minister responsible for the Workers’ Safety and Compensation Commission.
David Akeeagok will remain minister of economic development and transportation and becomes justice minister, minister responsible for labour, and minister responsible for the Human Rights Tribunal.
Margaret Nakashuk is now minister responsible for Nunavut Arctic College on top of her current roles of family services minister, minister responsible for homelessness, minister responsible for the status of women, and minister responsible for poverty reduction.
God help us!!!
Not only do we have a bunch of unqualified and unmotivated MLA’s and Ministers, now they are failing their constituents left right and center again and again. Why even bother and put your name in the pot if you are not up for the responsibilities as an MLA or Minister?
Before demanding better and more professional behavior from GN staff, if the Legislative can’t even set a proper example.
Just scrap the Devolution process which would be a disaster and and embarrassing for Nunavut and beg NWT to take us back
BAHAHAHAHA. Could not even surpass the terribly short term of the CPHO. GO
Team Resolute! Fun times! Fun times! Team Resolute.
Paul why have you gone through 5 ministers now? By the time this photo cabinet is dissolved every member will have been in cabinet. Take as much useless photos as you can, time is running out.
This begs to ask if PJ is hard to work for? Time for Savageattack to work his magic!
look at all the Minister’s Department’s all of them failing and falling apart always short staff, some Manager’s are still working at home and some worker’s still claiming hours because their Manager’s are doing that!!!! Each Dept. needs to work on their attendance and find out who is really work and who isn’t?
You’re doing a great job representing your constituents! Thank you for your dedication to our community.
Heavy duty sarcasm?🤣
5th cabinet to resign? There goes her big plan and very urgent trip to 🇬🇱 Oh well, at least one less photo opportunity with the clan! Man, this Government sure seems to believe their job is only all about travelling. Our poor poor Government all talk, no action but alot of travelling only to have more photo opportunities. God save the Premier of the 6th Assembly!
There is no doubt in any Nunavutian mind that the job comes with stress and anxiety. You did what you could and that is commendable. Not only that, you took on the most difficult portfolios on the planet. Enjoy! And be kind.
Health and Family Services are the most difficult portfolios in Nunavut.
Quitting after 3 months for no reason? Where have i seen that before?🤦♂️
So what next PJ and Pam? Are we going to give an other inexperienced MLA a chance to play minister and get totally overwhelmed? Or are you going to put aside your pride and find a way to work with either George or Joe?
The bleeding’s going to have to stop one way or another. You’re going to get replaced very soon at this rate.
It really makes me wonder what the relationship is between PJ and George & Joe. Both George and Joe have plenty of experience in Cabinet and are very capable Ministers. I would argue that George is one of the most competent Ministers Nunavut has seen in a while. And yet… there they sit, as regular members, watching the revolving door of inexperience and unqualified pass by.
What’s going on, PJ? Are you threatened?
People who care more about numbers than results – “We need more women in politics!”
Enter: Karen Nutarak, Mila Kamingoak, Joanna Quassa, Pat Angnakak, Jeannie Ugyuk, Masako Kittosuk, Malaiya Lucassie, Sheila Flaherty, Mumilaaq Qaqqaq…
That was short even by NU standards. Go Team Resolute! Fun times!
Karen, you gave it a shot and you did your best. People are very quick to criticize, but those who have criticized have never walked a day in your shoes as a regular member, let alone a cabinet minister. I’m proud of you for trying. I’m sure all Mittimatalirngmiut are proud of you and appreciate all of your hard work.
We vote these people to represent us. Ministers do not necessarily represent the people that voted them in. Come on MLAs. Vote for a cabinet member who will see their portfolio to the end.
Hmmm, difficult workplace? Difficult boss?
Janet, George and Joe one big orgy. If so, why so, do they vote MLAs to take on Minister role? Ego ego they can’t stand to accept all the good things happening. Should do an audit on what actions and results came to fruition when Joe was a leader.
george and joe can do better than PJ even if they were blind folded. PJ do you regret keeping the experienced out of cabinet now?
Those are two very different ideas.
1. George and Joe can do better… maybe? Debatable and subjective.
2. Do you regret keeping the experienced (i.e. George and Joe) out of cabinet? That’s like asking do you regret not setting yourself up for a palace coup? No, I bet you don’t regret that even a little bit.
What does the word ‘coup’ mean to you in a context like this?
Did PJ have another one of his infamous temper tantrums?
Janet, George and Joe plan worked. If so, why so, do they vote MLAs to take on Minister role? Ego ego they can’t stand to accept all the good things happening. Should do an audit on what actions and results came to fruition when Joe was a leader.
Is PJ difficult to deal with? Why is there a high turnover with the cabinet? Where’s the non-confidence motion on PJ? The high turnover of cabinet should be enough to do a non-confidence vote.
it is time for non-confidence vote on the premier. If this continues for another year it will be difficult to clean up. Come on MLA’s do the right thing and do a vote.
I wonder how long the Capitan of this ship can keep it afloat? We all know the ship is sinking.
The pumps are struggling to keep up with the leaks, the main propulsion system needs a complete over haul or replacement and a fire has just broke out in a forward cargo hold.
This is PJ’s ship, he is the Capitan of this ship that is both 1 sinking and 2 on fire; I wonder if he is going to go down with it fighting or will be just abandon it and try and build a new one.
he should go back to his old ship the QIA. he was good at that. this big ship is too big for him. the rudder has broken and is headed to a rocky jagged reef with no control.
They should have let Lightstone off with a censure. He’s not susceptible to any of the things that bedeviled the other former ministers. OK, he’s a little annoying, with occasional episodes of moderately bad judgement, but able to balance family and a workload and withstand the constant tide of badgering from regular MLAs without going on a bender during work hours.
The most dysfunctional politicians in the history of Canada.
George and Joe just can’t handle being left out of power they too were extremely unqualified for. Savages chewing apart the new ones all for their little revenge plan.
If only you knew the truth…this is the most messed up GN ORGS ever in Nunavut history. . Planned and encouramentsb to friends to run for election, paved a nice road to the seat then just like that, everything started rolling in despite almost getting tangled with own 🪤 numerous times, tsk tsk shame shame, hope the big ship 🚢 does not sink deep into the ocean 🌊 make a heavy anchor chain to make it last another year and a bit left.
3 pro governments won’t allow the vote to remove the Captain. They believe and think he is God sent, real reason this boat is still afloat. Disaster slowly unfolding…time to throw in a giant float to avoid sinking to the bottom ocean floor.
Please Nunavut. Beg and plead that Yellowknife and the Feds retake Nunavut and send “None of it Politicians (?)” back to NS school and take Basic, (very basic) political science courses.
At least the “3 R’s”
I wonder if the scathing (and justified) comments section on Nunatsiaq’s article “Justice minister offers meeting with Iqaluit MLAs, RCMP on public drinking” from June 3rd hastened her resignation. Everyone around Nutarak realized her ideas are out to lunch.
What mess. Devaluation?
More like the feds retaking control of
the territory. Every level of government
in Nunavut. Is failing. Corruption, incompetence, and lack of. Just common
sense. There has been a few individuals
who we’re very good. At providing good
governance.
Unfortunately from the MP, MLA,s mayors and municipal councillors. Have no been cable of governing.Nunavut has
so much potential. But it will be decades
before it will achieve that promise.
If this mess is not fixed soon.