Thompson outspends Okalik on ministerial travel

PATRICIA D’SOUZA

BAKER LAKE – Manitok Thompson, the former minister of community government and transportation, spent almost $80,000 on travel within Nunavut – about twice as much as Premier Paul Okalik – during the last fiscal year.

The information is contained in a 10-page document tabled in the legislative assembly this past Monday, during the first day of the spring sitting in Baker Lake.

The document was forwarded on behalf of Okalik in response to a written question asked by Glenn McLean, the MLA for Baker Lake, on March 21.

Thompson, who was removed from the CGT portfolio and named minister of education during a cabinet shuffle earlier this year, spent $79,484 between April 2002 and February 2003.

The amount includes $5,000 to attend a hamlet meeting and presentations in Coral Harbour and Baker Lake in May 2002, $5,000 to attend a memorial for Terence Tootoo in Rankin Inlet in September, $10,000 to attend the Kivalliq Mayors’ Conference in Coral Harbour in November, and $10,000 to attend hamlet meetings in Coral Harbour and Rankin Inlet in January 2003.

Thompson’s parents and sister live in Coral Harbour. She is the MLA for Rankin Inlet South-Whale Cove.

In all, Thompson made 10 trips to either Rankin Inlet, Whale Cove or Coral Harbour, for a total cost of more than $44,000.

In contrast, she made only six trips within Nunavut to communities outside her or her family’s home riding, spending about $11,000, or a quarter of the amount.

Jack Anawak the MLA for Rankin Inlet North and the former minister for the department of culture, language, elders and youth, spent about $43,000, the next highest amount.

Okalik spent only $42,000, including trips to Alaska and Zurich, Switzerland.

Peter Kattuk, the minister for the department of public works and services, spent the least – a little more than $6,000. His ministerial travel took him to Pond Inlet, Coral Harbour, Cambridge Bay and Clyde River.

The eight ministers together spent about $300,000 on travel last year.