What you don’t see on television

Cabinet ministers have had some extra time to play since the committee of the whole began its line-by-line examination of the 2002-3 budget.

Both members and ministers are expected to attend the committee sessions, which begin once question period has ended, but only MLAs are permitted to ask questions.

This gives ministers time for crossword puzzles, drawing and catching up on the news.

You won’t see it on television, since assembly cameras are trained on MLAs and the cabinet minister being grilled during committee of the whole. But from inside the assembly, the sight is quite entertaining.

Sustainable Development Minister Olayuk Akesuk hands a page a newspaper folded to the crossword.

The page takes it to Akulliq MLA Ovide Alakannuark, who takes a look, gives a chuckle and passes it on to Jack Anawak, who gives it a glance, then goes back to his newspaper.

Public Works Minister Peter Kattuk, a practiced artist, draws the face of a man on the back of his orders of the day. He shows the picture to Akesuk, who praises the work, then returns to reading the sports page.

Sergeant at Arms Simanuk Kilabuk draws three faces — a man who is surprised, one who is not too bright and one who wobbles. Kilabuk didn’t indicate which — if any — of the members of the house they were meant to depict.