Kerry McCluskey
Northern News Services
Yellowknife (Jan 01/01) - Paul Okalik is just an ordinary guy.
He stands beside you at the office coffee machine and makes fun of your green rubber boots. He gets tongue-tied when he meets internationally renowned leaders. And tears come to his eyes as he speaks about having to miss his son's birthday last fall.
 Premier Okalik |
In this case, responding accordingly meant stepping up to the plate as the premier of Nunavut and putting the needs of his son on hold.
"That's not the fun part about the job," said Okalik, who planned to make it up to his two children this Christmas when they came to Nunavut for the holidays. They currently reside in Ottawa.
"(My children) understand about the demands of the office, but it takes its toll," he said.
While several other events during year 2000 added a few more grey hairs to Okalik's head, losing Arvaluk as education minister following his assault charge topped the charts in terms of uphill battles.
"That was a difficult period for our government. I worked very well with the minister. I hope that doesn't happen again," he said.
Legislation passed
Time zone struggles, health care problems and the sexual assault conviction and ensuing resignation of former Speaker Levi Barnabas were also tough, but it was the latter event, Okalik said, that gave his cabinet a chance to exercise a little muscle. By passing the Members Removal and Disqualification Act, he said the government showed Nunavummiut and the rest of Canada they wouldn't stand for violence against women.
The Act requires MLAs convicted of offenses to resign and refrain from seeking office for one term.
"We set a standard for all MLAs that if they are convicted of such conduct in the future, they don't stand a chance of maintaining office," said Okalik.
Nunavut's most eligible bachelor
The constant travel and rigorous demands of his job also helped put an end to the relationship he was involved in.
He said that while it was an easier existence to be single and avoid having to juggle a partnership and a premiership, he missed the intimacy of having a confidante.
"It's very difficult the time you travel and spend away from home. It's difficult on any relationship. But being single, it limits your ability to be comfortable with someone that you can confide in," he said.
A dream come true
The job isn't all bad. His position made a dream come true last month when he travelled to South Africa and met with Nelson Mandela for about 30 minutes. "Nelson Mandela has been my hero for a long time because of what he went through and how he carried himself even though he went through a very difficult time for his people," said Okalik.
"He's always been my inspiration."
And just as the guy next door would, when Okalik came eye to eye with Mandela -- the man he said strongly contributed to his own style of leadership -- he found himself tongue-tied.
"I was at a loss for words. I shook his hand and was truly honoured to meet him."
