Iqaluit (Sep 29/03) - The city of Iqaluit has fired one employee caught using illegal drugs on the job.

The worker was on a break from driving a city sewage truck when his supervisor found him smoking marijuana.

The firing comes at a time when the public works department is under scrutiny for its safety practices. Less than a month before the firing, a city front-end loader killed Mararget Jeffrey.

Mayor John Matthews said the firing was a private matter between the city and one of its employees and shouldn't have been made public.

"We handled it internally," he said. "It shouldn't be made into a big deal."

Matthews said the city has a zero tolerance policy on drug and alcohol use while on the job.

He couldn't say if the firing was a isolated case or if drug abuse is a widespread problem with city employees.

Matthews said there is no plan to introduce drug testing for city employees. But council has requested an external review of the public works department's safety practices and employees.

"If there is a concern of people operating city equipment while under the influence of drugs or alcohol then that is a safety concern and it will be addressed," said Matthews.

Council's request for the review followed three fatal accidents with city vehicles in three years.

Matthews added that he still has confidence in the public works department and it's employees.

"I don't think it's fair to taint the overall department because one person was caught smoking pot," he said.

The Nunavut Employees Union was unavailable for comment.