Arviat (July 26/04) - Nunavut Liberal MP Nancy Karetak-Lindell isn't upset about Prime Minister Paul Martin's decision not to give her a more prominent role in his minority government.

"I don't look at it as being overlooked," she said in an interview from her home in Arviat. "I don't take it that way the least bit."

Karetak-Lindell was the only Northern MP who was not given a cabinet seat or a job as parliamentary secretary when Martin announced his selections for top jobs Tuesday.

Western Arctic MP Ethel Blondin-Andrew was promoted to minister of state responsible for Northern development. Yukon MP Larry Bagnall will serve as parliamentary secretary to the energy minister.

Karetak-Lindell said that because she has such a large riding she has a tough enough job as it is.

"There are so many demands on my time as it is," she said. "The added duties of a cabinet position would only stretch my time even thinner," she said.

Karetak-Lindell said she has no hard feelings about not being named to that Northern position.

"Ethel has been a strong advocate for the North," said Karetak-Lindell. "She always talks about the North."

Karetak-Lindell stressed the two members get along well with each other.

"We are friends," Karetak-Lindell said of Blondin-Andrew. "I have always worked closely with Ethel on issues. She has a lot of experience and she has been there a lot longer than I have. I have no worries about working with her."