Iqaluit (May 02/05) - Iqaluit MLA Hunter Tootoo wanted to know how the social services department protects women who need to go to a women's shelter but find out the accused abuser's relatives work there.

"As many of us can attest to, you can't walk down the street without running into someone that you're related to," Tootoo said. "I would like the minister to clarify whether policies for sending victims of domestic violence to shelters takes into account circumstances such as when relatives of an abuser work at the shelter," he asked Levinia Brown, Health and Social Services Minister on Wednesday.

Brown said health department staff avoid sending clients to shelters operated by close relatives.

"If a family conflict is evident, the victim would be sent to another shelter," she said.

Plastic surgery doing damage?

Rankin MLA Tagak Curley says some of his constituents with pain in their hands from sewing too much have been to surgeons in Churchill, Man., and now have more problems with their hands than before.

"Some cannot even close their hands after the nerves in their hands have been cut," said Curley. "Perhaps the minister can investigate this matter."

Curley asked minister Levinia Brown if the Nunavut department of health investigates plastic surgeons in Churchill who perform operations on Kivalliq patients.

"Can the minister find out whether the surgeons certifications are adequate?" asked Curley on April 26.

Brown said she would consult with the chief medical officer, Dr. Isaac Sobol, and get back to Curley as soon as possible.

Curley added that a group of more carpal tunnel sufferers were heading to Churchill on April 29.

Curley said there were two charters out of the Kivalliq this past winter to Churchill to plastic surgeons who deal with carpal tunnel issues.

College head moved to Iqaluit

Tagak Curley asked the education minister why Mac Clendenning, the president of Nunavut Arctic College, was moved from his Arviat office to Iqaluit and not Rankin Inlet.

Minister Ed Picco said Clendenning was brought to Iqaluit "to deal with some of the logistic, administrative, as well financial issues of Nunavut Arctic College."

"We believe that there was some opportunity in having the president of the college closer at hand to the largest organ of that body, and that largest organ of the body, of course, is Nunatta Campus."

Curley complained that the president had been staying at an Iqaluit hotel, which could be seen as unnecessary spending.

"The consultant's report did indicate there were serious financial problems with Arctic College," said Curley. "Could you explain to us how a savings was earned by having the president stay at one of the hotels in town?"

Picco said Curley was incorrect and that Clendenning was actually living in a staff unit.