Jillian Dickens
Northern News Services

Iqaluit (Nov 21/05) - A wall of silence surrounds an apology issued in the legislative assembly last week.

When the assembly reconvened this past Tuesday, Speaker Jobie Nutarak issued a public apology for his "conduct earlier this year at an official event at which I was in attendance.

"I can assure members that I have fully accepted their comments to me on this matter."

He gave no further explanation and outside the legislature refused to answer questions about what he did or where it happened.

"No comment," said Nutarak, Tunnuniq MLA.

Premier Paul Okalik declined an opportunity to comment before press time on Friday. Okalik's press secretary said the premier was too busy to answer questions about the speaker, but said the premier would be available for comment today.

Quttiktuq MLA Levi Barnabas said MLAs have agreed that what is said in the House does not need to be explained outside of it.

Other MLAs said they have no idea what Nutarak is apologizing for.

Cambridge Bay MLA Keith Peterson said he may have dealt with things differently.

"It's his choice. He obviously feels that he did something to embarrass the people," said Peterson. "But if it was me, I'd probably want people to know what I was apologizing for. That's my feeling."

Peterson said he does not know what Nutarak did to warrant issuing an apology.

Iqaluit centre MLA Hunter Tootoo welcomed Nutarak's apology.

"I think it was good he did that," said Tootoo.

But whether he should disclose what he is sorry for, Tootoo was less certain.

"I don't know, to tell you the truth," said Tootoo.

He said he is also unsure of what he would do if in the same position.

"Hopefully I won't have to worry about it."

Tootoo has been an advocate for more transparency in the legislature. He called for full disclosure of MLA salaries and benefits in March 2005.

The Speaker makes about $109,000 a year in salary and also collects a living allowance and other benefits.

This isn't the first time a Speaker has put the government in an embarrassing situation.

In 2000, Barnabas resigned from the Speaker's chair and eventually quit as MLA after being convicted of sexual assault. He was re-elected in 2004.

Barnabas's successor as Speaker, former Arviat MLA Kevin O'Brien, was fined $215 for possession of alcohol at his home Arviat, a dry community.