Stephanie McDonald
Northern News Services
Published Monday, September 24, 2007

NUNAVUT - Premier Paul Okalik was brought to task last week over disparaging remarks he made about the CEO of the Nunavut Association of Municipalities earlier this summer.

Premier Paul Okalik prepares to enter the chamber of the legislative assembly for a special sitting on Sept. 17. He was censured by his fellow members of the house. - Stephanie McDonald/NNSL photo

The premier was unanimously censured by his colleagues in the legislative assembly on Sept. 17.

Cambridge Bay MLA Keith Peterson, who brought forward the censure motion, said that Okalik's remarks - calling Lynda Gunn a "f--ing bitch" during a trade conference in Labrador in June - were "unwarranted, unprofessional, and unacceptable" and that "Nunavummiut expect and demand far more from their leaders."

When Okalik rose in the house, he said that it was right for the censuring motion to be tabled and said that it should pass.

"I will not attempt to use any words in my defence," he began, speaking first in Inuktitut and then in English. "I apologize unreservedly and recognize that my behaviour ... was hurtful to others and reflects poorly on me."

Okalik told the members present, as well as the public and media, that he had been seeking the advice of elders on the matter, and would continue to do so. He also pointed out that there are two women in his cabinet and women comprise a third of all deputy executives in the GN.

As Okalik read his apology from sheets of paper, deputy premier and minister of community and government services, Levinia Brown, wept in the chair beside him.

Censuring is a parliamentary tool whereby an individual is reprimanded for his or her actions or conduct. All members supported the motion, with only Okalik abstaining from the vote.

The minister responsible for the status of women, Leona Aglukkaq, said that the incident was embarrassing for the territory.

"The integrity of our work rests on our actions," she said in the house.

Nevertheless, Aglukkaq said that she has seen improvements in how such issues are dealt with.

"Before it was a hush hush issue in the territory," she said. "It's at the forefront now."

While members seemed content with the severity of the censure motion, MLA Tagak Curley went one step further, and called for Okalik's resignation.

"I believe that public trust ... has eroded deeply ... as a result of his actions," Curley said in Inuktitut.

Outside the house he said that there is instability in the public service due to a lack of trust in territorial leadership.

MLAs David Alagalak and Peter Kilabuk were not at the session.