PANNIQTUUQ/PANGNIRTUNG - Adamee Komoartok resigned from his position as MLA for Pangnirtung on March 15 after he was alleged to have been involved in an assault.

Adamee Komoartok resigned from his position as MLA for Pangnirtung on March 15 after he was alleged to have been involved in an assault. - NNSL file photo

He was suspended after an unanimous vote by members of the Nunavut Legislative Assembly on March 10.

Komoartok faces an assault charge causing bodily harm as does his wife Penena Mosesee allegedly from an incident in Iqaluit on March 6.

The hamlet of Pangnirtung sent out a press release agreeing with Komoartok's decision to resign.

"We want to do good job and represent the people who elected us to the best of our ability," said Pangnirtung Mayor Sakiasie Sowdlooapik of what he thinks are important qualities for an MLA.

He said elected officials need to be held to a high standard.

In the press release it stated the hamlet of Pangnirtung "has a zero tolerance policy toward violence."

The mayor said Komoartok called and told him of his decision to resign and later announced it on community radio.

Sowdlooapik expressed his thanks for Komoartok's service to the community.

"We have a lot of issues that need to be addressed to the government and other organizations, he represented us and we will move forward," he said.

In November 2009 Komoartok was formally censured by the assembly after admitting to and apologizing for "inappropriate and inexcusable" behaviour while drunk at the Larga Baffin medical boarding home in Ottawa.

The Qulliit Nunavut Status of Women Council sent out a press release on March 11 urging the legislative assembly to not allow Komoartok to return to his job. "It was something we were asking for and hoping for and I think it's a partial success," said Donna Adams, council president. She said it is only a partial success because she sees a full success story being when both Komoartok and his wife go for help. "It was alcohol mixed with an argument that turned ugly," she said. While she and the council had to push for his resignation she said she wishes they had more resources to offer the pair and others who find themselves in similar situations. Both Komoartok and his wife are to appear at the Nunavut Court of Justice in Iqaluit on May 6.

With the Pangnirtung seat now vacant, according to the Nunavut Elections Act, a byelection must be held within six months.

The latest it could be held is Sept. 12 as elections in the territory are traditionally held on Mondays.

The next sitting at the assembly is May 31 but legislative assembly clerk John Quirke said it might not be possible to have an election before that.

"The May 31 sitting is not that far away," Quirke said.

He said when the last byelection was held after Nattilik MLA Enuk Pauloosie resigned in February 2010, it took 99 days to elect a new member.

The approximate cost for the byelection was $56,000.

It depends also if there is a returning officer available.

"There's a feeling we're starting from scratch from Pangnirtung," said Quirke.

Elections Nunavut is going to be proposing potential election dates to cabinet who will forward them onto the commissioner. Once a writ proclamation is issued a date will be chosen.

Another snag Quirke said they have encountered is if there is a summer election, voter turnout may be low.

"Most people as you know in Nunavut are out enjoying the land or boating come June."

Once the byelection is over, the successful candidate has to submit the financial records from their campaign to Elections Nunavut before they can sit in the assembly.

Quirke said he also likes to have time to do a four- to seven-day orientation so the new member can understand the procedures.

Quorum in the assembly is 10 members and can include the speaker. A notable absence from the winter session has been Tununiq MLA James Arvaluk who is ill. It is not known if he will return for the spring session.

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