TALOYOAK - Splitting a constituency in two and sharing another with a different community are some of the main points the Electoral Boundaries Commission heard during their last two public hearings last week.

Taloyoak wants to share its constituency with Kugaaruk, as opposed to Gjoa Haven, as the community has more cultural links with that community, said Electoral Boundaries Commission chairman Edward Richard. - NNSL file photo

The commission is examining the boundaries of the 19 constituencies in Nunavut. It held a series of public hearings in various communities and with their visit to Taloyoak and Iglulik last week, that part of their mandate is done.

Taloyoak would prefer sharing their constituency with Kugaaruk, as opposed to Gjoa Haven as it currently does, as they have more common interests and cultural links with that community, said Commission chairman Edward Richard.

The Nattilik constituency encompasses Taloyoak and Gjoa Haven while the Akulliq one contains Kugaaruk and Repulse Bay.

"Because the airlines don't have any direct link between those two communities (Repulse Bay and Kugaaruk), it is very difficult, we're told, for an MLA to serve those two communities efficiently or easily," he said. "They also say to us they're in two different regions."

He added they heard how someone going between Repulse Bay and Kugaaruk has to travel through Yellowknife.

Repulse Bay is in the Kivalliq region while Kugaaruk is in the Kitikmeot.

Richard said Taloyoak also suggested having its own MLA, something he said the commission has heard before.

"We explained, unless we're going to have a very large legislature, it's not possible (for) each and every community to have their MLA," he said.

He added that's when they suggested being combined with Kugaaruk rather than Gjoa Haven.

Joseph Quqqiaq, a resident of Taloyoak and both English and Inuktitut interpreter during the meeting, said about 15 people attended the meeting. He reiterated Richard's comments.

In Iglulik, Richard said the community pointed out its population has increased to 1,639 people, larger than other communities with their own MLA, such as Pangnirtung with 1,443, Kugluktuk with 1,396 and Cambridge Bay with 1,601. Those are Nunavut population estimates as of July 1, 2009. Keeping that in mind, he added the community would like to split its constituency, similar to what is currently done in Rankin Inlet.

"Not so much that they want to get rid of Hall Beach but they feel their numbers justify two MLAs. It's too much work for one MLA to service the increased population in Iglulik and Hall Beach as well," he said. "It would be like an Iglulik North and then the second riding would be something like Iglulik/Hall Beach. That's one scenario that is being suggested to us."

Iglulik and Hall Beach share the Amittuq constituency. Richard said about 20 people came to the public hearing.

The commission is examining the constituencies' names, boundaries and the number of people in each. It is also expected to provide a reasoning for any new boundary and name change.

The commission's report is expected to be completed by June.

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