by Richard Gleeson
Northern News Services

NNSL (Mar 10/97) -Three long-time, prominent Northerners have been selected to shape electoral boundaries for Nunavut.

But it won't be clear until late spring just how many ridings they will need to create.

Last week the legislative assembly recommended Supreme Court Justice Ted Richard head up the three-member committee that will define the constituencies for Nunavut's first election.

Along with Richard, the assembly recommended the electoral boundaries commission include Sandy Kusugak of Rankin Inlet and Titus Allooloo.

The appointments still await approval of NWT Commissioner Helen Maksagak. The commission has until June 30 to do its job.

Nunavut leaders have instructed the commission to draw up two sets of boundaries, which will be based on two possible outcomes of a plebiscite to be held on gender parity in late May.

Though it has been decided the Nunavut legislature will consist of 20 to 22 members, the number of ridings will not be known until the results of a plebiscite are in.

If the people of Nunavut approve gender parity, the NIC recommendation for a male and a female representative for each constituency, there will be 10-11 ridings.

If gender parity is defeated, Nunavut will be divided into 20 to 22 ridings.

Richard served as a member of the 10th and 11th legislative assemblies, from 1984 to 88, before being appointed to the NWT Supreme Court.

Kusugak, a long-time resident of Rankin Inlet, is chairman of the Keewatin Divisional Board of Education and the Rankin Inlet District Education Authority. She has served as an electoral returning officer at the local, regional, territorial and federal levels.

Allooloo was an MLA from 1987 to 1995. During his tenure he served as a cabinet minister for various departments, including Renewable Resources and Education, Culture and Employment.