by Jennifer Pritchett
Northern News Services

NNSL (Aug 04/97) - Nunavut political leaders are reacting with caution to a report that goes against their suggestion for the new Eastern Arctic electoral boundaries.

Leaders like Peter Ernerk, a Nunavut implementation commissioner, have yet to see the report and declined to comment on its recommendations until they study it closely.

But Bill Sackett, public relations officer for Nunavut Tunngavik Inc., said he's heard that the report is a good look at the issues surrounding the electoral boundaries for Nunavut.

"The preliminary reaction is that it appears to be quite thorough and comprehensive," he said.

"If that's the general feeling of the people in the communities visited, I have no problem with it," said John Ningark, MLA for Natilikmeot.

While he said he's not really surprised by the 17-member assembly, Ningark said that it's really too early to comment on the newly-released report.

But he did say that there may have to be a second look at the report.

Riding boundaries, though a dry and complex subject for most non-experts, have been the subject of many a political debate in recent Canadian history. And with only 25,000 residents in Nunavut, regional power balances will be easily upset.

The question of how many seats are awarded to each region is likely to provoke more controversy in the coming months.

Nunavut Tunngavik board members are expected to examine the report when they meet later this month in Arviat.