Iqaluit (June 16/03) - Nunavut Power Corporation is reeling after its president, Rick Blennerhassett, president, walked out on his job June 2.

Rick Blennerhassett: resigned as President and CEO or the Nunavut Power Corporation June 2.

"I chatted with him as usual, and we had tea," said Jobie Inooya, public relations director at Nunavut Power. "And in the afternoon he didn't show up and that's when we discovered he'd resigned. We're all still in shock."

A note of resignation submitted by Blennerhassett on June 2 said the split was effective immediately.

There was no more information, "other than saying farewell to us his previous employees.

"It seems he has nothing to do with Nunavut Power," Inooya said.

His resignation came just days after NPC's request for a rate hike of 10 per cent was rejected by the Nunavut government.

The corporation argued that the rate hike would cover as much as $15 million it needs to meet rising fuel costs.

NPC has not released a public statement about Blennerhassett's departure, but by June 6 had named Jamie Flaherty as acting-president.

In an interview last week Ed Picco, minister responsible for the NPC, said he did not believe his departure is related to the rejected rate hike.

Blennerhassett became president of NPC in September 2000, after serving as vice-president of operations for the NWT Power Corporation since 1995.

Prior to coming North, Blennerhassett worked for Nova Scotia Power for 20 years. Blennerhassett has not returned phone calls from News/North.

Inooya was not surprised, saying: "He's one of those types who sits down and re-groups before voicing out."