Neils Christensen
Northern News Services

Iqaluit (Mar 15/04) - The only two women elected in the second government of Nunavut will take on the top two spots in cabinet.

Levinia Brown, MLA for Rankin Inlet South/Whale Cove, was appointed as deputy premier, Minister of Health and Social Services and Minister Responsible for the Status of Women.

Leona Aglukkaq, MLA for Nattiliq, was appointed as Minister of Finance and Government Leader of the House.

For both Brown and Aglukkaq, this is their first time as MLAs but they have both said they are looking forward to the challenges that lay ahead.

"I look forward to getting my feet wet and familiarizing myself with the department," said Brown.

"I have a challenging role to fill but I will do my best to move forward with this government's agenda," said Aglukkaq.

With only two women elected to the Legislature, Premier Paul Okalik said they wanted to show that women will play an important role in the new government.

"Our last government didn't have a place for women," he said. "We want to show that women are welcome in this house."

Okalik made the appointments on March 9, when the ministers were sworn into their cabinet positions.

While the two top ministers are new to the Legislature, Okalik said he is confident they will do well.

"Both ministers have shown themselves to be very capable," he said.

Brown has worked at the health centre in Rankin Inlet for several years. Aglukkaq has worked in many departments in the government including the office of the deputy minister of Culture, Language Elders and Youth and the office of the deputy clerk for the government. Okalik also made several changes to the departments, the biggest of which was creating two new ministries -- (1) Economic Development and Transportation and (2) Environment.

In the last government, economic development was part of the Ministry of Sustainable Development.

"I wanted to separate the two departments," he said. "Wildlife and the environment were competing with economic development. The focus was one or another and one was always being left behind. I didn't want that to happen again"

By separating the two departments, Okalik said they can now focus on both at the same time. Olayuk Akesuk, MLA for South Baffin, is the Minister of Environment and David Simailak is the Minister of Economic Development and Transportation.

Cabinet postings

It may have taken three weeks but Nunavut's second government is now ready to go to work.

On March 8 the newly-elected MLAs were sworn in to the Legislative Assembly, followed on March 9 by the swearing in of the newly appointed cabinet ministers.

"The people of Nunavut have been very patient with us," said Premier Paul Okalik during his closing remarks at the cabinet swearing in.

"Now we can focus on working together to build this territory."

Paul Okalik, MLA for Iqaluit West, appointed himself Minister of Justice and Minister of Executive and Intergovernmental Affairs.

Levinia Brown, MLA for Rankin Inlet South/Whale Cove, was appointed as deputy premier, Minister of Health and Social Services and Minister Responsible for the Status of Women.

Leona Aglukkaq, MLA for Nattiliq, was appointed as Minister of Finance and Government Leader of the House.

Olayuk Akesuk, MLA for South Baffin, was appointed as Minister of Environment and Minister Responsible for the Worker's Compensation Board.

Peter Kilabuk, MLA for Pangnirtung, was appointed as Minister of Community and Government Services and Minister Responsible for Nunavut Housing Corporation.

Ed Picco, MLA for Iqaluit East, was appointed as Minister of Education, Minister Responsible for Arctic College and Minister Responsible for Homelessness and Immigration.

David Simailak, MLA for Baker Lake, was appointed as Minister of Economic Development and Transportation, Minister of Energy and Minister Responsible for Qulliq Energy Corporation.

Louis Tapardjuk, MLA for Amittuq, was appointed as Minister of Culture, Language, Elders and Youth and Minister of Human Resources.