Iqaluit (Jun 26/06) - It will be a cold, dark day in Nunavut when MLAs reconvene at the legislative assembly. That's because the house has risen and won't sit again until November.

The 10-day session concluded June 15 with relatively few fireworks, save some heated exchanges in question period between Iqaluit Centre MLA Hunter Tootoo and Health Minister Leona Aglukkaq over her leadership style.

Tootoo floated a non-confidence motion seeking to remove Aglukkaq, but it died without support from other members.

MLAs did pass nine bills, including amendments to the Fire Prevention Act and changes to help elders and the disabled stay in their homes.

The house sits again Nov. 21 and will welcome the winner of a by-election set for Oct. 16 in the Tunnuniq riding.

The winner of that race will replace former speaker Jobie Nutarak who died in a hunting accident in April.

Employment stats budge slightly

The government of Nunavut has more vacant positions than it did a year ago, though the share of Inuit employed by the territory is up slightly.

Of 3,428 public sector positions, 561 went unfilled as of March 31, according to figures tabled by Human Resources Minister Louis Tapardjuk. The number of vacant jobs is up by three. However, with 180 more available jobs, the percentage of filled positions is up one percentage point to 84 per cent.

The number of Inuit holding public sector jobs also grew over the same period to 48 per cent from 46 per cent.

The government aims to have 85 per cent of public jobs filled by Inuit.