Kent Driscoll
Northern News Services
Monday, April 02, 2007

IQALUIT - Debate over not tendering a long-term lease for a building in Cambridge Bay has resulted in the first-ever censure of a Nunavut government cabinet last week by regular MLAs.

How they voted For: Hunter Tootoo, Iqaluit Centre Joe Allen Evyagotailak, Kugluktuk Levi Barnabas, Quttiktuq Tagak Curley, Rankin Inlet North James Arreak, Uqqummiut Steve Mapsalak, Akulliq David Alagalak, Arviat Keith Peterson, Cambridge Bay Peter Kattuk, Hudson Bay Against: Olayuk Akesuk, South Baffin Leona Aglukkaq, Nattilik Ed Picco, Iqaluit East David Simailak, Baker Lake Paul Okalik, Iqaluit West Levinia Brown, Rankin Inlet South/Whale Cove Louis Tapardjuk, Amittuq Patterk Netser, Nanulik - Source: Nunavut Legislative Assembly

With a nine to eight vote - regular members voting for and cabinet voting against - the legislative assembly reprimanded the executive council for leasing office space in Cambridge Bay without calling for public tenders.

Iqaluit Centre MLA Hunter Tootoo made the motion, with Cambridge Bay's Keith Peterson seconding.

Premier Paul Okalik was the sole cabinet voice speaking in opposition.

Problems began for cabinet during the March 17 meeting of the legislature's committee of the whole. There, Peterson questioned Community and Government Service Minister Levinia Brown about the lease for the Enokhok Corporation building in Cambridge Bay.

Nunavut inherited the 20-year lease from the NWT after division in 1999. Peterson asked why the lease was renewed without going to public tender.

Finance Comptroller Mike Rafter answered the question.

"In this circumstance, based on the assessments that were completed it was felt that the value that was able to be negotiated through this was the best value for the government," said Rafter.

Peterson then asked how much the government pays on average for leases, and Rafter said that information was privileged.

That drew the ire of Peterson.

"He said privileged information; we are Members of the Legislative Assembly, we are the guardians of the public purse. You did say that your review made some recommendations to Financial Management Board, so, surely you must have some figures that you can provide to Members of the Legislative Assembly on that lease," said Peterson.

A recess was called, and when the committee returned, CGS Minister Levinia Brown said the lease was still in negotiation and they were unable to provide the details until the lease had been signed.

"We have followed that process ever since 2004 that I know of," said Brown.

Tootoo made a motion calling for the committee to stop considering the CGS budget until they had more information available. Approval of the CGS budget was put on hold for a week. MLAs eventually learned that the lease is worth more than $1.1 million a year.

One week later, Tootoo and Peterson introduced the motion for censure.

For a government, being censured is simply an acknowledgement that a mistake was made.

"Different options were put forward, but they decided to sole source negotiate. At least give other developers an option," Tootoo said outside the assembly.

"We don't want to do that to the cabinet but this is not the only time that they have done that," said Rankin Inlet MLA Tagak Curley.

Premier Okalik vowed that this situation would never happen again.

"During the review of this, I said I do not want to ever go through this again... in the future where we are stuck with a long-term lease and it is going to expire within the next five years, it will be mandatory to go to the public and ask for proposals... That is transparency. That is what I am committing to do," said Okalik.

MLAs also questioned the safety of the building, which had been evacuated for health concerns the day before the censure motion was passed.

On March 27 at around 3:30 p.m., a chemical fire suppression system with toxic gas was set off. There was no fire, but the fire suppression system caused the building to be evacuated until 1 p.m. the following day. The Enokhok building houses 111 GN employees.

The fire suppression system uses bromotrifluoromethane, commonly known as halon. The gas is hazardous enough that CGS had to report the spill to Environment Canada.

"It occurred in the central computer room. Moments before the system discharged, there was a power surge. We are still investigating if that was the cause," said Kevin Niptanatiak, assistant regional director for CGS. Niptanatiak was in the building when the fire suppression system spewed chemicals into the building. "When you inhale it, there is a slight taste. It is definitely something not normal, a very faint chemical taste," said Niptanatiak.

"We are looking at upgrading the system, to something more environmentally friendly," said Niptanatiak.