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IQALUIT - Peter Kilabuk, former speaker of Nunavut's legislative assembly, joined assembly's present speaker, James Arreak, in unveiling his official portrait, April 1.

The portrait, painted by artist Danny Osborne, was reproduced in a smaller version and mounted on a plaque as a memento for the former politician.

"He has served in a number of positions during the second and first assemblies, including a variety of ministerial portfolios," said Arreak, describing his predecessor. "Peter is a life-long resident of Panniqtuuq, a businessman and a hunter."

"The portrait that I am revealing today reflects the unique beauty of Panniqtuuq landscape," he added. "Peter's portrait joins others in our collection. I would like to pay tribute to the artistic efforts of Mr. Danny Osborne."

Seal ban decision postponed

The European Union's vote on the proposed ban of seal products had been delayed by at least three weeks, minister of Environment Daniel Shewchuk announced on March 27.

He noted that the government would be using the extra time to continue lobbying the members of the European Union to oppose the ban and to recognize that an Inuit exemption would not be of benefit to Nunavut.

"The Government of Nunavut will support and urged federal government to take what is legally necessary to take this matter to the World Trade Organization as a last resort if EU votes on a total ban in a few weeks," said Shewchuk. "I am writing a letter to all members of the EU explaining why such a ban is unnecessary and would be devastating to Nunavummiut."

The minister also mentioned that federal Fisheries minister Gail Shea and Foreign Affairs and International Trade minister Stockwell Day have given the territorial government their support and that the federal government would continue to strongly lobby the EU members during this time as well.

"I would like to take this time to thank the minister of Environment," Iqaluit West MLA Paul Okalik said in his member's statement. "He has made a very interesting minister's statement. If we are going to have three weeks, I urge our government to make full use of it."

Okalik again emphasized the importance using first-hand accounts of how Inuit live and use sealskin in opposing the ban and urged the premier to send a delegation to Europe to lobby on the issue.

"The premier and I will consider this request, but we feel very strongly that we have to represent Nunavummiut and also all of Canada and go together there as one common voice, so our strategy is going to be coordinated with Canada," Shewchuk later responded.

Need for doctors and nurses

Moses Aupaluktuq, MLA for Baker Lake, asked Tagak Curley, minister of Health and Social Services, whether there were any plans to hire a full-time doctor for his community and to describe what the government is doing to recruit doctors and nurses to communities across Nunavut.

Curley said his department is still looking at conducting a review to determine which communities need full-time doctors, but noted that the government's Nursing Recruitment and Retention Strategy had resulted in more competitive bonus packages for nurses that have been recruited.

"We think that we are making progress with that," he said.

Curley added that the territory was also making headway toward having more nurses in permanent positions, with fewer agency nurses.

The number of agency nurses totaled 39 as of Jan. 31, 2009, he said.

The vacancy rate for staff positions is still significant, the minister said.

"We have 244 positions available but only 124 of them are filled, so we have 100 vacant positions throughout Nunavut," said Curley.