IQALUIT - Lynda Gunn feels like a weight has been lifted off her back.

Former premier Paul Okalik apologized for the comments in question shortly after making them, saying "I made a mistake and will not do that again." - NNSL file photo

Last week, the former CEO of the Nunavut Association of Municipalities walked into the Nunavut Court of Justice and withdrew her defamation lawsuit against former premier Paul Okalik.

"I now feel a great weight has been lifted," she said."I just said to my lawyer, 'It's not worth it. It's not worth it anymore. I'm in this all by myself.'"

Gunn filed the $600,000 lawsuit in April 2008 over the profane comments Okalik made about her a year earlier.

In June 2007, at a dinner in Labrador hosted by the GN, Okalik referred to Gunn as a "f---ing bitch." The comment was overheard by several guests, including NAM president and Iqaluit mayor Elisapee Sheutiapik.

Okalik apologized both publicly and privately for his comments several days later. MLAs also condemned his behaviour that September during a legislative assembly session.

Gunn said she felt the reprimand wasn't enough.

"To me it (the reprimand) was like a slap on the wrist," she said.

Gunn said she proceeded with the lawsuit because she didn't understand how a member of the legislative assembly could "get away with putting women down in such a disparaging fashion. It was totally wrong."

But as the lawsuit dragged on into 2009, Gunn said she faced "continued mental anguish." In addition, after what she calls a "forced resignation" from NAM in September 2008, Gunn also felt her employment options in the government-dominated town had shrunk significantly.

In early 2009, she said she and her lawyer offered to settle for $50,000.

"It was rejected and they counter-offered to settle for zero dollars and the promise that they would not take legal action to sue me," she said.

The next step was to proceed with the "the examination for discovery," in which lawyers and clients convene to learn about each other's case and evaluate whether to proceed with the legal action.

"That was going to cost too much money and I couldn't possibly afford it. I made the decision to cut my losses," said Gunn. She added it was a decision made without her lawyer, who, indeed, later told Gunn he would have advised against it, cautioning Okalik may turn around and counter-sue for legal costs or defamation himself.

Gunn hopes not: "I'm just praying ... everybody drops it at this point."

"I just feel life is going to be great. From here it can only get better," she added.

Okalik is currently the MLA for Iqaluit West.