IQALUIT - Nunavut's legislative assembly has censured one of its members for inappropriate behaviour during a stay at a southern medical boarding home.

On Friday, Nov. 27 the legislature voted unanimously to discipline Pangnirtung MLA Adamee Komoartok for drunken bad behaviour.

Earlier that day Komoartok apologized to the legislature, his constituents and to the staff and patients at Larga Baffin Medical Boarding Home in Ottawa.

"During a private visit to the facility, I engaged in inappropriate and inexcusable behaviour," Komoartok told the assembly. "Although my behaviour was the result of intoxication, this is no excuse for what I did."

As part of his apology, Komoartok stepped down as chair of the legislative assembly's Standing Committee on Community and Economic Development.

Order of Nunavut proposed

Iqaluit West MLA Paul Okalik proposed the establishment of an Order of Nunavut, along the same lines as the Order of Canada.

"Each of our southern Canadian governments have an order for outstanding citizens who have contributed to their provinces," he pointed out.

Okalik said in proposing the idea he was acting on behalf of Nunavut's commissioner Ann Hanson. The commissioner's office would induct people into the Order of Nunavut, based on recommendations from a selection committee.

The plan is for that committee to be composed of the Speaker of the Legislative Assembly, the Chief Justice of Nunavut's court system, and the president of Nunavut Tunngavik.

Muskox investigation reopened

Environment Minister Dan Shewchuck said he has re-opened the investigation of the shooting of two muskoxen out of season near Baker Lake. On Dec. 1, Shewchuk said new information from the community and the local Hunters and Trappers Organization had prompted him to re-open the file.

"I have also instructed the department to utilize an independent investigation for impartiality and transparency," he told the assembly.

On Sept. 10 a conservation officer and another individual shot two muskoxen in a no-hunting area.

An internal investigation by the Department of Environment found the shooting violated the Nunavut Wildlife Act, but no charges were laid because the conservation officer had not been adequately trained.

Scrap metal remains

Scrap metal waste is still piled at the West 40 area of Iqaluit.

Nunavut's environment minister Dan Shewchuk acknowledged the temporary metal waste dump wasn't going anywhere this year.

"At this stage I think everybody is disappointed that the vehicles never left Iqaluit this fall and yes, it was due to the ice conditions and the weather and it was also due to a lack of co-ordination and negotiation between the contractor and the sealift service," said Shewchuk.

In response to questions from Iqaluit West MLA Paul Okalik, Shewchuk said the Department of Environment was not involved in making the arrangements between the contractor and the shipping company. However, he said the department would work with them to get the metal shipped south as early as possible in the shipping season of 2010.

Fuel costs drop

The price of gasoline in Nunavut dropped by 10 cents a litre on Dec. 4. Energy minister Lorne Kusugak announced the decrease in the legislative assembly on Dec. 1.

Also, Finance Minister Keith Peterson announced the Nunavut Homeowners Fuel Rebate on heating fuel would be increased to $500 from $400.