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KINNGAIT/CAPE DORSET
A former Cape Dorset resident was the victim of nepotism when passed over for a job at the hamlet, according to a Nunavut Human Rights Tribunal ruling released last week.

The tribunal ordered the Hamlet of Cape Dorset to pay Peter Petaulassie $20,314.89 as it ruled the hamlet discriminated against him in favour of an employee's son-in-law, when Petaulassie applied for an arena manager and recreation co-ordinator position in 2005.

Peter Petaulassie had applied for the position with the hamlet in April 2005 after seeing an advertisement in the community. The position entailed responsibility for the ice-surfacing machine, janitorial duties and supervision of arena users.

The hamlet received three applications - one from Petaulassie, one from another Cape Dorset resident and the third from the son-in-law of the recreation co-ordinator at the time. The latter applicant eventually got the job.

In a written decision released April 16, tribunal adjudicator Bonnie Almon wrote the tribunal found the decision to hire the son-in-law was related on his relationship with the director of recreation. The tribunal heard Petaulassie was born and raised in Cape Dorset while the son-in-law had lived in the community for only several months - therefore the tribunal found Petaulassie more qualified for the position than the son-in-law owing to the hamlet's policy giving preference to "local community members."

The tribunal ruled Petaulassie had the deeper connection to the hamlet.

Reached in Iqaluit, Petaulassie said: "I am pleased with the decision."

Olayuk Akesuk, the hamlet's senior administrative officer, who wasn't around when the incident started, said he will respect the decision.

"As a hamlet, I think what we should do is respect our citizens of Cape Dorset for jobs," he said.

Marion Love, executive director of the tribunal, said decisions average six months to almost a year. At the time of the hearing this past December, Almon had said a decision was expected within 30 days.

"So, four months is actually very quick compared to our historical track record," said Love. "In the end, it actually became a very difficult decision to make. She (Almon) went through many drafts because it wasn't exactly an easy, straightforward case. She had to do a lot of research on it, too, connecting nepotism to family status."

Love said she thinks more people will likely notice and speak up on nepotism after seeing the results of a successful case.

"I believe we'll get many more inquiries. In fact, just in the last two days, our phones have been ringing off the hook," she said.

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