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NUNAVUT
Nunavummiut will head to the polls on Oct. 28 to elect members of the fourth legislative assembly along the lines of Nunavut's new electoral map.

Health Minister Keith Peterson got his flu shot from Susie Pearce, a public health nurse, during a flu clinic offered in the Nunavut Legislative Assembly on Oct. 30. The influenza vaccine is available at health centres across the territory and at public health in Iqaluit. - photo courtesy of the Government of Nunavut

Dissolution of the current legislature is scheduled for Sept. 22 following the fall sitting, according to next year's sitting calendar. Residents will choose 22 MLAs, rather than the current 19, because next year's territorial election will feature the newly-revised electoral map. The new map means Arviat, Iglulik and Iqaluit each get an additional MLA.

In the Kivalliq, Whale Cove is paired with Arviat North in one constituency while Chesterfield Inlet will now be part of a new Rankin Inlet North riding.

In the west, the configuration of the Akulliq riding has been redrawn. This means Repulse Bay and Coral Harbour are to be paired in one constituency while Kugaaruk and Taloyoak will comprise another riding.

Gjoa Haven will now have its own MLA. Members of the current legislature were elected on Oct. 27, 2008.

Relocation of graves in Hall Beach

Four men who relocated graves in Hall Beach some 50 years ago will not receive financial compensation from the territorial government.

The men were tasked to move human remains in the Melville Hall peninsula community in 1968 after being told the cemetery was too close to the community, explained Amittuq MLA Louis Tapardjuk at the legislative assembly on Oct. 26. He added the men were told they would be paid for this work. To this day, they haven't received any money, said Tapardjuk. Only one of the four men is still alive.

"They went through a very hard and stressful time," he said. "Their qamutiit were completely inundated with human blood. Their clothing had lingering smells of death."

Tapardjuk asked Health Minister Keith Peterson whether the territorial government would financially compensate the four men for relocating the graves.

Peterson said he was prepared to offer the individuals and the community support to help them with their grieving and healing process but not money.

"To me, it seems like more of a mental process to help the community and individuals recover than a monetary process," said Peterson. "Again, I'm not prepared to consider compensation."

Tapardjuk responded saying it is regrettable false promises were made.

Correspondence tabled at the legislature show Tapardjuk had the support of Hall Beach Mayor Paul Haulli in the request. The documents also show Ottawa would not provide financial compensation.

In his response on whether the men should be financially compensated, the federal minister of Aboriginal Affairs and Northern Development wrote, after investigating the incident, archived documents show Ottawa was involved in the town planning at the time.

"Those documents do not specifically refer to a plan or show any evidence the federal government issuing an order to relocate the Hall Beach cemetery," wrote John Duncan in a Sept. 5 letter.

With "no clear evidence" linking Ottawa to the event and the statute of limitations passed, the federal government is not liable and should not be considered a responsible party in the matter, wrote Duncan.

Tapardjuk wrote he was "saddened and disappointed" with the federal government decision in a letter sent to Peterson on Sept. 21.

Haulli wrote Peterson on Oct. 10 stating he supports Tapardjuk's suggestion the territorial government offer a one-time compensation payment.

"This would settle this unfortunate tragic event once and for all and allow the closure for all those who were involved with the very difficult relocation of these graves," wrote Haulli. Haulli stated he accepts the territorial government's position it should be their federal counterpart's responsibility, but "conventional wisdom" suggests they will not.

Taloyoak to get new health centre

Taloyoak will get a new health centre since the funding to start construction was approved on Oct. 30.

The committee of the whole approved $15.7 million for the first year of construction in 2013-14 of the new health centre, part of a two-year, $25.7-million capital project. Health Minister Keith Peterson said they're using the same design as the one in Repulse Bay.

"Taloyoak residents are deeply appreciative of the proposed new health centre in our community as it took many years of prioritizing the health centre to realize it," said Nattilik MLA Jeannie Ugyuk.

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