Tootoo and Trudeau sent congratulations
Messages from premier, Inuit Tapiriit Kanatami and Nunavut Tunngavik Inc.
Michele LeTourneau
Northern News Services
Monday, October 26, 2015
NUNAVUT
Heads of Inuit organizations and the Government of Nunavut sent messages of congratulations containing hopes about positive working relationships to the Nunavut MP-elect Hunter Tootoo and the Prime Minister-designate Justin Trudeau after the Liberal victory Oct. 19.
"After a hard-fought campaign, Canadians made their voices heard last night, and I am pleased to embark on this new phase of working together," stated Premier Peter Taptuna, congratulating both Tootoo and Trudeau. "I look forward to our work to strengthen Nunavut's economic opportunities, infrastructure and social conditions, and realize the goals of Sivumut Abluqta."
Natan Obed, the recently elected president of Inuit Tapiriit Kanatami, congratulated Trudeau and all four MPs across Inuit Nunangat, the Inuit homeland in Canada: Michael McLeod (Northwest Territories), Hunter Tootoo (Nunavut), Yvonne Jones (Labrador) and Romeo Saganash (Abitibi-Baie-James-Nunavik-Eeyou).
"Inuit look forward to working with the new government in the spirit of relationship-building and true partnership," stated Obed.
Not wasting any time, Obed reminded the new government of its promises, such as immediately re-engaging "with Inuit communities and leadership in a renewed, respectful and inclusive nation-to-nation Kelowna process to advance progress on critical issues, such as housing, infrastructure, health and mental health care, poverty, food security, child welfare, economic opportunity and education."
Obed also reminded the new government of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada's 94 calls to action and its promise "to fully implement the recommendations, starting with the implementation of the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples."
Nunavut Tunngavik Inc. president Cathy Towtongie noted the work to fully implement the Nunavut Land Claims Agreement is not completed and she looks forward "to developing a positive working relationship with (Trudeau) as we continue toward our goal."
Towtongie also took the opportunity to remind Trudeau of his promise to "call for an inquiry into missing and murdered indigenous women in Canada."
Obed and Towtongie thanked former MP Leona Aglukkaq for her service over the last seven years.
