MP opens up on national TV
Petition launched calling for Hunter Tootoo to resign
Michele LeTourneau
Northern News Services
Monday, September 12, 2016
IQALUIT
As Hunter Tootoo prepared for a heart-to-heart conversation with CBC chief correspondent Peter Mansbridge on national television Sept. 7, Iqaluit resident Andrew Morrison was collecting signatures on a petition addressed to Tootoo, Premier Peter Taptuna and Nunavut Tunngavik Inc. president Cathy Towtongie calling for the independent Nunavut MP to resign his seat.
A 15-minute televised interview with CBC's Peter Mansbridge focused mainly on Tootoo's admission of a difficult childhood, his upbringing and his leaving home at 14. |
Following Tootoo's resignation from Liberal caucus and his cabinet position as minister for the Department of Fisheries and Oceans and the Canadian Coast Guard to seek addictions treatment May 31, an "inappropriate relationship" came to light. That relationship, and his independent status, have rankled Nunavummiut.
The petition states that "Hunter has lost all political influence and is now completely incapable of fulfilling his role of representing, advocating, and lobbying on behalf of Nunavummiut. Only a strong, respected, well connected, politically aligned federal member of Parliament can help address Nunavut's long list of critical needs ...
"Hunter's 'inappropriate relationship' is not acceptable. Qulliit Status of Women has called Hunter's actions an 'abuse of power.' Nunavummiut are left questioning how leaders get away with abusing their positions of power, what consent means when it comes to sexual relationships with staff members, what role going to alcohol rehabilitation played and the vagueness as to why exactly Hunter left.
"Young men in Nunavut should not be shown that this is acceptable. If you work for the Government of Nunavut, or for an Inuit organization, or any organization working towards betterment of Nunavut, the abuse of power has an immeasurable impact on your work," the statement on the petition concluded.
The 15-minute televised interview with Mansbridge focused mainly on Tootoo's admission of a difficult childhood, his upbringing and his leaving home at 14.
"There's been trauma in my life, throughout my life experiences, that I realized now have affected and shaped me as an individual," said Tootoo.
"Beyond the emotional trauma, there was physical abuse ... I was beaten, I was sexually abused. When I was 15 or 16 there was a suicide attempt."
Regarding his resignation, Tootoo told Mansbridge: "It was a hard decision for me. I knew I had to go in there and tell him (Trudeau) what happened. I told him everything."
After skirting around the "consensual but inappropriate relationship," Tootoo said he has to prove himself to Trudeau, his colleagues and his constituents.
"Do you hope there's a pathway back (to the Liberals)," asked Mansbridge.
"I do hope so," answered Tootoo, adding the prime minister have him a hug at that final fateful meeting.
The interview ends with Tootoo saying, "I need to prove myself, that I am that person the prime minister put trust in, that I am the person who the people who elected me put their trust in to be able to represent them and to be able to bring forward their issues and try and make things better for the people of Nunavut."
The emotional interview did not address the frequent calls by Nunavummiut for Tootoo's resignation as MP, or his ability to represent the territory as an Independent MP.
Responses on social media ranged from support for Tootoo in his healing and continued calls for his resignation.
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said early on he will no longer speak on the matter and the Prime Minister's Office remains on message - Tootoo's standing with the Liberals remains unchanged, and they will no longer speak on the matter.
The online petition at change.org appears to have peaked at almost 100 signatures on Sept. 9, with only three additional signatures in the final days of last week.
