Members of the 5th Legislative Assembly Identify Goals and Priorities

IQALUIT, Nunavut (February 26, 2018) - The Legislative Assembly of Nunavut’s Full Caucus successfully concluded its Pond Inlet Retreat on February 23, 2018.

Premier Paul Quassa said, “Turaaqtavut reflects a collaborative and collective approach to defining our government’s mandate for the next four years. Our deliberations in Pond Inlet built on the Cabinet’s work to date and afforded Members of the Legislative Assembly with the opportunity to articulate and advance priorities for their constituencies and the territory as a whole.”

Turaaqtavut establishes a number of broad thematic priorities, including:

• Working towards community and social well-being through Inuusivut;
• Developing the territory’s economy and infrastructure base through Pivaallirutivut;
• Strengthening education and training through Sivummuaqpalliajjutivut;
• Recognizing Nunavut as a distinct territory in Canada and the world through Inuunivut; and
• Building closer partnerships with the Government of Canada and Inuit organizations through Katujjiqatigiinnivut.

Turaaqtavut will be tabled in the Legislative Assembly at the opening of the 2nd Session of the 5th Legislative Assembly, which will follow the consideration of the proposed 2018-2019 capital estimates during the upcoming winter sitting of the House.

Members also confirmed that statutorily-required reviews of the Official Languages Act, the Inuit Language Protection Act and the Representative for Children and Youth Act will be conducted during the life of the 5th Legislative Assembly. This review will also consider the advisability of establishing a new ombudsperson position for the territory.

Chair of the Regular Members’ Caucus and Arviat North-Whale Cove MLA John Main said, “My colleagues and I look forward to working with the government to achieve measurable results for Nunavummiut.”

While in Pond Inlet, Members were formally hosted by Speaker and Tununiq MLA Joe Enook. Members met with a number of community leaders and received presentations regarding local issues of concern. Members also received a briefing from senior executives of Baffinland Iron Mines Corporation on the status of the Mary River Mine, including training and employment initiatives for Nunavut Inuit.

The 1st Session of the 5th Legislative Assembly reconvenes on March 6, 2018. The proceedings of the House will be open to the public to observe from the Visitors’ Gallery and will be televised live across the territory on local community cable stations and direct-to-home satellite service on the Bell (channel 513) and Shaw (channel 289 – classic / channel 489 – new lineup) networks.

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For more information:

Patterk Netser, MLA (Aivilik)
Chair, Full Caucus
Tel: (867) 925-9890