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COLUMN: GN needs to get it together

Well, here we go again.
No matter how they felt about the manner in which it was handled, most Nunavummiut were hopeful those who head the Government of Nunavut (GN) would get back on the same page and start working together for the betterment of our territory when Arviat's Joe Savikataaq replaced Paul Quassa as premier.

That, however, seems to be far from the case.

And any hope of our Kivalliq representatives standing united for our region's betterment seems a lot more like wishful thinking now than it did in the glow of Savikataaq becoming Nunavut's first premier from the Kivalliq.

There may be just an inkling of sour grapes in Quassa's continued problems with the premier and his cabinet, but I prefer to give the man the benefit of the doubt on that point based on my personal impressions of him over the years and his impressive political resume.

But, make no mistake about it. Quassa saying he has difficulty believing Premier Savikataaq's explanation on the alleged double standard of his handling of two breaches of confidentiality that led to Pat Angnakak being stripped of her portfolios in Housing and Nunavut Arctic College, while Education Minister David Joanasie suffered no such fate when a similar breach emanated from his department, speaks volumes.

It's a nice way of saying Quassa sees Savikataaq as being quite capable of standing before the House and lying.

Iqaluit: we have a problem!

That's a heck of a way to build confidence amongst Nunavummiut as to the character of the territory's new leader and his cabinet going forward.

And, our merry band of MLAs seem to be sharpening their knives again with the passing of a motion to censure the premier and his cabinet, which, in reality, translates to a very public spanking.

At least the premier wasn't sent to his room – yet!

On the Kivalliq front, the censure motion was introduced by Rankin Inlet North-Chesterfield Inlet MLA Cathy Towtongie, and Community and Government Services Minister Lorne Kusugak of Rankin Inlet South was the only minister to vote in favour of the motion, which amounted to Kusugak voting against his own cabinet.

Should the political maneuvering play out against him in the ensuing months, it's a rather peculiar hill to pick to risk dying on.

The GN hierarchy appears to be as divided now as it ever was, and it appears the camps are beginning to form for yet another power struggle in our capital.

You can just hear those late evening door knocks and phones ringing can't you?

And we're a long way from our next territorial election.

It will turn out to be quite interesting to see who holds which ministerial portfolio when 2021 rolls around, and if we're even still on our second premier of this term – if you count them and try to keep track as they roll past.

Right now the GN appears to be in total disarray, with agreeing to disagree being the order of the day and the only thing anywhere near reaching unanimous consent.

We also seem to have too many in this collection of political leaders a little too focused on the job titles of others, and it's time they cast their gazes back to the needs of the people who put them there in the first place.

To make a long story short – Nunavummiut deserve better, much better, out of the capital than they're receiving right now, and it's darn time for this government to get its house in order, or accomplish next to nothing during its tenure.

End of story.