Nunavut MLA Isaac Shooyook walks out of Question Period
Member for Quttiktuq says he's tired of the same answers from government
Quttiktuq MLA Isaac Shooyook walked out of Question Period at Nunavut's legislature yesterday to show his frustration with the government.
Shooyook, who represents the High Arctic communities of Arctic Bay, Resolute and Grise Fiord, has fought for more Inuit traditional values in government since being elected as an MLA in 2013.
For two days this week he questioned the government on that topic.
On Wednesday, after asking why Inuit societal values aren't being incorporated into public policy, he said in Inuktitut, "I have raised questions repeatedly and the rote answer is 'Let me look into that and I will respond with the information at a later time.' Well, I have not received any responses to date.
"What is the purpose of this language the bureaucrats continually spout? There is flowery language about incorporating traditional Inuit knowledge, yet many times the department refuses to implement this knowledge."
In Thursday's Question Period, Culture and Heritage Minister George Kuksuk told Shooyook he agrees that the law needs to be updated to reflect Nunavut.
Kuksuk also said implementing Inuit Qaujimajatuqangit is not easy, because all government departments have to figure out individual ways to use the traditional principles.
Shooyook said this in Inuktitut:
"I have this opportunity to tell the government today, or urge the government, to change the act. For the purpose of that, I will take an action today by leaving the chambers in front of all the members and the people watching."
Then he picked up all his binders and left.
Shooyook told CBC News he's tired of the same answers from the government.
His move took other MLAs by surprise, including Iqaluit-Niaqunnquu's Pat Angnakak, who sits next to Shooyook in the legislature.
"Maybe now the government will take notice because it is not a typical response," she said. "It's something that's quite out of the ordinary. And I think it just shows his level of frustration."
Kuksuk says he plans to speak with Shooyook about his concerns.
Shooyook says he'll be back in the legislature for Question Period today.