Women's group calls on Nunavut MLA to resign

The Qulliit Nunavut Status of Women Council is demanding that Pangnirtung MLA Adamee Komoartok step down, a day after he was suspended from the territory's legislature for an alleged alcohol-fuelled assault earlier this week.

Komoartok, 57, was charged with assault causing bodily harm in connection with an alleged attack on his wife on Sunday. His spouse has also been charged with assaulting Komoartok the same day.

Nunavut MLAs unanimously voted on Thursday to suspend Komoartok from the legislative assembly at least until the next session in May.

The territorial status of women council applauded the suspension on Friday, but says it is now calling on Komoartok to resign.

"That needs to be done, that's the conclusion everyone's hoping for and that we're certainly hoping for," Qulliit president Donna Adams told CBC News.

Not first incident

Komoartok was elected to Nunavut's 19-member legislature as the MLA for Pangnirtung in 2008.

While he has only been charged, and not convicted, Adams said it is not the MLA's first incident related to excessive drinking.

In November 2009, Komoartok was censured in the legislature after he admitted to drunk, inappropriate behaviour at the Larga Baffin medical boarding home in Ottawa.

The incidents send a negative message about alcohol abuse and violence, Adams said.

"If we're going to start to make any changes in this mountain of issues with violence and abuse against women and children, we have to set a precedent for the younger generation," she said.

MLAs who approved Komoartok's suspension agreed to send a strong message that violence will not be tolerated.

"You can't condone violence at any level [against] anybody, but especially the women and children," House Leader Lorne Kusugak said after Thursday's vote.

"Innocent until proven guilty, I totally agree, but I think this is different. We are elected officials."