November 7, 2008
A new cabinet for grim times
As of mid-week, we still did not know how or when Nunavut's 18 newly elected or acclaimed MLAs would choose a new speaker, premier and cabinet.
Whatever they decide, the bigger question isn't how or when. It's who.
Hard times are on their way. This means Nunavut cannot afford another cabinet stuffed with inexperienced duds and token space fillers.
MLAs must honestly assess the talent within their group and choose the most credible and competent people available. To that end, they must give the greatest weight to skilled people who know how government works.
The collapse of global financial markets and the impending recession mean that Nunavut's mineral exploration boom is over, along with the seasonal jobs it created.
Lower fuel prices will help, especially after next year's shipping season. But bad economic news lurks on the near horizon. The Nunavut-NWT Chamber of Mines says many of its member companies will now focus on finding enough cash just to survive.
And the Government of Nunavut's paymaster, the Government of Canada, is heading towards a deficit.
Fortunately, Jim Flaherty, the federal finance minister, said this past Monday that territorial financing formulas will not be affected by his government's impending fiscal problems. But Nunavut's demands for big new infrastructure and education handouts may have to be shelved for a while.
At the same time, Government of Nunavut will enter this grim period in a wounded state. Employee morale is poor and several work units are dangerously understaffed. The Auditor General of Canada's increasingly negative reports on the GN's finances raise continuing questions about the capacity of the civil service and the wisdom of retaining decentralization in its current form.
This means MLAs must also choose ministers who are willing to take an honest look at the previous government's failures and make changes where they're needed.
Here are the MLAs who, in our opinion, deserve a chance to serve in cabinet:
- Keith Peterson - Diligent, thorough and knowledgeable, Cambridge Bay's hard-working MLA has earned the right to be considered for a senior cabinet post. His background prepares him for just about any portfolio, especially finance, economic development, community government, housing, or health and social services.
- Hunter Tootoo - After serving two terms as the legislative assembly's most effective gadfly, Tootoo should get a chance to serve on the government side of the house. Portfolios such as human resources, economic development, housing and health and social services all look like good assignments for him.
- Daniel Shewchuk - Those who work in wildlife management circles speak highly of Arviat's newly-elected MLA. His background suggests he would make an excellent environment minister.
- Eva Aariak - After serving Nunavut well as languages commissioner, Aariak ought to be a shoo-in for cabinet. With her executive experience and excellent communications skills, she might make an excellent education minister - or premier perhaps.
- Louis Tapardjuk - If they don't choose him to serve as premier, MLAs should give Tapardjuk another chance to serve in cabinet, especially after the excellent job he did in the culture-language portfolio.
- Johnny Ningeongan - After serving five terms as mayor of Coral Harbour and one term as president of the Nunavut Association of Municipalities, Ningeongan has enough executive experience to merit a cabinet job. Community and government services looks like a good assignment for him.
- Peter Taptuna - Taptuna replaces Joe Allen Evyagotailak, the last assembly's least effective member, as MLA for Kugluktuk. Sitting alongside Keith Peterson, he could give the long-neglected Kitikmeot region some extra weight at the cabinet table,.
- Moses Aupaluktuq - Baker Lake's new MLA showed some flashes of leadership ability when he served as president of the National Inuit Youth Council more than 15 years ago. MLAs might do well to give him a chance in cabinet.
- Tagak Curley - In the last assembly, the MLA for Rankin Inlet North chose not to run for cabinet after his failed bid for the premiership. That's too bad, because his many years of experience would be a useful asset at the cabinet table.
We have one more piece of unsolicited advice.
If Nunavut's new cabinet is to fix what's wrong with the government, then cabinet members must be allowed to play a role in choosing their deputy ministers.
That function is too important to be left solely in the hands of the premier. The current practice puts too much power in the premier's hands and creates too many temptations to abuse that power. JB
