Nunavut MLAs promise leadership review

As Nunavut's politicians return to the legislature this week, some MLAs say it's time to ask Premier Eva Aariak and her cabinet tough questions about what they have accomplished so far.

The legislature's fall session begins Tuesday afternoon in Iqaluit, marking two years in government for Aariak and her team of cabinet ministers.

Already, the territory's regular, or non-cabinet, MLAs are promising to hold a midterm leadership review at the end of the session.

MLAs say a combined $110-million shortfall at the Nunavut Housing Corp., including a $50-million cost overrun announced last month, has triggered the call for a leadership review.

But Quttiktuq MLA Ron Elliott said there are more questions about the territorial government's performance over the past two years.

"I'm getting some concern from people in the communities [who] are saying, 'Well, what is this government actually doing?'" Elliott told CBC News.

He pointed to government inaction on hiring a child and youth representative and bilingual government liaison officers. As well, MLAs say they're still waiting to see Nunavut's long-awaited suicide prevention strategy.

Iqaluit West MLA Paul Okalik, who was Nunavut's premier before Aariak, said he and other regular MLAs will have plenty of questions for Aariak and her cabinet during the fall session.

"There's been a lot of activity over the course of the spring and summer since we last sat, so me and my colleagues will definitely have quite a few questions for the ministers on what transpired and what our expectations are," Okalik said.