Nunavut minister questioned on efforts to bring gov't jobs to communities

Several communities in Nunavut have not been part of the territory's decentralization process, and one MLA wants to know what the territorial government plans on doing about that.

At the Legislative Assembly on Monday, Arviat North-Whale Cove MLA John Main asked the minister of finance what the governmentplans to do to bring more public service jobsto communities that have been previously not been included in the decentralization process.

Decentralization is a way of spreading jobs throughoutNunavut. The government would putpublic service jobs in communities other than large hubs like Iqaluit, to bring more opportunity across the territory.

"Whale Cove is a community like others across Nunavut that are non-decentralized," said Main. He wanted Finance Minister David Akeeagok to explain "whether he's had any discussions regarding bringing those non-decentralized communities into the fold."

• From 2015 |Nunavut at 16: How is decentralization working?
• From 2009|Nunavut Residents feel alienated
• From 2006|Nunavut premier pressed on decentralization

Akeeagok said the territorial government is continually looking for communities that have not been in the decentralization process.

"If there are any new projects or programs that are surfacing, those are the communities that we tend to target," said Akeeagok.

He said he represents three communities which are not decentralized.

Main said Inuit employment levels are higher in Nunavut's decentralized offices.

Main also asked whether the minister had any plans to strengthen the already existing decentralized locations in the territory. He asked if there are any specific initiatives to give them more power and more infrastructure.

"Decentralization is rooted right into our policies and our procedures within our government, in terms of ensuring that staff are maintained in the various communities," said Akeeagok.

Akeeagok said the government is trying to make sure that 60 per cent or more of the headquarter positions are in decentralized communities.