Nunavut MLAs give premier and cabinet a performance review

Nunavut's premier and cabinet ministers are under the microscope today as the mid-term leadership reviewis underway in Iqaluit.

Premier PeterTaptunagave a 20 minute address where he outlined highlights from his two years as premier. Hespoke about education and the work started on a stand-alone university as well as economic development and energy.

He then fieldedquestions fromMLAs, each of whom can ask up to three questions.Taptunaanswered somepointed questions about the level of engagement of his cabinet ministers.

Arviat-SouthMLA JoeSavikataaqsaid he understands ministers might not know everything, but saidit is obvious that some ministers are not engaged with their departments. Savikataaq said during questionperiod,MLAsdon't receive an answer from the ministers. He said in Committee of the Whole, ministers often defer to their officials.

In response,Taptunasaid he did not choose his cabinet, they were given to him. He said he encourages cabinetministersto write letters clarifying their responses.

When South Baffin MLA DavidJoanasieasked the premier what his most important decision has been in the last two years, Taptunasaid creating the special committee to review the education act.

The review is back with 23 recommendations. Taptuna said his governmentwill take a good look at them and at the territory's education system.

Taptunastressed the importance of education in several of his responses. He said the territory needs educated, well-employed Inuit.

"The fastest way to lose culture and language is to live in poverty."

This afternoon there will be a secret ballot to see if there's a vote of confidence in the premier and cabinet. The vote meansPeter Taptuna could be ousted as premier and a new premier selected. There could also be a shuffle in portfolios or ministers.

The leadership review takes place in the legislative assembly chamber andis open to the public. It is also being televised live on community cable stations and on Bell satellite service's channel 513 and Shaw satellite service's channel 289/489.

CBC's Jane Sponagleislive-tweeting the leadership review and you can follow her tweets below.

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