Nunavut legislature down 2 MLAs

The departure of two members from Nunavut's legislative assembly means the territory will hold its sixth byelection in just over two years, and people in two constituencies will not have an elected representative in the meantime.

Paul Okalik resigned as the MLA for Iqaluit West on Wednesday to run as a Liberal candidate in the federal election, bringing the total number of MLAs down to 17, said legislative assembly clerk John Quirke.

The assembly usually has 19 members, but Pangnirtung MLA Adamee Komoartok resigned on March 15 amid controversy about an alleged assault involving his spouse. Komoartok is charged with assault causing bodily harm in the March 6 alleged incident.

A byelection in Pangnirtung has already been called for Sept. 12, and Quirke said cabinet may schedule the Iqaluit West byelection on the same day in order to save money.

In the meantime, both the Pangnirtung and Iqaluit West seats will be vacant during the spring session, which begins May 31.

"Two communities will not have a voice in the house during the spring sitting," Quirke told CBC News on Thursday.

When the Iqaluit West byelection is called, it will be the sixth byelection in Nunavut in over two years. Each byelection costs about $60,000 to run.

MLA recovering from heart attack

In fact, three communities may not have a voice during the spring session, depending on the health of Tununiq MLA James Arvaluk.

Arvaluk has been absent from the legislature since September, recovering from a major heart attack.

"I'd sure like to go back right now, but I'm not allowed to go back right now," Arvaluk told CBC News from his home in Pond Inlet, Nunavut.

Arvaluk said he hopes to return to the legislature in time for the spring session, but he may need to undergo another operation.

Arvaluk said he has not yet decided if he will stay on as the elected member for Tununiq.

"That really depends on about my voice, about my memory, because my memory is not as good as it used to be," he said.

Nattilik MLA Jeannie Ugyuk said she is sympathetic to Arvaluk's situation, but she believes Pond Inlet still needs representation in the legislature.

"I think they should set a precedent and say you're only allowed to miss so many months. Maybe six months?" Ugyuk said.

New Speaker must be chosen

When MLAs reconvene for the spring session on May 31, one of the first things they must do is select a new house Speaker to replace Okalik.

A leadership forum would have be to held if more than one MLA wants to become Speaker, said Quirke.

"The legislation is very clear: once the Speaker has resigned and the position is vacant, we must elect a new Speaker," Quirke said, adding that the rules go even further by saying a new Speaker must be chosen before any house business is done.

"It's going to be one of the first items on the agenda when members come back on May 31," he said.

Ugyuk said she would have preferred to see the Iqaluit West and Pangnirtung byelections sooner, since non-cabinet MLAs will be outnumbered by cabinet ministers during the upcoming session.