Former Naujaat mayor and councillor Solomon Malliki is just learning the ins and outs of his new role as Aivilik MLA, and his top priority is getting more remote government jobs in the communities.
“I’m going to try to convince the government to give the jobs to smaller communities by teleworking,” said Malliki, adding that he would like to see the Government of Nunavut decentralized. “The federal government is doing it. Nunavut government might as well. I think it will be a benefit.”
He said the newly-elected government has a good mix of old and new members.
“I think it’s going to be a pretty strong government,” said Malliki.
His mayoral experience is helping the adjustment process.
“I have the idea how the system works,” said Malliki.
One organization that doesn’t have a lot of faith in the GN is Nunavut Tunngavik Incorporated.
At the organization’s annual general meeting in Rankin Inlet last month, NTI resolved to seek a negotiation mandate with the Government of Canada to begin pursuing self-government.
“At NTI, we wholeheartedly understand how difficult it will be to continue to struggle under a regime that does not support us nor wants us to succeed in fulfilling the vision of a prosperous and thriving Nunavut envisioned by young, bold Inuit leaders in the 1970s,” stated NTI president Aluki Kotierk at the time. “To rebuild the hope and dreams that was originally envisioned for Inuit and their future generations, this conversation of self-government must begin again.”
Malliki said NTI has every right to pursue its goals as an Inuit organization.
“But it would be very beneficial for government to work collaboratively with NTI to move forward,” he said. “That’s the only way we’re going to succeed with the future of Nunavut.”
Besides telework jobs, Malliki’s priorities for his first term as MLA also include mental health, housing and Elders’ facilities.