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Iqaluit-Niaqunnguu MP, Pat Angnakak, resigned from the Nunavut cabinet, one day after being removed as minister responsible for the Nunavut Housing Corporation and minister responsible for the Nunavut Housing Corporation. Qulliq energy.
Angnakak announced his resignation Thursday afternoon in the Legislative Assembly of Nunavut after an explosive speech involving the leadership of Nunavut Premier Joe Savikataaq.
On Wednesday, Savikataaq announced that Angnakak had been stripped of her portfolios, claiming that she had breached the cabinet's secrecy by answering questions asked Tuesday in the Legislature regarding the housing of employees of the government.
"Yesterday was the worst day of my political and professional career," said Angnakak. "Making the Prime Minister publicly declare … that we can not trust myself and endanger our consensus-based government is something that has really shaken me up."
In her speech, Angnakak said that she spoke to Savikataaq before Tuesday's question period and told her to check with her staff what she could or could not say.
After meeting the staff, "I proceeded to the legislature with the belief that I could share the information as indicated," she said. "However, since then, this case has snowballed into hysteria and some individuals have reacted with venom.
"Given the toxic environment and the reactions created, it seems that the Prime Minister's staff no longer remember our discussion and, as the Prime Minister told me, we must see him act now. , so that it can not be criticized by any of our colleagues later. "
Angnakak will remain as a regular MP, she said.
"I believe that a double standard is in effect"
During her speech, Angnakak referred to a cabinet reshuffle in August, when she was transferred from the Minister of Health to her responsibilities as a housing and energy corporation. Angnakak blamed the reshuffle on "an effort by some senior officials" to remove her from the health portfolio.
"At that time, the Prime Minister told me that he was going to strip me of my wallet and suggested me to resign simply because he thought that a Senior manager and I had too much political disagreement and that I looked "tired" and exhausted, "she said. I said.
"I let him know that I did not accept this principle and that I would not resign under these circumstances."
Angnakak said that she was "incredibly discouraged by the turn of events … and the lack of explanation or legitimate justification for the reshuffle".
"In my opinion, if you do your job … in a wallet as crucial as health, you should probably look tired.However, I doubt that he is using these words with the l? one of our male colleagues.And in this regard, I believe that a double standard is in effect. "
In an interview with CBC News, Savikataaq was adamant that he does not treat Angnakak differently because of his gender. He confessed to having said, she looks tired, but suggests that she misinterpreted the comment.
"I told her that she looked exhausted," he says.
"But that's because I care about all my ministers.This wasn't:" You're so tired, I think you should quit. "It was more : "I know you work hard … it was a gesture of solicitude."
At the time of the reshuffle, Savikataaq said his decisions were made after determining "the strengths and capabilities of all cabinet members" after his first two months as prime minister.
"Let's be clear," Angnakak said. "I did not break the confidence of the Cabinet … I honestly answered my colleague's questions in the House, and I did so after directly addressing the issue. with the prime minister and his staff. "
Savikataaq defends its decision
Earlier Thursday, Prime Minister Joe Savikataaq defended his decision to remove Angnakak's portfolios, comparing his situation to that of Education Minister David Joanasie, who had breached the cabinet's secrecy in September when he was forced to take over his wallet. a memo was sent to Nunavut Tunngavik Inc. in which he planned to change the plan. Education Act.
Savikataaq stated that Joanasie's offense was different from that of Angnakak, in that she was out of her control – saying that the memo had been sent by a staff member without his knowledge – and that Joanasie had apologized promptly and acknowledged his mistake.
Angnakak, on the other hand, chose to violate the government's confidentiality, Savikataaq said.
Former prime minister Paul Qubada, who had been removed from office earlier this year, asked Savikataaq if ministers are held accountable for any infractions, before saying that Angnakak had not treated fairly.
Savikataaq responded by saying that the responsibility is different, depending on the circumstances.
"If the minister controls and the minister chooses to do it, that it is a misunderstanding or that he simply chooses to do it, I see him as someone who is not. one who does not control the situation, "he said, while Angnakak was sitting next to him.
In an interview with CBC News, Qubada said that it was good to hear the other side of the Angnakak story. He called for consistency in the way cabinet breaches are handled.
"I'm just wondering how many other violations are going to take place in the life of this government?" he said. "It worries me, I'm worried about how they will be treated individually, will that be consistent?"
According to Savikataaq, there will be a leadership forum where MPs can stand and sit in cabinet, and the caucus will vote. A date for this has not been fixed.
Nunavut Premier Joe Savikataaq defends Thursday his decision to strip Pat Angakak of his cabinet portfolios in the legislature. Angakak is sitting next to him, on the left. (Nick Murray / CBC)
With Nick Murray files
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