Nunavut MLA raises concern over Inuit employment numbers post-devolution

Nunavut's premier says it's too early to say how devolution will affect Inuit employment.

Devolution is the process of giving the territory "province-like powers" and control over its resources.

On Wednesday, Iqaluit-Niaqunnguu MLA Pat Angnakak asked Premier Peter Taptuna what will happen once some federal government jobs are transferred to Nunavut.

Earlier in the session, MLAs heard how some communities are unable to fill government jobs because of a lack of staff housing. She wondered if the federal government housing would be transferredalong with jobs when Nunavut gains powers through devolution.

Angnakak also asked if the shift would hurt the government's efforts to improve its Inuit job numbers.

Taptuna said it's too early to answer either of those questions. Negotiators met last week to discuss scheduling and priorities for devolution talks.

"In December we'll have a fairly good idea of what the negotiations are going to be, but of course there's going to be impacts on the transfer of personnel into the Nunavut government," he said.