Nunavut swears in Premier Aariak, new cabinet ministers

Members of Nunavut's third legislative assembly were sworn in on Wednesday in Iqaluit, and new Premier Eva Aariak wasted no time in assigning portfolios to her cabinet ministers.

That afternoon, Aariak unveiled her new cabinet, members of which were chosen by their fellow MLAs in last week's Nunavut leadership forum. Aariak was chosen as premier at the same forum, ending a nine-year tenure for Iqaluit West MLA Paul Okalik.

In addition to being Nunavut's second premier and its first female premier Aariak is the minister in charge of executive and intergovernmental affairs, and the minister responsible for the status of women.

Peterson gets finance, health ministries

Cambridge Bay MLA Keith Peterson has been given two big portfolios: finance and health.

As well, he has been named the minister responsible for the Workers' Safety and Compensation Commission, and the minister responsible for the Utility Rates Review Council.

Peterson was one of onlytwo MLAs acclaimed intotheir second terms during the Oct. 27 territorial election.

Amittuq MLA Louis Tapardjuk, who was finance minister in the last government, has been named justice minister, house leader, and the minister of Culture, Language, Elders and Youth.

Tapardjuk will also head up Nunavut's new ministry of languages, which is part of new languages legislation the previous government passed before the election.

A third-term MLA who has never been in cabinet, Iqaluit Centre's Hunter Tootoo is now education minister, as well as the minister responsible for the Nunavut Housing Corp. and the minister responsible for homelessness.

First-time MLAs given big roles

Lorne Kusugak, the former Rankin Inlet mayor who was elected MLA for Rankin Inlet South - Whale Cove in last month's election, has been named government and community services the same portfolio held by Levinia Brown, the incumbent who he defeated inthe Rankin Inlet South race.

Kusugakis also the minister responsible for Qulliq Energy Corp., and energy minister.

First-time Kugluktuk MLA Peter Taptuna has been named deputy premier, as well as minister of Economic Development and Transportation.

Taptuna is also the minister responsible for the Nunavut Business Credit Corporation, and the minister responsible for the Nunavut Development Corp. and Mines.

The new environment minister is Daniel Shewchuk, the new MLA for Arviat. Shewchuk has also been named minister of Human Resources.

The current cabinet lineup is subject to change: Aariak said some porfolios will be changed once the eighth and final cabinet minister is selected early next year.

MLAs decided to hold off on choosing the last cabinet member until after Dec. 15, when a byelection will take place in the Akulliq constituency.

A total of 18members of Nunavut's third legislative assemblywere sworn into office earlier Wednesday. Eleven of them are first-time MLAs.