November 13, 1992

Nunatsiaq MP Jack Anawak, the Nunavut land claim agreeement's most prominent critic, accepted the result of the Inuit ratification vote and promised that he would work in the House of Commons to ensure speedy passage of the Nunavut Act and the Nunavut Land Claims Settlement Act.

Anawak will push Nunavut bill

GREG COLEMAN
Nunatsiaq News

IQALUIT — Two of the most vocal naysayers are saying No no more.

Amidst the celebrants at the Discovery Inn last night were two high-profile people who had argued forcefully against the ratification of the agreement.

But there were no hard feelings evident on either side as Nunatsiaq MP Jack Anawak and Apex resident Saali Peter made their way easily among the crowd.

"To me, the vote was decisive," Anawak explained.

"Now it's my role to ensure the quick introduction of the bill to implement the agreement, and also a quick passage of that bill."

While he says he doesn't anticipate any of the three major parties holding it up, Anawak is anxious that time might run out on the Conservatives before they can turn the Yes vote into law.

As for the implementation of the deal over the coming months and years, Anawak says he will be vigilant.

"We'll have to watch very closely . . . The present government is notorious for not following up on its agreements."

Anawak pointed to the current health care funding dispute between the GNWT and the federal government as "a case in point." Yellowknife is now seeking $79 million in health care costs through the courts in that dispute.

Saali Peter, who had organized a No campaign in Iqaluit and Apex, was equally pragmatic.

"There's no point in remaining opposed," said Peter, adding that he considered the vote to be "very" decisive. Peter had told Nunatsiaq News last week that he might look for ways to appeal a close Yes vote.

"My heart sank," said Peter when he heard the result. "I had put my heart and soul into trying to convince people that this agreement was not worth supporting.

"The only thing to do now is to help people benefit from the agreement since it's what they want."

But not all opponents of the deal were taking news of ratification so well.

Within five minutes of the announcement, two men were making their way through the throng and stepping outside.

"There goes our rights," said one.

"There goes our culture," was the reply.