May 5, 2000
SEAN McKIBBON
Nunatsiaq News
IQALUIT — The mayor of Pangnirtung says premier Paul Okalik threatened government funding for two key employers in his community in a dispute over Nunavut time. Okalik flatly denies it.
"No. I never said that," said Okalik when asked if he told the hamlet's mayor, Joanasie Maniapik, that the Nunavut government might reconsider funding for the Pangnirtung Fishery and the Uqqurmiuit Centre if Pangnirtung doesn't change to Nunavut time.
Pangnirtung, Clyde River and Sanikiluaq are the only communities setting their clocks one hour ahead of the rest of Nunavut, which operates on central time. Maniapik's allegation is contained in a letter he wrote to Pangnirtung MLA Peter Kilabuk, and copied to all other MLAs.
Maniapik wrote: "He (Okalik) also indicated his intention to reconsider funding for operations of the Pangnirtung Fisheries as well as the Uqqurmiut Centre, if our community doesnít change to Nunavut time. We feel this is a threat to our community."
Maniapik told Nunatsiaq News through an interpreter that his hamlet council passed a motion requesting he write the letter.
Maniapik wrote in the letter that he wanted to know whether all Nunavut MLAs were upset with Pangnirtungís refusal to join most other communities in adopting "Nunavut time." "It's mainly the elders we are listening to and they donít want to change," Maniapik told Nunatsiaq News. He said that there was no support in his community for moving to central time and that he could not make policy without community support.
While Okalik confirmed that he did speak to the mayor about the time-zone issue as it pertained to decentralization, he said he never brought up the fishery or the art centre.
"I wouldn't," Okalik said. "I just announced jobs for Pangnirtung — that's not an indication of any threat. Weíre creating jobs and we want to focus on that and we want to make sure those offices are operational."
He said he did express concern over the separate time zone though.
"I want to make sure our offices run efficiently and effectively," said Okalik. He said the newly decentralized government offices in Pangnirtung would have to run on central time and that two time zones in one hamlet could cause problems.
"Our employees have children and they need daycare, so if they're in different time zones it may not be very convenient," he said.