Nunavik, PQ negotiating self-government

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The final touches are now being put on a bold and far-reaching self-government arrangement for the Inuit-dominated Nunavik region of northern Quebec.

Under the deal, still being negotiated with the separatist Parti Quebecois government, a regional assembly of 23 to 25 elected representatives will take over the running of all public services in Nunavik, including justice, law enforcement, education, health care and social services.

The three largest communities, - Kuujjuaq, Inukjuak and Puvirnituq - will get three seats each. Three medium-sized villages will get two each, and the remaining eight communities, one each. One seat on the assembly will likely be reserved for the Naskapi Nation.

After assembly members are elected, they will then choose a leader for the Nunavik government from among their ranks. Like in the parliamentary system, the government leader will choose ministers from among the elected representatives.

The new Nunavik assembly will be elected on a non-ethnic basis by all 7,000 Nunavik residents who have lived in the region for more than one year. Assembly members will be elected for three-year terms and will have to be residents in Nunavik for at least two or three years.

Some announcement on the Nunavik assembly will probably be made by April 30, the deadline set for the talks.

"We want a Nunavik that is more responsible to itself in everything pertaining to services to the public, said Harry Tulugak, co-chief negotiator in the talks with Quebec and former mayor of Puvirnituq.

"The present-day reality seems the people of Nunavik running around trying to convince various administrators of the Quebec government and Indian Affairs, who have a hand in administering anything that has to do with public life in Nunavik. It's a nightmare."

Tulugak cited the example of policing services in which he described as "a joke." Currently run by the Surete du Quebec provincial police, law enforcement in Nunavik is plagued by high staff turnover and lack of credibility among local residents. Crimes like spousal abuse and serious gun incidents aren't being dealt with in some communities.

Paul Bussieres, co-ordinator of the talks for the Inuit side, conceded that the PQ is trying to conclude the self-government deal because it wants to give the separatist project more credibility. The separatists have been hammered for months over their poor relations with the First Nations.

"They have been very blunt about that," said Bussieres. "They said, 'We will tell you very frankly we need an agreement to show the world we are good with Natives. Maybe after the referendum there could be less urgency on our part.'

"So we decided to play the game."

Bussieres said Inuit leaders aren't overly worried so long as polls show only about 40 per cent of Quebecers support separatism with 60 per cent against.

"So far we feel comfortable," he said. "If the polls change, that could change."

Also under the self-government deal, Makivik Corporation will continue to exist but with a narrower mandate of defending Inuit rights and promoting economic development.

Less agreement exists between Nunavik and Quebec on financial issues related to self-government, including thorny questions like the amount of block funding for public services and revenue-sharing from development projects. Nunavik officials are pressing to get a cut of all taxes and royalties received by Quebec from development.

"We are only starting on those issues," said Bussieres. "It's heavy stuff. There aren't many formulas across the country."

A referendum on the entire package could be held in Nunavik as early as next fall, with the first elections for the regional assembly to be held a year or two afterwards.

The details are not completely set in stone and discussions are continuing both within Nunavik and with the Quebec government.