Hunter Tootoo steps down as chair of Nunavut Planning Commission
Hunter Tootoo will be stepping down as chair of the Nunavut Planning Commission.
Tootoo, a former Nunavut MLA, territorial cabinet minister and House speaker, was named the Liberal Party's Nunavut candidate this week.
Tootoo says he is confident he is leaving the planning commission in good hands.
"Since the six months that I have been chair I think we've accomplished quite a bit and moved things forward as much as we could and I wish them well," he said.
His run as the commission's chair wasn't without controversy. In April, Nunavut premier Peter Taptuna accused the commission of holding up the regulatory review process of Baffinland Iron Mines' plan to expand the shipping season for its Mary River project.
And in July, the federal government ordered an audit of the NPC's finances. Tootoo said the commission had nothing to hide and welcomed the audit.
Tootoo's resignation will be effective midnight Friday.
