Q&A with Nunavut MP Hunter Tootoo as he returns to work

[Nunavut MP Hunter Tootoo will sit as an independent after returning to work Wednesday following a leave to seek treatment for alcohol addiction. CBC NEWS]

Nunavut MP Hunter Tootoo, who was just the second Inuk to ever be in the federal cabinet when he was named fisheries minister last fall, returned to work on Wednesday after seeking treatment for alcohol addiction.

Tootoo will not be returning to the Liberal fold, however, after quitting caucus when he announced his decision at the end of May.

A spokesman for the Prime Minister’s Office wished Tootoo luck as he resumes his parliamentary functions.

“His status with regard to the Liberal caucus remains unchanged,” Cameron Ahmad said in a statement emailed to Yahoo Canada News.

Officials for both Tootoo and the PMO refused to comment about a Globe and Mail report that alleged the Nunavut MP was involved in an inappropriate relationship with a staffer, The Canadian Press reports.

Yahoo Canada News spoke to Tootoo, who will sit as an independent and the sole MP from the northern territory.

Q: How was your first day back?

It was very nice to see people again here in the riding. It was very positive. A lot of support. People are very happy that I’m back. I’m much stronger now. I’m focused, I’m healthy and I’m ready to move forward.

Q: Have you spoken to the prime minister or the party whip about returning to the Liberal caucus?

I’m going to be spending the remainder of the summer here in the riding, focused on returning to my work as the MP for Nunavut. I plan on using the time to reconnect with my constituents and reconnect with stakeholders and I look forward to returning to Ottawa in September to be able to raise issues and concerns on behalf of Nunavimmiut.

Q: You’re the sole MP from Nunavut. Will it be more difficult to be outside the government fold?

Being an independent hasn’t lessened my resolve to be a voice for Nunavut in Ottawa. There were a number of platform commitments put forward by the Liberals with respect to the North, Nunavut and to Indigenous people and I have no reason to believe they won’t follow through with those and I’ll be there to ensure that they do, while at the same time addressing any issues or concerns that my constituents have.

Q: You have talked about seeking treatment for personal reasons. Do you want to elaborate on the issues that led you to do so?

As you can imagine, this has been a very, very difficult journey for me. This has been a deeply personal and private issues that have haunted me and unfortunately, alcohol is often a coping mechanism for trauma and I’ve been personally affected by those impacts.

Q: Why resign from caucus?

The decision to step away was mine alone. I knew I would have to devote all my energy and focus on getting healthy and that’s the decision I made. I felt I needed at the time to 100 per cent focus and that’s what I did.

Q: Was there any element of disagreement with the Liberal agenda involved in the decision?

I have the utmost respect for the prime minister and I believe in the Trudeau government. There was a lot of good platform commitments made by the Liberals during the campaign and I have no reason to believe they won’t follow through on them.

Q: Seamus O’Regan [the Newfoundland and Labrador MP who announced in January that he was seeking treatment for alcohol addiction] remains in the Liberal caucus. A PMO spokesman wished you luck but says your status hasn’t changed with respect to caucus. What do you think of that?

Right now I’m taking things one step at a time. I’m focusing on reconnecting with my constituents, reconnecting with stakeholders here. When I return to Ottawa in September, I’ll deal with that then.

Q: What are your priorities as a now-independent MP?

We need to drastically change the socio-economic conditions that our families and our communities live with on a daily basis and that means continuing to work with Canada so they better understand the disparities faced by us here in Nunavut at every level.

And I think it’s important that I continue to push for much-needed infrastructure projects in Nunavut and improvements to our telecommunications network and any other investments that will help improve the quality of life for Nunavimmiut.

Q: What has been the reaction of your constituents?

They’ve been extremely supportive of me all the way through this process and for that I’m very grateful.

Q: It’s difficult to go through something like this; it’s that much more difficult to go through it very publicly. Do you have a message for other people facing personal struggles?

The one thing that I realized when I decided that I needed to seek help was the fact that I wasn’t alone. You know, I think anyone facing or dealing with an addiction always feels like they’re alone and it’s just them. But I’ve learned there’s all kinds of people out there going through similar circumstances and they’re there to support you through that process.

The interview has been condensed and edited.