Iqaluit-Manirajak MLA Adam Lightstone has resigned from the Government of NunavutSA国际影视传媒檚 executive council, and is now serving as a regular MLA.

Craig Simailak, MLA for Baker Lake will replace him in cabinet.

This follows a controversy brought up by former premier Joe Savikataaq and former finance minister George Hickes when Lightstone appointed his spouse as the acting deputy minister of human resources for five days, a department Lightstone was minister of at the time.

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SA国际影视传媒淚 would like to apologize to this Assembly, Iqalummiut, and Nunavummiut for allowing this situation to occur. I do recognize the concerns surrounding the situation,SA国际影视传媒� said Lightstone, during a special sitting of the Legislature on April 20.

He went on to add he acted upon recommendations made to him at the time by the deputy minister of human resources. SA国际影视传媒淎t that time I raised my concerns that this may pose a conflict of interest situation. The deputy minister assured me that these concerns would be addressedSA国际影视传媒� through an alternative reporting mechanism to prevent conflict of interest.

Lightstone went on to add he believes this decision was a sound one given his wifeSA国际影视传媒檚 extensive experience in her field.

SA国际影视传媒淢y wife has been working in the Employee Relations Division (of Human Resources) for nearly 10 years. She has been there to handle the GNSA国际影视传媒檚 most difficult situations,SA国际影视传媒� he said, noting there have been multiple employees who were on leave at the time in December 2021, including the deputy minister herself.

SA国际影视传媒淭he fact of the matter is that I did not behave in unethical fashion. I do recognize that it was a mistake that I made and one that I fully accept the consequences for. I felt the actions being recommended to me were reasonable given the unique circumstances.SA国际影视传媒�

Lightstone noted the political nature of this situation given both his and his spouseSA国际影视传媒檚 record of public service.

SA国际影视传媒淎fter all that she has done for our government, members of this legislature have brought her into the public arena and questioned her integrity as well as mine in an attempt to discredit me,SA国际影视传媒� the MLA said.

SA国际影视传媒淚 feel that this was a shameful attack on a dedicated public servant and is beneath the dignity of this Assembly.SA国际影视传媒�