Premier P.J. Akeeagok will have the territorial governmentSA国际影视传媒檚 integrity commissioner review a recent appointment of an acting deputy minister.

The government leader, only on the job for less than four months, made the revelation in the Legislative Assembly on March 8, a day after being grilled by former premier Joe Savikataaq and former cabinet minister George Hickes about a possible conflict of interest.

Akeeagok said the situation in question occurred over five days in December 2021 SA国际影视传媒� Dec. 16 to 20 SA国际影视传媒� but he couldnSA国际影视传媒檛 discuss the individuals involved due to privacy issues.

SA国际影视传媒淚 would like to confirm that I did not endorse the acting assignment in question. When I learned of the potential appearance of conflict of interest, I took steps to ensure that the acting assignment was retracted and another staff member assumed day-to-day responsibilities on Tuesday, Dec. 21, 2021,SA国际影视传媒� the premier said.

In addition to involving the integrity commissioner, SA国际影视传媒渨e will take immediate steps to eliminate any gaps in the policies around the deputy minister acting assignments that may have been in place. We have had this ambiguity for many years and I am very thankful for the work of my colleagues for bringing this to the Legislative AssemblySA国际影视传媒檚 attention,SA国际影视传媒� said Akeeagok.

On March 7, Savikataaq and Hickes asked numerous questions about the issue.

SA国际影视传媒淚 was shocked to recently learn that a member of the household of the responsible minister was appointed as an acting deputy minister. Mr. Speaker, I was floored,SA国际影视传媒� Hickes said.

On March 8, Savikataaq probed some more about the fitness of AkeeagokSA国际影视传媒檚 selections among senior staff, asking whether the premier can confirm that all of his new appointments to the public service have successfully passed the screening requirements for designated positions of trust.

Akeeagok answered in the affirmative.