February 27, 2013


Poilievre and Aglukkaq Support the Nunavut Snowsuit Fund

Ottawa, ON – On February 26, Pierre Poilievre, Member of Parliament for Nepean-Carleton, was joined by the Hon. Leona Aglukkaq, Minister of Health, and Elisapee Sheutiapik, former mayor of Iqaluit on Parliament Hill to welcome Patti-Anne Scrivens and Kit MacKinnon, two constituents of Mr. Poilievre’s riding, who are organizing the Nunavut Snowsuit Fund. Both Poilievre and Minister Aglukkaq, who is also an Inuit MP from Nunavut, have been collecting snowsuit donations from various Members of Parliament and Senators for this Fund.

“I am honoured to lend a helping hand for this great cause,” said Poilievre. “It is good to see that both our Government and our local communities are committed to improving and strengthening the lives of those in our northern communities.”

The idea for this Fund came from Christopher Scrivens, a 21-year old local pilot from Metcalfe. Christopher worked in Iqaluit and has flown throughout the communities in the territory of Nunavut. Together, Christopher and his mother, Patti-Anne Scrivens, developed a plan to help the local children when she visited him in Iqaluit. Christopher had asked his Mom to bring up some clothing for them, and the clothing was warmly welcomed. Thus the Nunavut Snowsuit Fund was born, addressing the high cost of essential commodities in remote communities.

These donations will be flown to Nunavut with the aid of Canadian North airline, without whose help this project would not have been possible. Special thanks to Yvonne Niego, Captain of the “V” Division of the RCMP, who has been instrumental in distributing these snowsuits to communities such as Kimmirut, Sanikiluaq, Hall Beach, Igloolik, Kugluktuk, and Iqaluit.

Donations can still be made by dropping off any new or gently used snowsuits and winter boots at the MacKinnon’s Foodland in Greely or The Larga Baffin on Richmond. For more information or to inquire about making a donation, please email Nunavutsnowsuitfund@hotmail.com.

(from left to right) Patti-Anne Scrivens, Kit MacKinnon, Pierre Poilievre, MP for Nepean-Carleton, Hon. Leona Aglukkaq, Minister of Heath, and Elisapee Sheutiapik, former mayor of Iqaluit.

(from left to right) Patti-Anne Scrivens, Kit MacKinnon, Pierre Poilievre, MP for Nepean-Carleton, Hon. Leona Aglukkaq, Minister of Heath, and Elisapee Sheutiapik, former mayor of Iqaluit.