Nunatsiavut President Johannes Lampe was notified late Friday afternoon that Mr. Edward Blake Rudkowski had been removed from the Labrador Inuit Enrollment Register, following a review of his membership. At the time, Mr. Blake Rudkowski was an Ordinary Member of the Nunatsiavut Assembly representing the Constituency of Canada. He was also the Speaker of the Nunatsiavut Assembly.
As a result, President Lampe contacted Mr. Blake Rudkowski and advised him that he could no longer hold his seat in the Nunatsiavut Assembly. Consequently, his seat has been declared vacant.
Part 4.3.1 of the Labrador Inuit Constitution states that only Labrador Inuit (which means Beneficiaries of the Labrador Inuit Land Claims Agreement) may be members of the Nunatsiavut Assembly. As well, Part 4.3.3 of the Labrador Inuit Constitution states that an individual automatically loses membership in the Nunatsiavut Assembly if he/she ceases to be eligible. A similar provision exists in section 14 of the Nunatsiavut Assembly Act.
First Minister Tyler Edmunds reminds Beneficiaries of the Labrador Inuit Land Claims Agreement that the Nunatsiavut Government plays no role whatsoever in determining the membership of any individual. The Beneficiary enrollment process is independent from the Nunatsiavut Government.
A date for a by-election to fill the vacant seat in the Canadian Constituency has yet to be set.