Nunavut, Canada holds territorial election; premier to be chosen in November
A general election was held in Canada’s eastern Arctic territory of Nunavut on Monday that will send eleven new representatives to the territorial legislature.
New Members of the Legislative Assembly (MLAs) include:
Patterk Netser in the constituency of Aivilik (who last served as MLA in the riding of Nanulik in the mid-aughts); Joelie Kaernerk in Amittuq; John Main in Arviat North-Whale Cove; Adam Arreak Lightstone, Iqaluit-Manirajak, Elisapee Sheutiapik in Iqaluit-Sinaa, Mila Adjukak Kamingoak in Kugluktuk, Margaret Nakashuk in Pangnirtung, David Akeeagok in Quttiktuq, Cathy Q. Towtongie in Rankin Inlet North-Chesterfield Inlet and Lorne Kusugak (previously MLA in the late aughts) in Rankin Inlet South.
One constituency is still up for grabs after only nine ballots separated newcomers Jeannie Hakongak Ehaloak (259) and Pamela Gross (250), and triggered a recount.
The Returning Officer for Cambridge will apply for judicial recount- votes within 2%.
— Elections Nunavut (@elections_nu) 31 October 2017
Elections Nunavut says the court will decide the recount date.
There are 22 constituencies in Nunavut.
Premier to be chosen by MLAs
Earlier this year, outgoing Nunavut Premier Peter Taptuna said he would not run for reelection in the constituency of Kugluktuk.
Nunavut, and the neighbouring Northwest Territories, are unique in Canada’s political landscape. Unlike other provinces and territories, they have no political parties and run consensus -style governments.
Nunavut’s newly-elected MLAs will gather in mid-November for the Nunavut Leadership Forum where they’ll vote for the territory’s new premier, speaker and ministers in a secret ballot.
The first sitting of Nunavut’s 5th Legislative Assembly is expected in late November.
A general election is held in the Nunavut every four years.
Population: 37,996
Official Languages: Inuit language (Inuktitut and Inuinnaqtun dialects), English, French
Capital: Iqaluit
Area: 1,994,000 km 2
Year Created: 1999
Sources: Government of Nunavut, Government of Canada
Write to Eilís Quinn at eilis.quinn(at)cbc.ca
Related stories from around the North:
Canada: Canada’s new budget thin on Arctic policy substance: expert, Radio Canada International
Finland: UN rep. urges suspension of Sámi elections, Yle News
Greenland: Greenland, Alaska elections bolster Arctic resource extraction, Blog by Mia Bennett
Iceland: Meet Eliza Reid – Iceland’s Canadian first lady, Radio Canada International
Russia: United Russia wins elections in Russia’s western Arctic, The Independent Barents Observer
Sweden: Land, water rights big issues in Sweden’s Sami elections, Radio Sweden
United States: Unsecured database discovered with information from about 600,000 Alaska voters, Alaska Public Media
