Nunavut election brings new faces to authorities amid disappointing voter turnout

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Fewer than half of the 14,000 eligible Nunavut voters turned out Monday to elect new members of their legislative meeting, the sixth because the creation of the territory in 1999. 

Unofficial numbers confirmed turnout at 49.91 per cent territory-wide, down from 63.3 per cent in 2017, however increased than the 34 per cent within the newest federal election. 

The low turnout was what grabbed the eye of former Nunavut authorities ministers and MLAs Ed Picco and Elisapee Sheutiapik as they watched the election outcomes on the Grind and Brew restaurant in Iqaluit.

“Stunning” is how Sheutiapik described the low turnout.

“Possibly it was resulting from COVID-19,” prompt Picco.

When Picco first ran for a seat within the Nunavut meeting in 1999, the general voter turnout within the new territory’s normal election reached 88.6 per cent.

“This election I discovered to be very aggressive with numerous signage and candidates internet hosting occasions and going door-to-door,” Picco stated.

However countering apathy amongst voters can be a serious problem for the following authorities, the 2 veteran elected officers agreed.

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Individuals throughout Nunavut have voted within the territory’s sixth normal election, hoping for motion on well being care, housing and the safety of Inuit language and tradition. 1:47

Again in 1999, the Nunavut legislative meeting had not but been constructed. 

As nicely, there have been extra desires for the brand new territory than harsh realities, just like the persistent housing disaster and Iqaluit’s contaminated water system, which dominated political dialogue within the run-up to the vote. 

The 1999 election was totally different in different methods, Picco recalled. It occurred through the frigid month of February.

On Monday, the climate remained unseasonably heat in lots of Nunavut communities. There was solely a sprinkling of snow round Iqaluit as voters solid votes in 4 polling stations. 

However the turnout was lacklustre.

5 ladies, 6 incumbents re-elected

No premier was elected. That is as a result of, beneath Nunavut’s consensus authorities, all MLAs run as independents. As soon as elected, they will collect in a particular discussion board to elect a Speaker, new cupboard members and a premier, who will then assign portfolios. 

Because the final outcomes got here in, the territory realized that the 17 newly elected members of the legislative meeting would come with 12 males and 5 ladies.

5 different MLAs have been earlier acclaimed to their seats for a complete of twenty-two in all.

Of the 12 incumbents up for election, six have been returned. 

Modifications nonetheless included the election of a minimum of 4 ladies new to territorial politics: Janet Pitsiulaaq Brewster in Iqaluit-Sinaa, Karen Nutarak in Tununiq; Mary Killiktee in Uqqummiut; and Joanna Quassa in Aggu.

Methusalah Kunuk watched the election outcomes at Iqaluit’s Grind and Brew Cafe. Kunuk ran for the seat in Aggu, however misplaced by 10 votes to Joanna Quassa. (Jane George/CBC)

Brewster had earlier urged voters to assist feminine candidates. She spent election day driving constituents to the polls earlier than going house to look at the returns.

However the turnout in her constituency was poor: 29.27 per cent, with solely 264 out of 902 folks voting. She gained her constituency with simply 97 votes. 

Pamela Gross in Cambridge Bay would even be new to the legislature, however with simply 224 votes over Jeannie Ehaloak’s 215 and Peter Ohokak’s 209, that race can be topic to a judicial recount. 

A judicial recount, triggered when a candidate wins by a margin beneath two per cent, may also be required in Amittuq, the place there was solely a three-vote distinction between Joelie Kaernerk, with 170 votes, and Solomon Allurut with 167. 

In Iqaluit-Naiqunnguu P.J. Akeeagok, the previous head of the regional Qikiqtani Inuit Affiliation, was the most important winner of the night, getting 84.3 per cent of the vote in Iqaluit-Niaqunguu, the place 53.36 per cent of the eligible voters solid votes.

Akeeogok advised CBC he was overjoyed and humbled by his victory.

Few election surprises

General, the night’s outcomes held few surprises, even for veteran Nunavut political observers like Picco and Sheutiapik.

In Rankin Inlet South, former well being minister Lorne Kusugak gained over longtime former minister and MLA Taqak Curley.

Picco stated he was happy Finance Minister George Hickes of Iqaluit-Manirajak was re-elected. Getting extra money for the territory from Ottawa stays one of many largest challenges for Nunavut, courting again to its division from the Northwest Territories. 

Joe Savikataaq, on left, acclaimed MLA of Arviat South, watches Nunavut election outcomes with household and associates in Arviat. Till the Oct. 25 election name in September, Savikataaq served because the territory’s premier — a job he has stated wish to return to. (Submitted by Joe Savikataaq)

“It is time to decide how a lot cash is required to run Nunavut. We have been by no means in a position to get the gross expenditure base,” Picco stated.

Western Nunavut’s election outcomes arrived final as a result of two-hour time distinction from japanese Nunavut.

In Kugluktuk, voters went to the polls for the primary time since 2013 as a result of earlier MLAs have been acclaimed within the final two common elections and a by-election. Turnout was a strong 61.1 per cent, and a brand new MLA, Bobby Anivalok, gained over the incumbent Calvin Aivgak Pedersen,

Reached at house in Arviat, after many of the outcomes have been in, was Joe Savikataaq, Nunavut’s most up-to-date premier, who had been watching the election unfold on CBC North.

Savikataaq was acclaimed within the Arviat-South constituency.

Picco, left, watches the election outcomes. (Jane George/CBC)

He stated he’d been calling all those that gained. And he was not stunned to see roughly half of the incumbents go down in defeat.

As for the low turnout, Savikataaq known as it “a tragic development.

“It’s a time when folks could make a alternative.”

Savikataaq has stated he would really like one other time period. If that occurs he could be the one premier since Paul Okalik — the territory’s first — to serve two phrases.

Savikataaq stated his job will now be to persuade the brand new group of MLAs that he’s the most effective to steer Nunavut once more.

The subsequent step for the brand new Nunavut MLAs authorities is an orientation interval beginning Nov. 8. The Nunavut Management Discussion board takes place Nov. 17. A particular one-day sitting of the meeting takes place Nov. 19. 

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