Meet Nunavut's 5 acclaimed MLAs

Five of Nunavut's 22 constituencies have been acclaimed, so there will be no election day Oct. 25 for those voters.

Elections Nunavut acclaimed the incumbents Sept. 24, after the deadline for candidacy declarations passed and only one candidate had entered the race in these constituencies.

No ballot casting will take place at all in Arviat because the two MLAs in this community of about 3,000 were acclaimed.

Pangnirtung MLA Margaret Nakashuk, South Baffin MLA David Joanasie, Quttiktuq MLA David Akeeagok, all ministers in the previous territorial government, were acclaimed alongside South Arviat MLA Joe Savikataaq and North-Whale Cove MLA John Main.

Savikataaq, until recently the premier of Nunavut, told CBC he planned to run again for premier and that he's the only one among the 58 candidates with experience in the role.

With no parties in Nunavut's consensus government, all MLAs run as Independent candidates. After the election, the premier and cabinet are selected from among the MLAs in secret ballots during a special leadership forum, slated for Nov. 17.

A 'rewarding' but challenging job

John Main, acclaimed as MLA for Arviat North-Whale Cove, said being able to help constituents with individual issues, and being able to influence the direction of the territorial government in terms of the bigger picture, has been "very rewarding." 

"At the same time, the pressures of serving have been high at times, with negativity and toxic behaviour on social media, the constant travel to Iqaluit and of course the COVID-19 pandemic," Main said.

It would be premature to discuss leadership roles until his future colleagues are elected into their seats, he said. 

In 2020, Pangnirtung MLA Margaret Nakashuk, first elected in 2017, filled a vacant cabinet seat on Nunavut's executive council to replace Patterk Netser as new member of Nunavut's executive council. 

Nakashuk has served as minister of Culture and Heritage.

She told CBC that she was not 100-per-cent sure she would run again until she was encouraged by members of the community to run again.

In turn, Nakashuk encouraged all Nunavummiut to participate in the political process.

Housing, health, elder care still issues

South Baffin's MLA David Joanasie was also acclaimed.

Joanasie has served as the minister of Education and Culture and Heritage, as well as the minister responsible for Nunavut Arctic College and Languages.

The biggest issues for Nunavut in this election include housing, health and elder care, Joanasie said, echoing many of the candidates throughout the territory.

Joanasie said he would serve in the cabinet again, but not as premier.

David Akeeagok was acclaimed to the Quttiktuq constituency. He told CBC it was too early to say whether or not he would be in cabinet.

For Akeeagok, being acclaimed meant he could not use campaign money to travel to all three communities in his constituency: Resolute Bay, Arctic Bay and Grise Fiord.

But he was able to get a personal ticket to travel to Arctic Bay from Oct. 20 to Oct. 26.

Akeeagok said he planned to go on local radio and social media to hear back from his constituents.