The candidates: Hudson Bay

Hudson Bay is the least populated constituency in Nunavut and home to one community, Sanikiluaq.

Located on the rocky Belcher Islands in the middle of Hudson Bay, Sanikiluaq is closer to Quebec than any part of Nunavut.

There are few government jobs in the constituency, and traditional life remains strong. Nearly a quarter of residents don't speak English, and the local school is known for its strong cultural programming: students learn to clean polar bear skins and weave baskets.

In this constituency, the candidates are Mick Appaqaq, Ronald Ladd and Daniel Qavvik. Former longtime MLA Allan Rumbolt is not seeking re-election.

CBC has reached out to all candidates with a list of questions in Inuktut and English, as well as consulted candidates' own online campaign messages. The available information has been edited for length and clarity.

Mick Appaqaq

Born and raised in Sanikiluaq, Mick Appaqaq holds a Grade 12 diploma, attended Nunavut Sivuniksavut in Ottawa, and completed Nunavut Arctic College's Environmental Technology Program in Iqaluit.  
 
Appaqaq said that before running for MLA, he was the environmental technician for the Arctic Eider Society. He is also a hamlet councillor and chair for the planning and lands committee. 

Appaqaq has taken a leave of absence while he runs for MLA.

"I am fluent in Inuktitut, I was raised speaking only my mother tongue," he said.

Appaqaq said he is running to give "a voice for Inuit in a bigger arena of politics, to forge a good relationship with the residents, and to pave a brighter future for the next generation."

In his view, the biggest issue in his constituency is housing, and the biggest issue during the election in Nunavut is the COVID-19 situation.

"The surge of cases in Canada in this fourth wave is posing a risk of transmission in Nunavut. Inuit voters may find it difficult to go out and vote with COVID-19," he said.

Ronald Ladd

Ronald Ladd is the senior administrative officer for Sanikiluaq.

Ladd, a graduate of Lakehead University, is originally from London, Ont.

Ladd describes himself as a career public servant who has been a senior manager and director with the federal government and has served eight years as chief or senior administrative officer in several Nunavut communities.

He said he is running because "every voice counts and being a career public servant as a director and SAO, I feel I have the skills and abilities to work with the federal and territorial governments to enhance service delivery in Sanikiluaq."

Ladd said the biggest issues in his constituency include income inequity, food security, housing and mental health.

There's also a need for a women and children's shelter, improved outdoor sports infrastructure and better patient transfer services, he said.

Ladd said the biggest issues for Nunavut in this election are mental health and addictions, which could be improved with more housing.

Ladd would also like to see the Truth and Reconciliation Commission recommendations implemented, and he said education levels need to be improved "so we can move ahead with devolution."

Daniel Qavvik

Daniel Qavvik was born in Churchill, Man., but is a lifelong resident of Sanikiluaq.

Qavvik completed high school in 2010 and graduated from an environmental technology program in 2013. He worked as a conservation officer in Sanikiluaq until September 2021.

He said he's running to be "the voice of Sanikiluaqmiut on issues that should be addressed and matter to us, and to develop basic infrastructure that our community desperately needs."

He says Sanikiluaq needs an elder care facility and more recreational infrastructure.

"Our community needs a centre for events to gather as a community; our younger generation today (kids, teenagers and the community) have no recreational activities," he said. "Our current arena is out of date, old and was built in 1993, it operates three months in a year."

For Nunavut in this election, elder care, housing, education, health and the environment are key issues, but "each community is different, so it's not easy to know what they need in their own constituencies," Qavvik said.

If elected, Qavvik would be willing to serve in the cabinet.