The candidates: Iqaluit-Sinaa

Geographically, this is the smallest Iqaluit constituency and it consists almost entirely of downtown residential neighbourhoods. 

Some are made up of staff and rental housing, like the six- and eight-story apartment buildings on Astro Hill and Creekside Village, but the majority of voters here live in public housing.

Recurrent issues raised by constituency residents include the lack of safety along the beach as well as the rising levels of vandalism and residential theft.

In this constituency, the candidates are Janet Pitsiulaaq Brewster, Christa Kunuk and Jeff Ungalaq Maurice.

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.

Janet Pitsiulaaq Brewster

Born in Yellowknife, Janet Pitsiulaaq Brewster was raised in the Northwest Territories, Iqaluit and Ottawa.

Brewster was elected in 2019 to the Iqaluit city council where she has served as deputy mayor.

Over the last 20 years Brewster has volunteered as chair of Alianait, Toonik Tyme and the Uquutaq Society, and, until recently, was a board member for the Inuit Broadcasting Corp. 

She is currently on leave as the worker's representative on the governance council for the Workers Safety and Compensation Commission of NWT/NU.

"I am running for MLA in Iqaluit-Sinaa because I believe that we need an experienced leader who has a proven track record for advocating for and working collaboratively to address the concerns and issues facing those who are most in need in my neighbourhood," she said.

Among other priorities, she wants more resources to address the ongoing impacts of trauma, poverty and poor housing and ensure Inuit to have more say in education and health.

"Through the leadership of a strong group of women in Iqaluit and many women across the territory, we are reminded that healthy communities and safe communities continue to be an issue of concern during this election," she said.

If elected, Brewster said she also wants to raise the impacts of climate change and global pollution on Nunavut.

Christa Kunuk

Christa Kunuk was born in Qikiqtarjuaq, was adopted, and lived in the territory until she was seven before moving to Saskatchewan and British Columbia. 

Kunuk holds a certification in early childhood education from Camosun College, a diploma in mental health from Nunavut Arctic College, a certification in advocacy with Indigenous women in shelters from George Brown College, and a bachelor degree in child and youth care from the University of Victoria.

Kunuk, who has a wide experience as a volunteer, has been working with the Government of Nunavut's Department of Family Services.

"It seemed a natural course for me to run for MLA as my career path has always been toward the betterment of Inuit in the territory," Kunuk said. 

"With my previous job as a child and youth advocate, I continually saw the lack of services and supports that were needed for the most vulnerable, and the government needs to get back to being accountable and being available to all. Being true to Pijitsirniq — being of service."

The challenges she sees include a lack of housing, poverty, public safety, food insecurity and mental health and addiction issues.

For her, the biggest issues in Nunavut in this election include infrastructure and housing, education and mental health.

Jeff Ungalaq Maurice

Igloolik was Jeff Maurice's childhood home, but his family moved to Iqaluit when he was still in school.

After high school he went to Selkirk College's Berklee School of Music, then completed the Environment Technology Program at Nunavut Arctic College and finally, attended Trent University.

Maurice is on leave from Nunavut Tunngavik Inc. where he has worked as the director of policy and planning.

He is also the former chair of the Nunavut Fisheries and Marine Training Consortium, former chair of the Nunavut Wildlife Management Board Fisheries Allocation Committee, and board member for the National Indigenous Fisheries Institute.

Maurice said he's running because he wants to use his decades of experience in policy and governance to serve Nunavummiut.

"I want to see a Government of Nunavut that better represents its young population and I want to help Nunavut achieve real change," he said.

"I am hearing a lot of the same issues and concerns as I go from door-to-door in my constituency including: affordable childcare and supports for daycares and daycare workers, changes to Nunavut's income assistance so that families don't get stuck in a cycle of poverty and dependence."