Voting is civic duty, that’s all

Volunteerism and civic responsibility need to be supported, Pangnirtung MLA Peter Kilabuk told the legislature during its recent sitting. That’s why he said he isn’t in favour of the “I am Inuk” bracelets, which Nunavut Tunngavik Inc. plans to give beneficiaries who vote in the organization’s election next week.

“I want to get assurance from the premier that this government will not go anywhere near promoting, rewarding, or paying voters within the government and/or its subsidiary companies’ elections,” Kilabuk told Premier Paul Okalik. “So can I have the assurance of our premier that this government will not go towards rewarding voter turnouts?”

Okalik said voting is something “we all cherish and we always have the freedom to choose who to vote for and who not to vote for.”