6 MLAs unseated, 3 judicial recounts coming as dust settles in Nunavut election
Arviat North-Whale Cove lone riding where votes still being counted, Elections Nunavut website says
Results are continuing to trickle in Tuesday morning after Monday’s election in Nunavut. (File photo)
A few election results were still trickling in Tuesday afternoon after Nunavut’s territorial election Monday that saw six incumbent MLAs unseated and three mandatory judicial recounts triggered across Nunavut’s 22 ridings.
Elections Nunavut listed John Main as the winner in Arviat North–Whale Cove, where all five polls were reported as counted Tuesday afternoon, almost a full day after polls closed. The former health minister in the previous government returns to the legislature for a third term.
The website shows all votes as counted in Iqaluit-Sinaa, Iqaluit-Manirajak, Quttiktuq and Netsilik, but it also lists zero votes being counted for at least one poll in each of these ridings.
Kiran Situt, Nunavut’s chief electoral officer, declined to explain why those polls appeared that way, saying he’s “extremely busy” and he “doesn’t have time for that.”
“You guys are bugging me so much,” he said before hanging up the phone.
The six incumbent MLAs defeated in Monday night’s election were: Solomon Malliki in Aivilik; Pamela Hakongak Gross in Cambridge Bay; Adam Arreak Lightstone in Iqaluit-Manirajak; Bobby Anavilok in Kugluktuk; Joseph Quqqiaq in Netsilik; and Mary Killiktee in Uqqumiut.
There are mandatory judicial recounts in three ridings, including Aggu, where incumbent Joanna Quassa held onto her seat by three votes. She had 106 votes compared to 103 for former Igloolik mayor Erasmus Ivvalu.
Nunavut’s Elections Act requires recounts when the difference between the winner and runner-up is less than two per cent of the total votes that were cast.
There will also be a recount in Quttiktuq, where Steven Taqtu leads by four votes, and in Pangnirtung where Johnny Mike holds the lead by three votes. Mike received 125 votes compared to 122 for his closest rival, Nathaniel Julai Alikatuktuk, with 122.
Here are the election results as of Tuesday morning:
Aggu (mandatory judicial recount to come)
- Joanna Quassa (106)
- Erasmus Ivvalu (103)
- Rejected ballots (9)
Total votes: 218/535 voters (40.75% turnout)
Aivilik
- Hannah Angootealuk (298)
- Solomon Malliki (164)
- Rejected ballots (1)
Total votes: 469/963 (48.7% turnout)
Amittuq
- Abraham Qammaniq (148)
- Reena Irqittuq (80)
- Paul Haulli (74)
- Roger Beaudry (58)
- Rejected ballots (1)
Total votes: 361/662 (54.53% turnout)
Arviat North Whale Cove (five of five polls reporting)
- John Main (229)
- Tony Udluadluak (173)
- Rejected ballots (3)
Total votes: 405/817 (49.57% turnout)
Arviat South
- Jamie Kablutsiak (255)
- Alana Kuksuk (120)
- Rejected ballots (1)
Total votes: 376/710 (52.96% voter turnout)
Baker Lake
- Craig Simailak (268)
- Simeon Mikkungwak (242)
- Rejected ballots (2)
Total votes: 512/1057 (48.44% voter turnout)
Cambridge Bay
- Fred Pedersen (330)
- Pamela Hakongak Gross (176)
- Peter Ohokak (94)
- Rejected ballots (5)
Total votes: 605/1046 (57.84% voter turnout)
Gjoa Haven
- David Porter (132)
- Megan Porter (124)
- Agoakteak Gregory Nahaglulik (51)
- David Akoak (49)
- Sonny Porter (11)
- Rejected ballots (2)
Total votes: 369/697 (52.94% voter turnout)
Hudson Bay (acclaimed – Daniel Qavvik)
Iqaluit-Manirajak (Note: Poll 2 shows zero votes)
- Gwen Healey Akearok (245)
- Adam Arreak Lightstone (142)
- Rejected ballots (12)
Total votes: 399/1065 (37.46% voter turnout)
Iqaluit-Niaqunnguu
- David Akeeagok (270)
- Tatanniq Lucie Idlout (124)
- Jacopoosie Peter (73)
- Walter Picco (43)
- Rejected ballots (24)
Total votes 534/1180 (45.25% voter turnout)
Iqaluit-Sinaa (Note: Poll 2 shows zero votes)
- Janet Pitsiulaaq Brewster (175)
- Robin Anawak (150)
- Rejected ballots: (0)
Total votes (325/1000) 32.5% voter turnout
Iqaluit-Tasiluk
- George Hickes (354)
- Malaiya Lucassie (140)
- Rejected ballots (5)
Total votes: 499/1088 (45.86% voter turnout)
Kugluktuk
- Simon Kuliktana (218)
- Stanley Anablak (93)
- Bobby Anavilok (28)
- Rejected ballots (2)
Total votes: 361/775 (46.58% voter turnout)
Netsilik (Note: Kugaaruk early polls shows 0 votes)
- Cecile Nelvana Lyall (294)
- Emiliano Qirngnuq (253)
- Joseph Quqqiaq (63)
- Johnny Qilluniq (20)]
- Mary Anaumiq Neeveacheak (0)
- Rejected ballots (3)
Total votes: 633/962 (65.8% voter turnout)
Pangnirtung (mandatory judicial recount to come)
- Johnny Mike (125)
- Nathaniel Julai Alikatuktuk (122)
- Andrew Nakashuk (91)
- Rejected ballots (8)
Total votes: 346/744 (46.51% voter turnout)
Quttiktuq (mandatory judicial recount to come/Note: Resolute Bay early polls show 0 votes)
- Steven Taqtu (113)
- Philip Kalluk (109)
- Andrew Taqtu (28)
- Rejected ballots (3)
Total votes: 253/589 (42.95% voter turnout)
Rankin Inlet North-Chesterfield Inlet
- Alexander Sammurtok (156)
- Cathy Q Towtongie (143)
- Rejected ballots (5)
Total votes: 304/788 (38.58% voter turnout)
Rankin Inlet South
- Annie Tattuinee (183)
- Gerry Anawak (70)
- Tagak Curley (58)
- Rejected ballots (1)
Total votes: 312/724 (43.09% voter turnout)
South Baffin (acclaimed – David Joanasie)
Tununiq
- Brian Koonoo (194)
- Verna Strickland (109)
- David Qamaniq (78)
- Rejected ballots (3)
Total votes: 384/792 (48.48% voter turnout)
Uqqumiut
- Gordon Kautuk (402)
- Mary Killiktee (132)
- Rejected ballots (6)
Total votes: 540/869 (62.14% voter turnout)
Update: this story has been updated to include the latest results from Arviat North Whale Cove and efforts to reach Kiran Situt, Nunavut’s chief electoral officer for comment.
Two big take aways from last night election:
1. Voter apathy is disappointingly high. Less than 50% turn out in most races should be embarrassing to everyone in the territory. Results should only count once there is 75% turn out in a riding. Boards need quorum, elections should as well.
2. The time that it takes to count less than 500 ballots way too long, even if they are being counted 5 times by 5 different people, it’s too long. Either it’s a process issue and it needs to be fixed, or it is a basic math issue, and the education system needs to be fixed. I suspect it’s both,
Unpopular take (or maybe it isn’t?), but NTI completely ransacked the electoral system in Nunavut with the $100 participation vouchers. If I’m in a smaller community and am sort of nonchalant about voting, why would I ever bother to show up in any other election if I’m not getting $100 for it? Can’t put the toothpaste back in the bottle now, in the sense of changing those feelings. Unfortunately the standard has been set. But NTI should never offer vouchers for voting again, and instead run a strong marketing campaigns to encourage voter turnout ahead of future territorial and federal elections it has ruined.
I am not at all embarrassed by the continued 30 year slide in voter turnout in Nunavut. The great thing about Democracy is that it tells you what the people think, (or don’t think), whether we like it or not.
We have around a 40% graduation rate in Nunavut. A high school diploma is what society believes is the minimum amount of preparation a typical person needs to become a functioning adult. There is a reason our high schools teach Inuuqatigiitsiarnik. 60% of the population that have grown into the age of majority in our territory are not fully equipped to undertake their role as an adult citizen.
Everywhere else in the world, voting is strongly correlated with education. Nunavut cannot expect to be any different.
On top of this, for the past 25 years, each and every elected Legislative Assembly has failed in articulating a strong, transformative vision for change in our territory. This is what was anticipated by our electorate prior to Division. Also for the past quarter of a century, the GN has shown itself slow or incapable of effectively implementing the small changes in government policy that it has been called upon to perform by successive cabinets.
Although the electorate may be largely uneducated, we are not unobservant. We can see this. There is nothing there to excite the effort to vote besides perhaps base nepotism.
A 50% voter turnout tells us these things. We may not like it. This may not align with our hopes or expectations that everyone is all on board for our giant experiment in self-government. But this is the reality of the situation.
So thank goodness for Democracy, because without it, perhaps we would not even realize the situation we are in.
Everywhere else in the world? Not quite. Many countries have mandatory votes and people who don’t show up to vote at elections are sanctioned, generally deprivation of some State services or frozen bank accounts for awhile. Democracy includes everyone with or without education, diploma or not.
Fake Mews (News) perhaps you can go in and sort everything out?
15 hours later and still counting in Arviat North – Whale Cove. There are 817 voters “on the list” for that riding (as per Election Nunavut’s Website) even if every single eligible voter on the list showed up (which they did not… currently at 35.37%), it takes 15 hours and still no final results. It is understandable for the ridings where a judicial recount is required to determine the winner that no, “elected candidate” would be declared. This, however, does not account for the time it took and is taking to count votes where the polls closed at 7:00pm (local time in each area) and the turn out ranged from 250 to 630 voters across the ridings (as per Elections Nunavut’s website). The time it has taken is ridiculous. This was unnecessary for Nunavummiut and especially the candidates. Everyone deserved better.
Why does everything have to be so complicated here???? What was this a surprise election? Elections Nunavut did not know it was coming? That it does not happen every 4 years! Seriously though! One of the first actions of the new Government should be to look into why it takes 10 to15 hours to finalize an election (minus the judicial recounts) where there are approx 17, 000 eligible voters across the territory and traditionally only about 45% (on average) show up to vote. Some work needs to be done to improve this. Oh, and Elections Nunavut Website has the turnout at 37% for this election but if you add up all the ridings “voter turnout” and their % the actual overall % “turnout” currently sits at 47%.
It makes one concerned about how all this is run and managed. Numbers matter and accurate ones even more. Expediency and efficiency create confidence. 15 hours later for an election with so few voters. Questions deserved to be asked and answered.
I had also noted that discrepancy on the voter turn out calculation. My guess is that they included eligible voters in South Baffin and Hudson Bay. If so, that’s an easy mistake to make but also one that definitely one that should have been caught in set up and testing.
Numbers and Counting is hard for a low level education base that rates lowest in National Average like Voter Turn Out Avg.
Impacts of Inuit Wonderdul Loving Parenting Style thaf is Nunavut is that most are unable to help their loved ones wake up to open eyes and make them fo to School and keep them there maybe Election Reaults would be done well.
There in lies main issue side by side with shortage of accommodation and open Public Government Disclosure are three core “Crises” issues. Correct those three icore root cause ssues and 1/2 of Nunavut’s Issues resolved instantaneously
But that’s too far and hard.an foreign concept. So simple its difficult
Someone in the Netsilik riding got zero votes. Did the candidate not even bother voting?
John main for premier
That could happen…
YES!!! Nunavut would be in good hands with John as a premier. He cares for the people and advocates for everyone.
Yes, and his dad was a great Northern Manager.
Something wrong here with the reporting and poll error.
1. It took unnecessary long for polls to report in for the public long after the polls were closed. Why? What did Elections Nunavut change to “steamline” the process?
2. There was an error given to a constituent, they were given a ballot for a different riding and they weren’t eligible to vote in (maybe confused from the boundary change?).
3. There is a poll in Iqaluit that reported 0 rejected ballots, however knowing that one person ballot should’ve at least counted as one.
4. There is a law that can get the recount/court application to look into, however, who want to spend $250 of their own money to get this looked into…
This shows the disconnect from voters and communities with our government, our government is so disconnected with the people of Nunavut, our government does not represent the people of Nunavut at all, the senior bureaucrats run our government and they do not represent Nunavut at all, hopefully this government the MLAs will address this.
With such a huge annual budget from the GN 3 BILLION DOLLARS per year our government should be doing much more, so much of the money flows south as fast as it gets here, the transient GN staff alone contributed a billion dollars flowing south last year, such a drain on the Nunavut economy, this needs to be addressed yesterday.
3B is not a lot of money.
You have 26 communities all with infrastructure that needs maintaining, schools, health centers. All have operations costs. You have 3,500 plus GN workers, you have minimal private ownership of homes across NU meaning Gov’t of NU is also taking care of the majority of housing with minimal recouperation. Lets not even delve down the healthcare route.
Then you have to consider the fact that the GN then funds the municipalities so they can carry out their operations. That water and sewer bill you pay is incredibly subsidized. Then you have all the other programs and departments onto that also have money outflowing to various organizations and groups.
3B isn’t getting you anything overly new in this Territory with its incredibly logistics costs and amount of people on various forms of social assistance, public housing, etc.
David Akearok should not be given a ministerial or premier position. Let him be a regular member and see if he has any statements from the people in his new riding.
He’s got no fire or passion for Inuit.
Akeeagok continues to fall upwards in government.
An ineffective DM with CLEY without professionalism.
Lacky to Bernie at EIA; objecting to DOE caribou management plans.
Two terms of stuttering through pre-prepared briefing notes.
Yeah – no thanks.
AGREED. 100 Per Cent. Sadly not up to us but hopefully the MLAs listen to those who voted them in and make those decisions.
It’s sad to say, but it appears on the whole to be a very inexperienced crop of MLAs coming out of this election. Aside from Hickes, Aleeagok and maybe Sammurtok, it’s hard to find a potential Premier or senior cabinet minister material in this group. For those hoping for better leadership going forward, I’m afraid you will likely be disappointed.
You are totally out of touch with this comment lol. There are plenty of newly elected MLA’s with a lot of experience. There are folks that have been senior leaders many times over in their communities.
This new government looks good! We will see how it all plays out in the next few months, with who the premier and ministers will be.
Sammurtok is totally a waste of energy. He’s just a public works furnace man. He doesn’t even speak in committee meetings. All he ever said was the Naja Center in Chesterfield needs some help. All he does is smile .
That’s not a very reassuring response from the chief electoral officer however, it’s a great demonstration of the incompetence and lack of professionalism that undermines just about everything in Nunavut.
voter turnout mirrors worker turnout in the mornings, every day in the government offices and school. About 50 percent
Whoa! You get 50% out of your staff?! Ever lucky.
I think having Johnny Mike as an MLA again is bad. It shows a lot of what it goes in communities, families voting for families and not for the better of Nunavummiut.
I’m really upset I have to listen to Johnny Mike again… it’s painful.
Boring boring Johnny Mike . He doesn’t even make sense !
Annoying wanna be environmentalist. Big talk no action dude.
Curious about the individual running the election and the overall performance of the process. Why the Gn has put someone who couldn’t perform in positions he has held in such an important role ?
Most people are aware now who are the ones in it for themselves. New MLAs do not associate with them, clean house of the old regimes and get people in there that will put Nunavummiut first.
The Kitikmeot Region wanted change, they wanted responsible leadership, and it shows by the newly elected MLA’s.
Freddy Pedersen had this election the second he put his name in, Cambridge Bay trusts him, he’s respectful, and he works hard. Cambridge Bay got their respected leader.
Simon Kuliktana had this in the bag too, he’ll work hard for Kugluktuk. Respectful man.
Cecile Lyall is bright, she’s strong, and she has a very bright future in politics.
David Porter is a great man, he’ll work hard for Uksuktuuq.
Kitikmeot residents wanted change and they have it!
I didn’t even see any Elections Nunavut signs around town pointing to the polling station. I can see how people forgot to vote. Still not a good excuse though everyone should think about the candidates and then vote.
congratulations to Cecile Lyall, a bright spotlight throughout her career and they did the right thing by voting her in. hopefully they will see how strong she is and do us proud.
Thankful that Bobby was a one term wonder in Kugluktuk. from his abysmal speaking points (when he was even at work) to his non existent presence at home.
speaking of which, Cambridge Bay. they are dealing with a horrible situation with the amount of crack flowing through the Community. what has the previous MLA done to curb this serious issue? other than one town hall meeting, has she met with anyone in a public setting? how many Hamlet Council Meetings has she attended, well I guess we could find out if the Hamlet ever published their Council minutes. But we all know the epidemic of attendance at the Hamlet so the amount of blame on Pam should be shouldered on Jim MacEacherns shoulders too. if he is ever at work.
Cambridge Bay previous MLA did nothing when the community was crying out for help, she didn’t do anything when the community was crying for help with the troubled kids vandalizing the community too. She ran for herself and the community saw it. The Local Housing Authority stepped in with the RCMP after the communities anger was publicly shared, every community in Nunavut needs to follow their fight to get these hard drugs out of Nunavut. Kudos the residents of Cambridge Bay!
The comments from the Chief Electoral Officer to Nunatsiaq news are completely unprofessional and unbecoming for an official of their level of responsibility.
If I was this new government I’d be planning on bringing them before a committee to explain what happened during this election and to explain their behaviour with the press.
Besides being defensive and rude, there were clear issues with signage, get out the vote efforts and volunteer recruitment that speak to a deeper problem in the organization.
From analyzing these results, George Hickes received the highest number of votes of any candidate in all of Nunavut. So the voters have more confidence in him than in any other candidate. So make him Premier.
And the Uqqumiut constituency (Clyde River and Qikiqtarjuaq) had the highest percentage voter turnout. Congratulations to them.
Good afternoon Kenn, first I’d like to say that I enjoy reading your articles that you occasionally post.
But, if you’re going to base the selection solely on # of votes candidates received based on the number of votes that were cast.
George Hickes received around 71% of votes casted for his riding.
Gordon Kautak received around 75% of votes casted for his riding.
I am sure this new batch of MLA’s will figure out who they will choose to lead the pack.
It should be an interesting group to watch. There are quite a few very smart folks that look to represent their ridings and Nunavut as a whole.
Good luck to them!
In 2025 Elections it is evident that after 25 Years of Nunavut it still cant count.
What gives?
Trouble with counting and lack of Democratic Awareness are signs of dysfunction and out of touch with reality and inability to function of the Masses.
After 25 Years one would think a Democratic Society would learn to count and protect Inuit Interests by ensuring as a Public Government at least bare minimum can function
This isnt it. Let’s revisit this in another 25 years….. rofl
Resolute and grise need our own MLA