New Nunavut MLA eyes local development, language preservation

Emiliano Qirngnuq of Kugaaruk will likely take his seat as Netsilik MLA when the legislature’s winter sitting gets underway at the end of February. (FILE PHOTO)

The new MLA for Netsilik says his focus heading into the next session of Nunavut’s legislative assembly will be on economic development for his home region and the preservation of the Inuit language.

Emiliano Qirngnuq, 66, was elected in a Feb. 8 by-election to replace former MLA Jeannie Ugyuk, who resigned after she failed a confidence vote during last November’s leadership review.

Reached by phone in his home community of Kugaaruk Feb. 9, Qirngnuq said he was “surprised” and “happy” about his win.

Qirngnuq, a long-time employer at the Koomiut Co-op in Kugaaruk, won the by-election with just 137 votes — 21 votes ahead of second-place candidate Tars Angutingunirk, also of Kugaaruk.

John Ningark, the veteran ex-MLA and cabinet minister who now lives in Taloyoak, finished well back with 65 votes, followed by two other Taloyoak candidates, Wesley Totalik and Joseph Quqqiaq,

Qirngnuq, who said he ran on the advice of a friend, said he campaigned at home in Kugaaruk and also in neighbouring Taloyoak on the promise of keeping the benefits of economic development projects at home, namely by hiring local businesses and people.

“That’s the main thing I’d like to see, to make sure those funds stay in Nunavut,” he said.

“And I’d like to see our mother tongue being [spoken] by the young people and everyone in our community, in school and at home.”

Qirngnuq is new to territorial politics, but it won’t be his first time in an elected position. He has served as a hamlet councillor in Kugaaruk, on the board of directors for the Koomiut co-op and more recently, on the board of the local hunters and trappers association.

Next, the newly-elected MLA said he’s preparing to head to Iqaluit for orientation, where Qirngnuq will likely take his oath of office and take his seat in time for the winter sitting of the Nunavut legislature, which starts Feb. 24.

“I’m hoping to visit the communities I’ve been elected in,” he said. “I’ll be in and out of my hometown, but I’d like to be visible in both places whenever I can.”