Nunavik health centres see shortage of candidates in October elections

Nunavik’s two major health centres hosted elections this month to fill their boards of directors, but a number of communities did not present any candidates. (FILE PHOTO)

Nunavik’s two major health centres will see members re-elected to their boards of directors, said the Nunavik Regional Board of Health and Social Services.

But a lack of candidates stepping forward to represent the region’s communities has meant a number of acclamations and a need for future appointments, the NRBHSS said in an Oct. 22 release.

At the Tulattavik health centre, the longtime Kuujjuaq board member, Claude Gadbois, was re-elected to the centre’s board of directors in an Oct. 13 election.

But six other communities on the Ungava coast — Kangiqsualujjuaq, Tasiujaq, Kangirsuk, Quaqtaq and Kangiqsujuaq — produced no candidates, the health board said.

That means representatives for each of those community will remain in place until the health board can appoint members to the board by the end of 2015.

The centre’s sub-committees for personnel and professionals filled its four seats in an Oct. 13 election, but the centre’s users’ committee did not receive any candidatures.

Tulattavik’s new executive director, George Berthe, thanked those who did step forward to run in this year’s elections.

“I am, however, concerned about the fact that no candidates presented themselves in most of the communities,” Berthe said in an Oct. 22 release, “and [I] look forward to seeing a campaign process put into place in the future to stimulate interest in the UTHC.”

In Puvirnituq, the news was slightly better for elections to the board of directors at the Inuulitsivik health centre, a facility that serves Nunavik’s Hudson Bay coast.

The board elected three directors Oct. 13: Josepi Padlayat (Salluit), Louisa Usuarjuk (Ivujivik) and Jusipi Qaqutak (Akulivik), and acclaimed another three: Aliva Tulugak (Puvirnituq), Eva Weetaluktuk (Inukjuak), and Salamiva Daneille Weetaluktuk (Kuujjuaraapik).

“Their contributions will allow the establishment to continue in its efforts to improve the quality of services to the population while increasing accessibility,” said Jane Beaudoin, Inuulitisivik’s executive director.

But no candidatures were received from Umiujaq which means the Nunavik regional board will have to appoint a member to the board before Dec. 31.

While the centre filled positions on its personnel and professionals committee, no candidates presented themselves to the centre’s users committee.

Like Tulattavik, Inuulitsivik will move forward with appointments to fill those posts by Dec. 31.