Nunavut birthright org gearing up for December election

Former Iqaluit mayor Mary Wilman will act as returning officer for the Dec. 12, 2016 Nunavut Tunngavik Inc. presidential election. (FILE PHOTO)

Nunavut Tunngavik Inc.’s presidential election is still six months away, but the Inuit birthright organization has secured its chief returning officer for the December vote.

Mary Wilman, a former Iqaluit mayor who now works with Iqaluit-based Ayaya Communications Ltd., will service as chief returning officer for NTI’s presidential election, set for Dec. 12, 2016.

The nomination period for the election doesn’t open until the fall, starting Oct. 31 until Nov. 4.

Eligible candidates and voters must be Canadian citizens, at least 16 years old and must be registered under the Nunavut Land Claims Agreement.

Potential candidates can download nomination papers from NTI’s website once the nomination period opens.

Current NTI President Cathy Towtongie has yet to indicate if she’ll run again in this year’s election.

Towtongie was first elected to NTI’s top job in a 2010 by-election when she replaced outgoing president Paul Kaludkjak, who was ousted for inappropriate spending.

Towtongie was re-elected in 2012.

Voters in the December election can vote using one of five different methods including advance polls on Dec. 5, mobile polls, by proxy, mail-in ballot or in person on election day.