Nunavut snapshot: the federal election by the numbers

Here’s what Nunavut’s elections have looked like since 2000, the first year Nunavut elected its own Member of Parliament separate from the NWT. (GRAPHIC BY LISA GREGOIRE)

These elders, seen here outside the polling station in Cambridge Bay Oct. 19, were part of Nunavut’s record number of voters in yesterday’s federal election. (PHOTO BY JANE GEORGE)

More voters came out Oct. 19 to cast ballots in Nunavut than ever before.

And Liberal Hunter Tootoo, who won the Nunavut seat in a hard fought battle to represent Canada’s newest territory, becomes our first male MP.

Only two women have ever represented the riding of Nunavut: Nancy Karetak-Lindell and Leona Aglukkaq.

According to historical data from Elections Canada, dating back to Nunavut’s first federal election in 2000, the voter turnout was much higher than normal for yesterday’s general election.

Unofficial results from the Oct. 19 election — which do not yet include voters who registered on voting day — show that nearly 62 per cent of eligible Nunavummiut voters cast ballots on Oct. 19: 11,910 people of the 19,223 registered to vote.

That’s significant: voter turnout for federal elections has been notoriously low in Nunavut, sometimes less than 50 per cent, over the past 15 years:

• 2015: 61.9 per cent

• 2011: 45.7 per cent

• 2008: 47.4 per cent

• 2006: 54.1 per cent

• 2004: 43.9 per cent

• 2000: 54 per cent

Tootoo was one of 10 Aboriginal MPs elected to Parliament Oct. 19: eight Liberals and two New Democrats.

Here are the unofficial results for the 42nd general election in Canada as of Oct. 20, from Elections Canada:

• Hunter Tootoo (Liberal): 5,618 votes

• Jack Anawak (NDP): 3,153 votes

• Leona Aglukkaq (Conservative): 2,956 votes

• Spencer Rocchi (Green): 183 votes

All three territories elected Liberals this time around, so these northern jurisdictions will all be represented by the party in power.

For political wonks, it’s interesting to note that across the country, a number of fringe parties managed to pull in a few votes. Here are the top five parties after the Greens and the number of votes they got, not including independents and non-affiliates:

• Libertarian: 37,407

• Christian Heritage party: 15,284

• Marxist-Leninst Party: 9,105

• Forces et Democratie – Allier les forces de nos régions: 8,298

• Rhinoceros: 7,349