Acclaimed South Baffin MLA rules out seeking premier’s role

One of two MLAs returning to the legislature without an election contest says he doesn’t want to be Nunavut’s next premier.

David Joanasie, who was acclaimed to a fourth term as MLA for South Baffin, says people have been asking if he will seek the legislature’s top job.

Through Nunavut’s non-partisan consensus government, any of the 22 MLAs elected Monday could be the premier following P.J. Akeeagok’s decision to not run again.

“It’s not the role that I’m looking at at this time, so I think we can lay that to bed here,” Joanasie said in an interview.

“I know it’s not something in my mind-frame that I want to take on as a role, so I wouldn’t be entertaining that.”

Joanasie’s return to the legislature this year is the second consecutive election during which he has not faced a challenger.

He said he welcomed candidates to run against him. But with nobody else on the ballot, perhaps his constituents in Kimmirut and Kinngait are “content” with him staying on, he said.

“It’s up to others to take up that challenge,” Joanasie said.

“The job is quite demanding, and four years is quite a commitment.”

Hudson Bay riding’s Daniel Qavvik is the other MLA returning to his seat without a challenger.

For him, the return is “bittersweet,” he said in an interview.

Qavvik’s first term was troubled when he was charged with assault and resigned from cabinet last November.

In May, Qavvik entered a guilty plea on a single charge and was sentenced to 12 months’ probation, according to the Nunavut court’s concluded docket.

Qavvik declined to elaborate on what happened.

Hudson Bay MLA Daniel Qavvik is returning to the legislature for a second term on acclamation. (File photo by Jeff Pelletier)

“I went through some personal challenges… I prefer not to speak about the incident,” he said.

“I feel good, living day by day, and accept the consequences that I had in the past… Obviously, the incident led me to learn from my mistakes and do better.”

Neither of the returning MLAs ruled out seeking cabinet roles, noting that it’s up to the full caucus to elect the executive council.

Qavvik said it’s “humbling” to be heading back to the legislative assembly. His priorities back in office include improving education and job training in the territory and advocating for better municipal infrastructure in Sanikiluaq.

For Joanasie, he’s promising to maintain a “close working relationship” with his constituents while taking on major issues such as the need to build more housing.

“I’ve been able to do the job for 12 years and I’m ready to go at it for another four,” he said.