Aggu goes back to the polls, Pangnirtung gets new MLA and Quttiktuq keeps waiting
Election night led to 3 recounts across Nunavut
Residents in Nunavut’s Aggu riding, which includes Igloolik, will hold another election after a judicial recount found a tie between the two candidates.(File photo by Madalyn Howitt)
A clearer picture is emerging in three Nunavut ridings where results were so close that recounts were required after the Oct. 27 territorial elections.
Johnny Mike is Pangnirtung’s MLA-elect after a judicial recount of the votes in the Oct. 27 territorial election. (Photo courtesy of Elections Nunavut)
Judicial recounts are required in constituencies where the number of votes separating the two leading candidates is within two per cent of the total votes cast. They are conducted by Nunavut Court of Justice judges.
Of the 22 ridings in Nunavut, three required recounts, two were won by acclamation and the other 17 were clear victories by winning candidates.
Results from the Pangnirtung recount were posted on the Elections Nunavut website Friday afternoon – former Nunavut land claim negotiator Johnny Mike is the community’s MLA-elect with 127 votes.
Mike finished just four votes ahead of his closest rival, Nathaniel Julai Alikatuktuk. The third candidate in the race was Andrew Nakashuk. In total, 346 votes were cast in Pangnirtung riding.
In Aggu, the riding that encompasses the northern part of Igloolik, a recount revealed a tie between the two candidates. Incumbent Joanna Quassa and Erasmus Ivvalu each received 105 votes, according to results posted on Elections Nunavut’s website.
That means voters will go back to the polls again to settle it.
Moses Iqqaqsaq, Quassa’s financial agent during the election, confirmed a new election will be scheduled in the constituency but didn’t know when it will be held.
Quttiktuq is the only riding where votes are still being recounted, according to the Elections Nunavut website.
On election night, Steven Taqtu received 113 votes with Philip Kalluk just four votes behind, according to the unofficial results. Andrew Taqtu finished third with 28 votes.
Kalluk said Friday he hasn’t heard any updates on the status of the recount.
A representative for Elections Nunavut could not be reached for comment on Friday afternoon.
On Nov. 18, the newly elected MLAs will convene in Iqaluit for a leadership forum where they will vote to select a Speaker to preside over the legislative assembly, then a new premier and cabinet members. The premier will assign portfolios to the cabinet members later.
The proceedings for Aggu riding are underway; Nunavut News showcases a black and white picture of Joanna. Iqlukingimiut, be prepared and cast your ballots discerningly. Pictures do not do justice!
Obviously the people of Aggu have no preference and instead of spending money to call another election, why not just job share between the two by tossing a coin. Head gets the first half of the term and Tail gets the last half of the term. This way both of them will do their best for people of Aggu to compare comes next election. Often MLAs quit for various reasons and this way make it short and sweet.
It seems like the goal of Elections Nunavut and its Chief Electoral Officer is to continue the fiasco from Election Night. One would think after what transpired, they would do the utmost to try and reestablish credibility and trust with Nunavummiut. But no, they do the exact contrary. The Candidates have no information on the recounts, no one from Elections Nunavut was available to answer questions from the media and Nunavummiut are left entirely in the dark regarding 2 of the remaining recounts. The candidates and the people of Nunavut deserve much, much better than this.
11 days has passed, and Elections Nunavut did not release one press release or one document on their website updating Nunavummiut on the status of the 3 judicial recounts. Nothing. Just radio silence. They didn’t even “announce” the winner of the Judicial Recount in Pangnirtung. They simply updated the results buried in the district results on the website. You think maybe informing the people of Nunavut in a more open fashion might be helpful, might be appreciated by the people? I guess not.
Don’t get me wrong, they do no need to do daily updates or press releases but at a minimum are responsible to the candidates and most importantly Nunavummiut to inform them of the status of the Territories Election and its result in a manner befitting the importance of a Judicial Recount. We are talking about an election here. The most sacred of democratic values. There are already big enough challenges regarding voter turnout and getting quality candidates to run in the Territory to not increase or add skepticism to the process. Failure to inform and provided necessary information erodes the appearance of transparency, fairness and most importantly trust. Communication is the key and Elections Nunavut seems to be devoid of this understanding.
People need to know that Elections in the Territory are managed by people who understand the importance of those things mentioned above and understand that first and foremost they work for the people. This new Government needs to make one of its priorities (they have lots of them) to launch an inquiry into Elections Nunavut and its management of this past election so that trust and confidence can be restored into the election process. Nunavummiut deserve better!
Don’t Pangnirtung people never learn. The guy proved he don’t care about you the last time he got in and now you wanna go through that again. He will try for cabinet again to fatten his wallet as he ain’t in it for masses.