Akeeagok, Main face off in bid to be Nunavut’s next premier
MLAs to cast secret ballots later Tuesday
MLAs David Akeeagok, left, and John Main are the two candidates to be the next premier of Nunavut. (Photo by Jeff Pelletier)
Two MLAs — David Akeeagok and John Main — have been nominated to represent Nunavut as premier as the legislature continues to meet in its leadership forum Tuesday in Iqaluit.
A secret vote among MLAs to select the next premier will be held later Tuesday, after members have the opportunity to question each of the candidates.
Both Main, who represents Arviat North-Whale Cove, and Akeeagok, of Iqaluit-Niaqunnguu, addressed their colleagues with 20-minute speeches.
Akeeagok listed food security, housing and addictions treatment as priorities. He also highlighted that Arctic sovereignty will continue to be a big issue for the next four years.
“As such a vast region, we are at the centre of attention,” Akeeagok said in his speech. “We must be at the table for a national and international discussion.”
Akeeagok also pointed to Inuit self-sufficiency before colonial contact, saying that spirit should be reflected in territorial government policy.
Selling himself as a “communicator” and “bridge-builder,” Main told the group he has no “master plan” for governance if he were to be elected premier.
He also pointed out that Nunavut needs to find more revenue sources, pointing to natural gas as a potential for that.
“Regardless of who’s chosen today as premier and to go into cabinet, I want you all to know that I really am hopeful and optimistic as I look at you all in this assembly,” he said. “I believe that Nunavummiut have chosen well.”
After the other MLAs have had the chance to question Main and Akeeagok and elect one as premier, the next step will be for MLAs to elect eight members of cabinet whose portfolios will be assigned later by the new premier.
Earlier in the day, members elected South Baffin MLA David Joanasie as Speaker. Joanasie will preside over the proceedings for the remainder of the day.
It will be a challenge to choose between a guy who wasn’t accomplished anything noteworthy, and a guy who somehow drove the department of health more into the ground than it already was. If only mediocrity were any option, instead it is a losing gamble either way.
The Government of Nunavut has budgeted $7.5M for addiction treatment. But families are often left behind. My children’s father entered treatment, and within a month started a new relationship. Once he successfully completed his 90 days the GN paid for him to live in a sober house for over 14 months, and when he was done there he just disappeared. Nearly three years later and not a dime of support. The rehab even hired him after saying he wasn’t well enough to work (while receiving funding from the GN, of course). Funding should also go to children and to the families left to pick up the pieces when addicts go to treatment, especially if the GN funds them to stay out of the territory beyond 90 days. This is unheard of in every other province. Please – let’s address that copious amounts of money out of territory drug rehabs are extorting from the government of Nunavut.
…free addictions treatment is also unheard of in every other province.
This is definitely not true but no other province will provide endless amounts of money to residents who attend rehab either. Most are capped at 90 days and they definitely don’t fund residents to live in sober houses. Canadians need to understand that their healthcare is being privatized and it’s starting with drug and mental health facilities. And for those addicts who are also selfish and unkind it provides them with a means of not being accountable to their families and children. You can give me all the thumbs down you want but we lost everything because that man didn’t come back to take care of his responsibilities. It changed our lives and made everything very hard. Drug addiction impacts families not just one person. It impacts the whole community. The answer is to create thriving communities with lots of activities and support for kids and families. An individual shouldn’t have all expenses paid to live in a sober house run by entrepreneurs. Nunavut gets duped and used by these places. Stop that by bringing individuals back to Nunavut after 90 days and allowing them to integrate back into society here. Create supports here. Otherwise this money is being used wastefully.
Just because it isn’t being done, doesn’t mean it can’t or shouldn’t be done.
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Plenty of people used to complain about Quebec’s idea to implement universal childcare when it first came about in the 90s as a bunch of social spending nonsense… until evidence started piling up about how good it was for their economy and their citizens.
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Now a whole swathe of provinces and territories have copied that program and implemented it themselves, and the NDP managed to push the Trudeau Government to try and implement a federal plan for 10$ daycare, which has (kind of) been upheld by the latest Carney Budget.
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That’s just one example of a province deciding to place funds into something for the good of its citizens well being that had enough positive knock on effects for other places to follow, to the point it’s being seen as essential to all Canadians.
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Just because something is currently being done, doesn’t mean attempts shouldn’t be made or that it may even be something that other places decide to follow once proof is in the pudding.
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I see no reason some place like Nunavut, facing unique concentrations of issues such as mental health should avoid seeking unique solutions like offering meaningful support for the families of people looking to better their lives and mental health.
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Forcing people to choose between bettering their mental health and stopping their addictions, or keeping their jobs to provide for those who depend on them is a difficult choice that a proper society should look to eliminate.
It’s not a unique solution. It’s what every other province is doing. And it leaves gaping holes in support for the family left behind. It’s a major problem. I’m speaking on it because it’s specifically being brought up and I want to voice my opinion as someone who has survived the aftermath of someone else’s addiction. It was devastating. Nunavut is in a position to really make a change and not follow what every other province is doing. Drug recovery is a thriving industry in Canada and it’s the catalyst to privatization of healthcare.
What’s with the thumbs down? Anyone in the territory who has dealt with a loved one or family member knows how devastating drug addiction is for everyone in the immediate family. They lose housing, jobs, and support. You can choose your mental health and to deal with your addiction without abandoning your kids. Support only centres the addict. The children need support too, if you’re giving a thumbs down you’re part of the problem.
I agree with you Jenni, and think supporting the families of people who decide to seek addictions treatment etc is a great idea.
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I know countless people who have been unable to seek treatment they think is essential to getting a handle on their addictions and mental health issues, because they were the main/only provider for their children and other loved ones.
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The upcoming treatment centre in Iqaluit is a step in the right direction from keeping people from moving down south to attend treatment programs, but it’s still a drop in the bucket for support that people in other regions require – as well as their families like you point out. It would be nice to see Nunavut try and allocate resources to do as much as they can for the well-being of everyone, people seeking treatment and their families.
I hope so. No one will ever convince me that profit based rehabs are the answer. Addicts receiving treatment shouldn’t be the to the detriment of their families finances and mental health.
An inuk premier is important. Otherwise, why the Nunavut government. Also, why not have a requirement to speak inuktut to be minister. We created nunavut for that, did we not. Amongst other things
With all the huge challenges facing this next government, I can think of nothing less important than the ethnicity of the next Premier of their ability to converse in Inuktukt.
There are so many more important skills and qualifications required of a competent Premier. It’s not a ceremonial position, however much some MLAs act like it is.
There’s real work to do and people in need.
John Main is fluent in Inuktitut
Between these two, Main is the better pick imo.
You sound like an NDP voter
Jimmy, the white civil servants run the GN, and Depts, and schools, Hamlets, even the stores see who runs them, where are you
Someone has to do it…
You’re gonna really hate who the premier elect is then…lol!
Main is a fluent Inuktitut speaker.
Watching this I am unsure or which is harder to watch. The lack of any real substantive questions or the answers to the ridiculous questions being asked. When you watch this, you feel like you are reliving your high school counsel days. Where the presidential candidates tried to convince you to vote for them. You listen to some of the questions around Healthcare, Housing, Education and you get the impression that these two candidates were not even in government over the last 8 years. And more importantly that each is clearly afraid to admit or point out the areas and substantive actions that need to be taken to address the failures of the last 4 years particularly. Why? Because they were part of it.
It is truly sad to think that this is the best we can muster.