‘All about collaboration’: John Main emerges as Nunavut’s new premier
Winning vote feels ‘surreal,’ Arviat North-Whale Cove MLA says
John Main speaks to reporters Tuesday after his election as Nunavut premier during the leadership forum. In Nunavut’s consensus government, the first order of business for MLAs is to pick the Speaker, premier and cabinet ministers. (Photo by Daron Letts)
It was a nearly three-hour-long job interview for John Main and David Akeeagok on Tuesday.
But after 26 questions from their MLA colleagues, Main, the MLA for Arviat North-Whale Cove, emerged victorious as the man who will serve as Nunavut’s seventh premier.
“It feels a bit surreal, to be honest,” Main said in his first comments to reporters Tuesday evening.
“Maybe it’ll sink in in a couple of hours, but I’m just so thankful [for] all the support I’ve gotten from my colleagues.”
Under Nunavut’s consensus government, one of the first things MLAs do after an election is meet among themselves to decide who will be premier and who will be cabinet ministers.
Main and Akeeagok were nominated by their colleagues to be the next premier and succeed P.J. Akeeagok, who did not seek re-election in the Oct. 27 territorial elections.
Each laid out their ambitions in 20-minute speeches before heading into a lengthy question period.
Sitting beside each other at the witness table in the legislature, they were grilled on topics including economic development, family violence prevention, community safety, health care, climate change adaptation and education.
But it was Hudson Bay MLA Daniel Qavvik who asked, “Why should I vote for you for [as] premier?”
“The next four years has to be all about collaboration in this house, in between members, in between standing committees, cabinet members, but also with organizations outside of this house,” Main responded.
In his earlier speech, Main spoke about how the Government of Nunavut will need to collaborate with the federal government and Nunavut Tunngavik Inc. on issues such as health care.
Main also spoke about his other ideas for his leadership, including tapping into Nunavut’s resources to generate revenue, improving the health-care system by expanding remote and on-the-land treatment options, and looking at cost-saving measures within the government.
Akeeagok’s response leaned on his two decades of public service that he said prepared him for the role. He also touched on topics such as devolution and other challenges the new government faces.
NTI vice-president Paul Irngaut, who attended much of Tuesday’s day-long leadership forum, noted Main is Nunavut’s first non-Inuk premier.
However, Main has worked closely with NTI in recent years and speaks Inuktitut, so Irngaut said he is hopeful for continued collaboration.
“We’ll make sure that we push him to make sure that Inuit priorities are looked after in this government,” Irngaut said.
Outgoing premier P.J. Akeeagok congratulated Main and said he would meet with him to offer his advice.
David Akeeagok, after the vote, said Main will be “a very good premier.”
Main, who was the health minister in the last government, said he’s looking forward to stepping into his new job.
“It’s not a role that I take lightly,” he said.
“I’m so thankful to my colleagues for having confidence in me and, at the end of the day, I believe it’s about getting the job done and doing things for Nunavut.”
Main is the second premier from Arviat, following Joe Savikataaq Sr. He speaks both Inuktitut and English and previously worked as a CBC broadcaster. He held various roles at the Hamlet of Arviat and with the Kitikmeot Inuit Association.
Also on Tuesday, eight MLAs — David Akeeagok, Janet Pitsiulaaq Brewster, Annie Tattuinee, George Hickes, Gwen Healey Akearok, Brian Koonoo, Cecile Nelvana Lyall and Craig Simailak — were elected to cabinet in a secret vote by MLAs. Their portfolios will be assigned by Main later this week.
David Joanasie, the MLA for South Baffin, was elected Speaker.
With files from Daron Letts.
Good choice, great man.
Congratulations John. Good luck, the MLAs made the right choice. No one cares more for people than John Main.
Now where are all the…”His not Inuk”, But he speaks Inuk” I don’t know what to feel people, WAY TO GO JOHN!!!!
Did you know he can speak English and Inuk!!!!!!!!!!!
I even heard his studying Arabic and Australian.
After four long and grueling years! Imagine if JMain hadn’t been selected, what a disaster Nunavut would still be in. Now the work begins the right way! Kivalliq style! Whoohoohoo!
I Also heard his learning to speak; Irish, New Zealand, United Kingdom, and American as well. So amazing can’t wait to hear him speak those languages.
The languages he speaks, how is that going to be beneficial for us voters?
what voters? lol, you people don’t vote for free, lol
You do know it’s a JOKE about speaking ENGLISH right?
Congratulations John 👏🎊!!! It’s awesome to have another Kivalliqmuit as premier. Way to go!!
You spelled kivalliqmuit. It should be kivalliqmiut! Kivalliqmiut refers to three or more people. If it’s one person it should spell kivalliqmiuq! If it’s two people kivalliqmiutaak!
It’s not a mistake, probably just auto corrected, tukisinnaqtuqsuli,
I believe this was the best choice 👌 congratulations, John.
That’s the John we need!
John- we are counting on you to get the best deal for Nunavummiut. You can do it- cabinet must unite together to help us out of poverty and be a prosperous place to work and live.
I wish Premier Main all the best and thank my lucky stars it wasn’t the other guy.
Make arviat great again
Congrats. Good speech and answers today.
The one thing I will ask is that you hold onto as many of the senior management who are from here and have spent a lot of time here as you can. On principle. That principle is important.
Congratulations Mr. Main, you’ll do great as Premier
Well Inuit you wanted a Leader you have a Kaluunaaq and hope the majority will possibly have something to bring us a none confidence vote before the term he has got from the other MLAs ,
My Taxes gone up in one way again soon and hope he really cares if how Inuit wanted the Government to have the future in his mind presented ,
Home owners needs help heavily and new home owners to be as well ,
Hope he reads this from a Inuk please and congrats young fella make some moves for us Inuit you say .
You should close your Ears and Eyes for the rest of us, His more Inuk then me! lol
One day there will be an inuktitut speaking Filipino premier, and they will be the best premier in Nunavut’s history.
Settle down!
Congratulations Premier elect John Main! I wish you well!
I wish you all great success in working for all the people of the Territory.
Congratulations Aaluq, Hagimagivagit hivuliqtigiligaptigit.
This man knows how to make the back rooms work and will see what he can cook up for the rest of Nunavut. So wanting a open party system for the public to choose their next leader.
Congratulations! Halooralung, like our late parents said!
Next time vote main for igalaaq