With another election coming, no word from NTI on possibly offering vouchers again
Presidential byelection scheduled for December; at least 4 candidates eyeing run
Planning for Nunavut Tunngavik Inc.’s presidential byelection is still underway, a spokesperson says. (File photo)
Nunavut Tunngavik Inc. will give more information “in due course” about its upcoming December presidential byelection.
However, spokesperson Brodie Larocque did not respond when asked if NTI might once again offer vouchers to encourage voter turnout, as it did in the 2024 election.
“Ensuring every Inuk voice is heard as part of our democratic process helps guide our work at Nunavut Tunngavik,” said Larocque, the corporation’s spokesperson, in an email Wednesday.
“Planning for the election is still underway, and we will share more information in due course.”
NTI is the organization that ensures promises made under the Nunavut Agreement are carried out. The organization’s president Jeremy Tunraluk resigned last month after facing an assault charge, which was later stayed.
Vice-president Paul Irngaut stepped in as acting president.
Tunraluk was elected for a four-year term in December 2024 with voter turnout at 66.7 per cent — four times higher than in the 2021 presidential election, when Aluki Kotierk was elected with just 17.5 per cent of eligible Nunavut beneficiaries casting their ballot.
To boost voter participation in the 2024 election, NTI offered $100 vouchers to Co-op or Northern stores for anybody who cast a ballot.
NTI budgeted $2 million for the vouchers.
The initiative was criticized by some candidates and observers, including former Nunavut MP Peter Ittinuar, who called it an “unethical” and “immoral” vote-buying exercise.
After the election, NTI’s chief executive officer Kilikvak Kabloona said she was “pleased” with the higher voter participation, but didn’t say whether the organization will continue the practice.
With Tunraluk’s resignation, NTI scheduled a byelection to be held in December.
Several candidates have already expressed interest in running for NTI’s top job including Pangnirtung’s Andrew Nakashuk, retired MLA Manitok Thompson, former NTI president Cathy Towtongie and Tunraluk, who criticized NTI for “getting rid” of him.
The presidential byelection is set to run at the same time as the organization’s scheduled vice-presidential elections.
They should account for inflation. $500 per vote now.
$500? Maybe, 867; at least $200 in any case, but $500 food voucher seems like a reasonable amount to give each voter.
NTI is sitting on nearly $80 million of taxpayers money, doesn’t know what to with it other than sit on it – or waste it on useless projects and made-up jobs and trips.
Giving people $500 to vote is one way to distribute the money.
We’re can I go vote now I can’t wait 😜 $$$$ make it 200
Gift card or not, I’d still vote for Jeremy Tunraluk
The name says it all. Ew.
Well, the executive staff has a lot of time to decide, they have time to do what they want and how they want without a President to lead them, yes there’s a acting president but he is acting,
We have see how the board is controlled so easily by the staff it’s getting a little ridiculous.
We really need someone who is a strong leader and who communicates with their beneficiaries.
NTI has become a secretive organization which is what it was not meant to be, trying to run as a government. It’s become what it was supposed to lobby against.
A change is badly needed at NTI.
Time for a new CEO.
Having to pay your voters with their own cash to care enough to show up is gross in so many ways.
The fact the CEO doesn’t seem to think this signals a need for action is even more troubling.
What’s NTI paying its CEOs these days?
Apparently 3-4 years ago there was a huge jump in salaries at NTI, especially at the executive level, what those salaries are is privilege information that a handful of people know, NTI sure has changed in a short period of time, in the wrong direction.
WHAT, I am not voting
Anyone but the former QIA and Nunavut Premier please, otherwise, it’ll be nothing but photos all over Nunavut.
How much value is there to an organization that has to pay people to vote?
BRIBERY?
What’s the end result of the “buy your vote” 2024 nti election? An ousted president that is considering to run again. I would say the didn’t end well.
Isn’t it sad that the first thing that came to people’s mind with NTI election is “what amount of $$” are they going to give out for Inuit to vote? NTI is even more of a joke now.
Nothing screams NU and its Corporations like having to be paid to guide our own path forward.
Yes any inuit organizations are all becoming secretive and not reporting to public well anymore ,
Keep your watch from the bottom up to NTI you will be in rushed meetings without been informed of very important subjects,
Sad but ture
I’m not voting this time. I would really like to see an NTI president from the Kivalliq or Kitikmeot. Representation matters, and in the Kitikmeot we rarely see visits or meaningful engagement from the NTI president.
The current acting president doesn’t appear to have a clear plan to work with beneficiaries across all three regions, let alone consistent engagement with Kitikmeot communities.
When Paul Irngaut ran for Vice-President in 2022, his stated goals were improved communication and transparency, promotion of Inuktut and Inuit culture, and addressing major issues like housing and wildlife. Those goals sounded promising—but from a Kitikmeot perspective, it’s hard to see how they’ve translated into action or presence on the ground.
If communication and representation were priorities, many of us are still waiting to feel them.
We have to hold Paul accountable to his campaign promises, we do not get any updates or consultations anymore at NTI, Naniiliqpita? Remember the monthly news letter each month focusing on each department at NTI? That has been done away with.
There is very little to no information coming from NTI today. Paul has been there for a while now, where are you Paul? Where is your promise of communicating about NTI?
The staff at NTI have it way too easy, cushy job. Our beneficiary money going to over inflated salaries, flying south all the time, hotels and per diems. All the while we don’t hear back about what NTI is doing, planning, trying to get information, meeting minutes and financial statements from NTI is impossible, no follow up with these requests from beneficiaries.
What do they have to hide?
If a person wants to be an NTI president I hope the person will be a resident of Nunavut not outside of Nunavut.
One of the people who wants to be elected has made post about other communities and try To exclude them.