Arctic sovereignty, security key issues this election, says Idlout
NDP candidate committed to travelling to as many hamlets as possible during campaign
Lori Idlout speaks to an attendee at an Iqaluit meet-and-greet earlier this month. Idlout is the incumbent NDP member of Parliament representing Nunavut. She is seeking re-election on April 28. (File photo by Jeff Pelletier)
Nunatsiaq News is profiling candidates in the April 28 federal election. In Nunavut, incumbent NDP MP Lori Idlout is running against Liberal Kilikvak Kabloona and Conservative James Arreak.
Lori Idlout was drawn to politics from a young age.
She says her late mother Carmen Idlout often reminisced about the time seven-year-old Lori shared her career plan for the first time.
“I wanted to be the first Inuk prime minister of Canada,” Idlout said.
Idlout is running for re-election as the NDP MP for Nunavut when Canadians vote on April 28.
When she started out, she didn’t have to think twice about which party she wanted to join.
“The NDP aligned very much with my own personal values about serving the people and making sure that we’re helping create a democracy where people are helping to make decisions — [in which] people are getting the support that they need,” Idlout said.
She got the support she needed to pursue her goals from teachers at various schools throughout her childhood living in Igloolik, Pond Inlet, Rankin Inlet and Chesterfield Inlet, alongside three siblings.
“The teachers helped me stay interested by telling me about the opportunities that existed in my community,” she said. “So I became a youth rep at the hamlet council. I became a youth rep at Qikiqtani Inuit Association.”
She earned a bachelor’s degree in psychology from Lakehead University in Thunder Bay, Ont., in 1997, and received her law degree from the University of Ottawa in 2018. She has raised nine children.
Since being elected as MP in September 2021, Idlout has visited all of the territory’s 25 communities.
“Not only did I just come to their community once, but I returned to hear from them and to amplify their voices,” Idlout said of her travels.
During the current election campaign, Idlout has so far visited Kimmirut, Sanirajak, Gjoa Haven, Cambridge Bay, Baker Lake, Iqaluit and Rankin Inlet. She tried flying to Resolute but weather cancelled those flights.
As MP, Idlout said she helped the Government of Nunavut advocate for $40 million boost to the Non-Insured Health Benefits program, pressed Ottawa to extend the Inuit Child First Initiative, and pushed for $180 million in federal funding to address Iqaluit’s water crisis in 2021.
The federal government announced $214 million in April 2022 to overhaul the city’s water infrastructure.
The issue bringing voters to the polls this time is Arctic sovereignty and security, she said.
“Arctic sovereignty and Arctic security can only be strengthened with the engagement of Inuit, of Nunavummiut,” Idlout said.
Housing, employment and food security, she added, are necessary factors to measure Arctic sovereignty and security.
Prior to entering politics, Idlout practised law in Iqaluit with her firm, Qusagaq Law. She was also the first executive director of the Isaksimagit Inuusirmi Katujjiqatigiit Embrace Life Council between 2004 and 2010, helping the suicide prevention organization to establish an office and budget.
Among the highlights of Idlout’s political career are those times she addressed the House of Commons in Inuktitut.
“To me, it’s a form of resistance,” Idlout said.
“No matter how much injustice we’re forced to experience, because of our strength we can still use our language.”
The NDP will most likely lose seats due to them propping up the Liberals for the last few years, if Nunavummuit want a voice in Ottawa it wouldn’t be in your best interest to vote NDP.
The NDP is polling at around 8%
At this rate they will lose party status altogether.
Vote Lori if you want. I can’t see her winning this riding, but if she does she will be part of a tiny, unheard caucus for the next four years.
No thanks…had enough of this government..look what has happened all over Canada in 9 yrs under this government. Nunavut hasnt changed for any better. NDP …what a lie we had live through for 9 yrs
Arctic sovereignty is great but the candidate who will lower cost of living gets my vote. You can talk about the climate, tariff, blah blah blah, but until I don’t have to pay a stupid $ for 4 liters of milk, everything is just lip service.
Lori has done a great job as our MP. Opposition MPs get a lot of work done and hold the government to account. Her tenure so far has been evidence of this. She has put in the work. Rarely do you hear of a Nunavut MP making it to all 25 communities during their term. Lori did that and she keeps going and revisiting communities. This kind of MP is what we need, someone who will see us face to face and be Nunavut’s voice in Ottawa and not the opposite. Good luck Lori!
Perhaps she has worked hard as you state, however, she is with the wrong party. The ndp supported the lieberals and a lot of damage was done to Canada. The ndp needs and deserves to be obliterated. An operating deficit of 62 billion, meaning, 62 billion overspent in 12 months to be added to the accumulated deficit that was increased by the lieberals/ndp coalition.
Visiting all 25 communities isn’t much of an accomplishment if you have nothing to show for it.
Nunavut can’t afford another NDP MP, our single seat needs to be held by someone within the governing party
What’s Lori record regarding the Nanisivik Naval Base in Baffin Island? A recently released report says it’s behind schedule because the current government lacked political will. Probably because it was Stephen Harper’s brainchild. Did Lori lobby on Nunavut’s behalf? The NDP is great on social programs but when talking Arctic sovereignty or defense it’s often vague.
Remember folks Lori and the NDP voted to increase the carbon tax multiple times.
She rather toe the party lines of the NDP then represent the people who voted her in.
For years we paid higher at the pumps to fill up our vehicles and equipment.
We are still paying for higher freight rates in Nunavut because Marine Diesel and Jet Fuel are still being charged a carbon tax all thanks to Lori Idlout, the NDP and Liberal coalition.
Want to vote with your pocket book, you will vote conservative only problem is you will have to get a job and start working