Coral Harbour chooses Netser as mayor in 4-way vote
Former MLA elected to hamlet’s top post with 85 votes; former mayor resigned in February
Patterk Netser, shown in the legislature during his time as an MLA, has been elected as the new mayor of Coral Harbour. (File photo)
For the second time in six months, Coral Harbour has a new mayor.
Patterk Netser was elected to the position in a byelection held in the community on Monday, topping three other candidates.
“I certainly want to thank my voters out there, my supporters and also to the people that put their names in on the ballot. It’s a tough choice to do,” he said in an interview Tuesday.
Netser said his priority is to address the community’s needs, including working with the Government of Nunavut to improve local health care.
“One of the things I pushed for was an ambulance for the community,” said Netser. “I believe the hamlet can be an advocate for its residents, in terms of getting better health-care services to the people.”
He said this will include being able to send people to large centres like Winnipeg for treatment.
“Over the years, you hear [of] people just getting Tylenol, getting sent home then after a few months they find out that person has a terminal disease or some kind of serious sickness,” he said.
In the four-way race for mayor, Netser received 85 votes. Second-place finisher Willie Nakoolak got 61 votes, followed by Aidan Siviakjuk with 49 and Lenny Emiktaut with five.
According to Elections Nunavut, 43 per cent of eligible voters went to the polls, with a total of 202 votes cast in the community of just more than 1,000 residents.
The byelection was announced in February following the resignation of Kupakik Ningeocheak, who took office Oct. 23 after being acclaimed in the municipal election.
Currently, Netser and the hamlet office are unsure of a date when he will be sworn in.
Netser previously served as MLA for Aivilik from 2017 to 2021. He was removed from cabinet in 2020 after he made controversial social media posts about the Black Lives Matter movement and abortion.
🫣🫣🫣🫣🫣
oh oh
What oh oh? that’s the only rapid reply now from GN, from former MLAs, otherwise nothing will ever come about by little folks like us….
His comments; “Given Tylenol” and send home is very scary. But it is also real a truth; Health Minister, better do you homework very seriously to ratify this major major problem. Tylenol one day, boom; critical illness is given as bad news to the patient. Many Nunavummiut do NOT have a luxury to travel to their home province to seek second opinion. in fact many do time in their home province to keep valid their health cards (and private insurance to the few)…what about us who live full time in Nunavut? Is this a two tier system?
On October 8, 2020, Mr. Netser was removed from the cabinet for making remarks about BLM. In my opinion, he has an overinflated sense of self-importance and is not fit to hold public office. Unfortunately, nepotism often plays a significant role in people being hired or elected.
That comment was made on a private social media account four years ago. Speaking to CBC afterwards he clarified: “They are my personal views and my personal views alone. I don’t impose my beliefs on anyone…”
Was it stupid? Yes.
Has he been punished for it? Yes.
Should it disqualify him from public office forever? No.
Patterk is an intelligent and capable leader, we want those in public office.
Individuals may hold varying opinions regarding the extent of their capabilities. Nevertheless, it is essential to bear in mind that any content posted on social media platforms has the potential to impose accountability on public officials, particularly those who serve at the Federal or Provincial Government level. As elected officials and employees, we have committed to a code of ethics and must exercise prudence in our actions and speech at all times while serving the public. Amen
Mayor of the Southampton island 😮
Don’t complain or worry his political career is predestined.