Former councillor takes on veteran MLA in Iqaluit-Tasiluk
Malaiya Lucassie, George Hickes hit the campaign trail ahead of Oct. 27 election
Malaiya Lucassie, left, and George Hickes are running for MLA in the Iqaluit-Tasiluk riding. (Photos courtesy of Elections Nunavut/by Jeff Pelletier)
Nunatsiaq News is publishing riding profiles ahead of the Oct. 27 territorial election. Keep your eye on our website to learn more about who is running in your area.
In a two-way race for Iqaluit-Tasiluk, the riding’s three-term incumbent and a former city councillor both hope to represent the community again.
George Hickes and Malaiya Lucassie are knocking on doors and seeking the support of voters in Lower Plateau, part of Upper Plateau, Happy Valley and Road to Nowhere, the neighbourhoods that make up much of the mostly residential riding.
Being an MLA is a challenging and rewarding job, Hickes said.
“I can’t imagine doing anything else,” he said, reflecting on how he swore he would never get into politics after his father, George Hickes Sr., served 20 years as an MLA in Manitoba.
During his 12 years in the Nunavut assembly, Hickes has held several ministerial portfolios under premiers Peter Taptuna and Joe Savikataaq, and served as deputy speaker and chair of the committee of the whole.
The past four years under Premier P.J. Akeeagok’s government were challenging, Hickes said.
“There were a few missteps that highlighted the need for someone like myself to be on the regular members’ side, to have that corporate knowledge and bring that level of accountability to the table with high expectations,” Hickes said.
He said his focus, if re-elected, is to build up Nunavut’s public service. That comes with ensuring the Department of Human Resources is fully staffed and that employees have housing.
“We’ve got to take a look at staff housing inventory and make sure that we’ve got housing so that we can hire enough civil servants to actually fulfill the obligations of the government,” Hickes said.
He also spoke of the need to review the Financial Assistance for Nunavut Students (FANS) program and improve local health-care services.
Leaning in on his “diverse” political experience and “team mentality,” Hickes wants another four years.
“I look forward to just working together in whatever capacity that I’m asked to do,” he said.
Lucassie declined to be interviewed for this story. She said she’s busy meeting with constituents and solo parenting but provided a written statement by email.
Originally from Coral Harbour, Lucassie resigned from Iqaluit’s council in 2020 over a Facebook comment she made that appeared to take aim at the Black Lives Matter movement. She apologized for those remarks.
“I’m running for office because this has always been a dream of mine — one that comes from a deep passion for my community and a strong desire to give back,” Lucassie said in an email.
“This is the community I call home, and I believe in its potential. Now that I’m living in sobriety and have clarity and purpose in my life, I feel ready — more than ever — to step forward and serve.”
Some of the issues Lucassie says she hopes to address include homelessness, addictions and poverty. As a mother of two boys, she said she hopes to build a better Nunavut for all the children in the territory.
“I’m ready to work hard, and I’m running to be a strong, honest voice in the legislative assembly for the people who call this place home,” she said.
Go George! Clear choice. No brainer
we badly need change. Please consider this when you vote. No matter the riding, think change!
Well, this one’s a foregone conclusion.
At least it should be.
Declined to be interviewed because her auto pilot chatGPT can’t answer for her. Welcome back to the assembly Mr Hickes
Mr. Hickes will probably win this election. He has contributed in the past to trying to move Nunavut forward and given the two candidates running in this riding, he deserves to be elected. However, constituents deserve answers and it should not go without notice by them that Mr. Hickes was part of this last 4-year dumpster fire. Constituents should legitimately ask what he actually tried to do about the quote, “missteps”.
Mr. Hickes was Chairman of the “Standing Committee On Oversight of Government and Public Accounts”. A position that actually affords him the capability to hold accountable and to high expectations the government and its agencies. It seems however he has omitted to talk about housing (other than staff housing) when speaking to Nunatsiaq; Wonder why? Perhaps it’s related to the televised hearings on Sept 4th & 5th held to review and address the Auditor General (AG) of Canada’s scathing Report on NHC and NU 3000. When one watches the tapes (available on the Legislative Assembly Webcast page), they will be hard presses to see where his quote, ” bring that level of accountability to the table with high expectations,” was during those hearings?
Is accountability and high expectations:
1) Simply accepting NCC had delivered (as of the hearings) 18 out of 316 contractually required homes in 3 years and not demanding clear answer to why?
2) Not demanding how NHC approved payment to NCC of a $30 million dollar (Change Order) EXTRA when only delivering 5% of the homes and not demanding answers and what that money was for?
3) Not demanding receipts and documents when finding out NHC also paid to NCC (as of Sept 2025) over 84% of the total 2 contacts values with only 18 units delivered and most not to be delivered for another 8 to 16 months?
4) Taking a pass on demanding from NHC exact dates on when the 316 units, moving target delivery date (150 of them due last Oct 2024 and the others 166 due this Dec 2025) will actually be delivered to Nunavummiut?
5) Not drilling to the bottom of why and who at NHC and the Government agreed to forgo bonding requirements by NCC and exposed Nunavummiut to a massive loss in the event of a contractor default.
6) Knowing for months and months (long before the AG Report) that something was terribly wrong at NHC and with the NHC-NCCD Sole-Source Contract and doing nothing? Taking no action, demanding no answers during sittings of the Legislative Assembly.
7) Holding a hearing that renders absolutely not one single concrete measure, action or recommendation? Does not identify who should be held accountable, where all the money has gone and how the Government is going to move forward in addressing the housing crisis beyond the failed NU 3000.
If you see Mr. Hickes during his campaigning, ask him if that is what he thinks, “accountability and high expectations” looks like. Chances are, most Nunavummiut think that looks like anything BUT accountability or high expectations. It looks like simply being a part of the “missteps”. Perhaps if voted in again he might try and correct that.
The other candidate seeking constituents’ votes, Mrs. Lucassie, must live with her past conduct and words. Not worth rehashing all of that here. Taking a pass to speak directly to constituents through the venue afforded by Nunatsiaq News should ring alarm bells for all voters. Can Mrs. Lucassie contribute over the next 4 years in moving Nunavut forward? All I read from this article is quote, “this has always been a dream of mine”. Well glad to hear that. We all have dreams but do you have a plan if elected? A plan for dealing with any of the issues around education, housing, healthcare, social services, justice, etc, etc… other than saying, quote, “she hopes to build a better Nunavut for all the children in the territory”. Analyzing whether to cast a vote for her is not that challenging.
Remember, if the candidates “show up at your door” looking for your support. Make sure to ask them hard questions and expect tangible answers. Then go and vote for who you think will best move Nunavut forward. Give a lift to an Elder, grab a friend or family member and GO VOTE!
I’ve seen you on all of these stories commenting essentially the same thing, long diatribes about how the former group of MLAs accomplished nothing.
At least they stood for something, and at least they tried to make a difference . I’m grateful for all the candidates who have put up their hats in the ring because they want to make Nunavut better. Many are naive about how much work it takes, or how complex the issues are once you peek behind the curtain, however I’d take any of them over an armchair politician with an axe to grind any day.
If you think you can do better, run for office.
You have a problem with calling things out for what they are? Too bad. You get to disagree or agree but what you don’t get to do is pretend. Pretend that what has transpired in the last 4 years was anything but a disaster and that the politicians who were in power own it. Calling it out, is not “an axe to grind” or a diatribe. It’s reality.
Read again where NU 3000 is at right now. What I have written is not fiction, it comes directly from the NHC’s own documents, the AG Report, the hearings, the media articles, the rampant social media coverage. Hundreds of millions spent, and 18 homes delivered in 3 years. Is that success by your standard? Dysfunctionality and broken systems at NHC. None of what I have written is a “diatribe”. The suicide/health emergency under this government was not fiction…it was a fact. Nunavummiut are dying… cannot get adequate care in the communities with continuous temporarily closed or reduces hour Health Centers. The AG Report of Social Services and that train wreck was not fiction.. it is fact. Nunavut children are suffering. Did you say “stood for something”?
Nunavummiut deserve better. They most importantly deserve the truth. Not propaganda, not photo ops. Not some of the nonsense and downright lies we heard for the last Legislative Assembly and its Ministers. Not fiction floated by the bureaucrats who are only protecting their backsides. And certainly not people like you with your head buried under a rock and wanting to sing Kumbaya and the graces of all that you dream of is good. GO VOTE.
That was a diatribe…
Again, if you think you can do better? Run for office.
So many people talk a big game and then get into politics only to realize the problems are much more complex and solutions are much more difficult to implement then they thought, sitting on the sidelines. If you want a better world then roll up your sleeves.
Nunavut 3000 was a train wreck, but the status quo wasn’t working.
The issues with Family Services have been going on for decades, clearly if there was an easy answer someone would have found it by now.
The issue with arm chair warriors is they demand better without knowing the cost, both in dollar figures but also in time. Holding politicians accountable is one thing, setting impossible standards is another.
It’s a case of knowing the price of everything but the value of nothing.
I remember the apology she gave following her racist comments at city council. She was sorry “if she offended you”. Which is the nice way of saying she isn’t sorry at all.
I’m looking forward to another 4 years of George.
Nobody need to apologize for saying that ALL LIVES MATTER ?
Now every year in late September we say ‘ All children matter’ and no one thinks a thing about it.
Nunavut will rise not through anger and blame—but through unity, compassion, and leaders who refuse to give up on their people. And sometimes, the leader we need is not the overstaying voice for many years, but the sincere voice of hope—the one still standing, listening, and fighting for every family in this territory.
Show me your history of what you stood for, and how you mattered. What have you done to make an impact. Has it lasted?
For Malaiya that will be a challenge. No real staying power. Lots of this and that. Hard to even refer to her as a councilor because she did not serve her term. Fail, fail, fail. I am glad she is living with sobriety now. That is good. Less concerned with her being a sole parent. Also concerned with her false accusations she has made, trying to get other people in trouble, but accomplishing nothing. I am happy with the work she did to get the annual fishing derby going, that is great.
George showed his worth when he served in cabinet in roles such as finance. He has proven to be a good MLA. George shows up to things that other people just skip. For instance George takes his own time to attend the annual Kamatsiaqtut Nunavut Helpline Volunteer appreciation event each year. Good on George. The issue in the last assembly is that the Premier decided that he wanted none of the old, experienced hands as part of cabinet. People like George and Joe were forced to the sideline and instead cabinet appointments were made, turned over, and made again, repeat, wash, and repeat. Family members excluded, they were appointed.
George has my vote, and I hope he is in a position to make a change from October 27th on.
It struck me as shameful how, despite all his experience, George was sidelined and kept out of cabinet these last four years by an unqualified, insecure and incompetent Premier.
First rate people surround themselves with other first rate people.
Second rate people surround themselves with third rate people.
Staying in power means nothing if it brings no real progress to the community. I want you to know that experience without action serves no one. In contrast, a candidate who returns with humility, sincerity, and a renewed commitment to fulfill her promises deserves thoughtful consideration. Perhaps it is time to give her a second chance—to welcome her back with our support, and allow her the opportunity to prove, through genuine service, that she can deliver her best for the people.
According to Malaiya’s brochure, she is a senior policy officer without post-secondary education. This is insane.
She was unanimously asked to resign by her elected colleagues (big issue), and didn’t order campaign signs in time (small issue).
She is a lovely person, but the opponent is simply far too strong for her to be considered.
How many years Hicks has had the seat
How many years of chaos
Wow you want more years with him
I have been in his riding he never comes door to door
He never have updates as how it’s going
The only time i ever see him is at the beer store
What has he done in his 12 years be honest
A leader may hold office for years, yet leave no harvest for the hands that planted their trust. But sometimes, life offers a return—a spirit humbled, renewed, and ready to serve again. She comes before us, not as a perfect figure, but as someone transformed by lessons and longing. Shall we deny forgiveness when hope still breathes? Let us offer her our faith once more, and she will rise with purpose, keeping every promise as her pledge to the land and people she loves.