Idlout talks food prices, infrastructure at Iqaluit meet-and-greet
NDP candidate to bring campaign to Gjoa Haven, Cambridge Bay this week
NDP candidate Lori Idlout speaks to supporters in Iqaluit at a meet-and-greet Saturday afternoon. She’s running for re-election as Nunavut’s MP in the April 28 federal election. (Photo by Jeff Pelletier)
Nunavut’s NDP candidate in the federal election Lori Idlout spoke about food prices and infrastructure during a meet-and-greet in Iqaluit Saturday afternoon.
Ten people stopped by the Elders’ Qammaq to catch up with Idlout as she seeks re-election as Nunavut’s member of Parliament in the April 28 federal election.
“Nutrition North is not working that well in Nunavut,” Idlout said, speaking to Nunatsiaq News after the meeting.
Capping the price of groceries, which the NDP added to its platform over a week ago, could work as an alternative to subsidizing grocery stores in the North, which Nutrition North does.
Idlout also proposed reforming Nutrition North to subsidize hunters and harvesters in Nunavut
“Everyone talks about how important hunters and trappers are, and how hard it is to be a hunter and trapper, especially with the price of big-ticket items like snowmobiles and boats,” Idlout said, adding that these supports are also “a way of keeping Inuit culture alive.”
Premier P.J. Akeeagok and Iqaluit-Manirajak MLA Adam Arreak Lightstone attended the meeting. The two territorial politicians were also at Liberal candidate Kilikvak Kabloona’s event Friday.
Akeeagok asked Idlout about supporting what he describes as “nation-building” projects, such as the Iqaluit Hydro project, the Kivalliq Hydro-Fiber Link, the Qikiqtarjuaq port and the Gray’s Bay road and port.
“I’m definitely in support of all of them,” Idlout said, adding that they will reduce Nunavut’s “reliance” on Ottawa.
Idlout also argued that Canada could spend two per cent of its GDP on defence by supporting housing construction, Canadian Rangers, and improving the territory’s airports and marine infrastructure.
Canada and other countries are under pressure from the United States to increase defence spending to that level — a commitment all NATO members have agreed to. Canada’s defence spending is about 1.37 per cent of its GDP now.
Idlout, who was elected in 2021, looked back on the past three and a half years in office. She said the biggest highlight has been seeing “how much Nunavummiut cared about each other.”
Akeeagok, who became premier shortly after Idlout was elected MP, said she has been “accessible” that whole time. He said he’s thanking all the candidates who are stepping into this race.
“You have to be able to work with anyone,” he said.
Idlout, who the NDP re-nominated as a candidate in October 2023, said she welcomes the new candidates who joined the race over the last week.
“I’m thankful that there is a race because it opens up dialogue about what’s important to Nunavut and it helps illuminate to Nunavummiut how important democracy is.”
Idlout plans to campaign in Gjoa Haven, Cambridge Bay, Rankin Inlet and Baker Lake this week.
Conservative candidate James T. Arreak has been campaigning in Pangnirtung according to his Facebook page.
Liberal Kilikvak Kabloona has launched her campaign in Iqaluit.
The Green Party is also running a candidate named Brennan Wauters.
“Nuantsiaq News”?
Idlout argued that Canada could spend two per cent of its GDP on defence by supporting housing construction?
Lori is a profoundly unserious person
Hard working, good listener, has the freedom to speak for Nunavut without party constraints. Understands the issues and speaks well.
Let PJ and the territorial members smooze the Liberal (or whoever is in power), Im happy to have someone who can speak up for us in Ottawa and who does exactly that.
“big-ticket items like snowmobiles and boats,” Idlout said, adding that these supports are also “a way of keeping Inuit culture alive.””
Imagine believing the government should buy people boats and snow machines. Everyone always saying how greenland is better and more advanced than nunavut yet they aren’t allowed to use these big ticket items to go hunting. They gotta do it the traditional way. That’s how you keep the culture alive
True that.
What with global warming, climate change and “forever” chemicals in the Arctic, hunting will not be a viable option soon.
Plus, today, not many of us know how or will.(Sorry)
absolutely! Inuit hunting decades before did not have skidoo or boats. The landscape barely changed. Nunavut should adopt Greenlandic policy of hunting traditionally.
You won’t win this election Ms idliut for your careless towards inuit. Everytime there is a situation about you guys, you always pretend to work. There are so many people in each community needs help from health and family services. For your not listening to inuit, you won’t be seated at the government office. Maybe cashier is fit for you. That’s what you guys think all the time instead of how the health workers are working and family services. They just hear when they work, only if there a problem with you guys. That’s what happen when I vote for NTI president I vote Jeremy and won. I will vote for carney. Even the justice of Nunavut and RCMP, they are pretending to be working while they have evidence and documents.
Idlout: you are with the wrong party.
Out of touch with reality, living in a dream world. She is with the right party, they suit her perfectly.
When you frame in in those terms, I have to agree.
Lets hope NUNAVUT votes a STRONGER party and NOT NDP.
I see the northern jack up there prices again on all there food sale..
I know eh, seems to be a regular thing when stocks go up or down, heck an eat more chocolate bar now cost 4.99 without get ! at your local northmart.
Strap on breath right nose strap for cold protection.
Imagine now voting for liberals thinking they will help…Just reminding everyone that they have been in office since 2015. If you want change, you don’t vote in the exact same party that has been in power for the last 10 years..
Liberal majority predicted, vote for Karen.
The left controls and manipulates the polls. Plenty of evidence of poll manipulation in Canada currently if you care to look into it (funding, political associations, etc..). It’s quite alarming. Same goes for media.
In USA for example, the Democrats were predicted to win in 2016 and 2024 according to polls. They did not. Liberals seem to have taken a page out of the american democrat playbook.
Ms. Idlout choose to stick by the Liberal-NDP coalition and voted to harm Nunavutmiut’s bank accounts by voting to increase the carbon tax that has lead to an affordability crisis across the country.
She could have abstained, she could have spoken up and voted against.
Nunavut relies heavily of fossil fuels for everything from energy, heating and transportation, there is no alternative at the moment in Nunavut.
P50 Diesel to heat our homes, schools, offices, grocery stores
P50 Diesel to power our communities, every community relies on diesel electric generators
Gasoline to go hunting, to put in our snowmobiles and boats
Jet-A fuel to fly up our groceries, on jets and regional aircraft
Jet-A to fly passengers to medical appointments in the South
P50 Diesel to deliver our water in communities in our water trucks and sewer trucks
P50 Diesel to keep our roads cleared, loaders, graders all need it
Gasoline to get to and from work, to fill up our trucks
Marine Diesel to transport building supplies and dry goods up on ships
All this added cost because of the carbon tax is paid for by the end users, the consumers, the cost of everything has gone up significantly because of the carbon tax which Lori Idlout voted for,
If you vote NDP your vote will be wasted, the NDP party is not going to survive this election, their leader will not get re-elected and are at a high risk of not elected enough seats to be designated as an Official Political Party.
The NDP is finished! And so is Lori…