Igloolik’s new mayor takes office

Igloolik’s new mayor officially took office Thursday as he and the hamlet’s new council were sworn in at the hamlet office.

Mayor George Auksaq was elected Monday in a three-way race. He defeated former mayor Erasmus Ivvalu and challenger George Qattalik. Auksaq beat Qattalik by two votes, 85-83, according to Elections Nunavut’s unofficial results. Ivvalu received 29 votes.

Seven councillors in the hamlet of 1,700, located in the Qikiqtaaluk region, were acclaimed.

Voters across Nunavut voted Monday to choose who will lead their communities for the next four years.

Under Nunavut law, the old council’s term officially ended Tuesday at noon, the day after the Oct. 23 election. Municipalities are allowed to swear in their new officials that day.

Igloolik held a swearing-in ceremony at the hamlet office on Thursday afternoon.

RCMP Cpl. Caroline Mullins presided over the ceremony, serving as the hamlet’s commissioner of oaths.

Other communities will wait to swear-in their new councils.

In Iqaluit, for example, it was decided to wait at least eight days after the election before swearing in the new members, city spokesperson Kent Driscoll said. The election law gives people that long to challenge the results.

In Sanirajak, the outcome of the mayor’s race is still unknown after Ammie H. Kipsigak and Philip Anguratsiaq finished in a tie in the hamlet’s four-way race for mayor.

A recount by a justice of the peace had been scheduled for Friday, but was postponed until Nov. 3 because the justice of the peace’s flight was cancelled.

Under Nunavut law, when there’s a tie, candidates can agree to settle it by drawing a name from a hat or asking a justice of the peace to recount the ballots. If it’s still a tie after the recount, then the law requires the outcome to be determined by a draw whose results are final, according to Nunavut’s chief electoral officer Dustin Fredlund.

Igloolik hamlet council members pose Thursday following a swearing-in ceremony at the hamlet office. The new council’s members are, from left to right, Coun. Amanda Curley, Deputy Mayor Edward Attagutaluk, Coun. Ludger Makkik, Mayor George Auksaq, Coun. Celestino Uyarak, and Coun. Celina Uttuitak. Two councillors – Jacob Malliki and Shanshan Tian – were not in attendance. (Photo by Anthony Qrunnut, Sivuniit Middle School journalism Club, special to Nunatsiaq News)