Iqaluit-Niaqunnguu candidates talk land, devolution, housing at forum
At least 20 people attend Abe Okpik hall to hear MLA hopefuls
Iqaluit-Niaqunnguu candidates David Akeeagok, left, Tatanniq Lucie Idlout, Jacopoosee Peter and Walter Picco take part in an a forum at Abe Okpik Hall Thursday night. (Photo by Jeff Pelletier)
The four candidates running to be the next MLA for Iqaluit-Niaqunnguu shared their pitches to voters Thursday night during an all-candidates forum in Apex.
At least 20 people turned out to Abe Okpik Hall in Apex to hear David Akeeagok, Tatanniq Lucie Idlout, Jacopoosee Peter and Walter Picco introduce their campaigns and answer questions from the public. Voters in the riding will be picking a new MLA because their former representative Premier P.J. Akeeagok announced earlier this year he would not seek re-election.
David Akeeagok, the first candidate to speak, said his priorities are improving family wellness, building more housing and preparing Nunavut for the powers that will soon be transferred from the federal government through devolution.
“We ourselves, need to be self-sufficient as a territory,” he said.
Idlout introduced suicide, mental health and homelessness as her key issues, and how those are worsened by a lack of housing and the high cost of food in the territory.
“Without a roof over your head and a space to grow, [it] makes it impossible to be well, to be holistic and healthy in every other part of your life,” Idlout said.
Peter shared some of his vision of what he described as a more “people-friendly” government, which is “less” involved in people’s lives, but is addressing suicide prevention and the lack of housing.
“We need to be less reliant on the government, but we need to see government investing in many areas such as recreation, housing,” he said.
Picco called for “cost of living” relief and urged Nunavut to develop resources on which the territory could collect royalties. He also pressed the urgency to make more suicide prevention supports available.
“I’ve lost a lot of friends and family,” he said.
“I’m tired of burying family. It’s really hard.”
The candidates showed a fair amount of unity on issues such expanding renewable energy, the need to build more housing, improving health care, creating more opportunities for young people to learn the trades, and updating historic legislation that Nunavut inherited from its split from the Northwest Territories.
A topic where there was some divergence was the Nunavut Land Use Plan, which has gone through many drafts and revisions, but has yet to be approved by the three parties involved: the Government of Nunavut, Nunavut Tunngavik Inc. and the federal government.
Picco called for a “re-survey” of Nunavut, saying there may be areas that were marked as “contaminated” but may be “rich” in resources.
Peter and Idlout questioned why the three signatories have taken so long to approve the plan, with Idlout emphasizing that Inuit have a “high stake” in it.
Akeeagok, who was in cabinet in the last government, hinted a decision on the plan would come in the “near future,” noting that NTI, the federal government and Nunavut will have all completed their election cycles in the coming month.
All the candidates offered closing remarks, promising to represent Iqaluit-Niaqunnguu well, and to be available as an MLA.
They talk the talk. Once elected, they will have different agenda set by Nunavut Legislature.
yes. that is why change is needed. same ol same ol … will not work. Vote Lucie and tip the balance. CHANGE
We all know the key issues for Iqaluit and NU. But no candidate ever posits strategies for change. Solutions.
As I’ve said before this is an interesting one. David would be the safe choice. He knows how government works. The GN probably won’t get any better with him but it won’t get any worse. The other candidates hold out the promise of a fresh perspective and renewal. But with little experience they could make things worse.
Let the wind take over.
Sleuthing around the NU elections website and reviewing the list of candidates for this round of hopefuls to the 7th legislature of Nunavut. It seems it is set up to fail. Only a handful of that list can weather the pressure of what is before them. You do have a couple of experienced individuals, but their radical approach and lack of community ownership dug themselves in to a point where the people will vote for the lessor experienced.
It would then be our hope the Deputy Ministers and the Assistant Deputy Ministers play it softly and not force their own ideology to the elected. Either way, this legislature is setting itself to fail. A people’s own doing.
Let’s identify the experienced:
-Tagaaq Curley
-George Hicks
-Simeon Mikungwak
-Johnny Mike
-Cathy Towtingie
You sound like you know everyone personally and professionally. Glad you’ll be making your own choice to vote for your own riding. Have a great week Jack!
David is not from Iqaluit- why would anyone support a do nothing ex-bureaucrat. Anybody but David should be Niaqunguuq’s motto. we need someone who won’t blend into the wall paper once elected, we need a strong voice. Jaykoopoosie is the best candidate
* please use this version…the previous comment was accidentally erased in the editing… Right? He knows how to ask his underlings to write speeches and briefing notes. There’s no creative or originality in his thinking. He’s sure isn’t a heavy weight in the thinking for sure. He’s somewhat one track minded. His old preNunavut training ways and, following government protocols drive him. He doesn’t know how to lead with confidence or clear open communication. In this riding we want to be represented by longer term residents who can voice concerns and issues that Iqaluit and Apexmiut live with.
People should really take the time and make the effort to verify and review the performance and results delivered by David Akeeagok before they even consider casting a vote for him. This politician personifies everything that is wrong with career politicians. His contributions to the advancement of Nunavut and its people is so miniscule you would need a microscope to see it. He adds absolutely no value to the continually growing challenges facing Nunavut. There is nothing wrong with quote “old school” ways or thinking, but in his case the school is not only old, it is closed down. He simply has nothing new to offer. He just sat as a member of cabinet in one of the least productive and most dysfunctional legislative sittings Nunavut has seen. He speaks of issues in this article as if he was not in the last government. As if those issues are new or just now need to be addressed. He has had 2 terms to address them. But now he is saying if elected for a third term it will be the charm? No, a 3rd term will definitely not be the charm. Add to this, the fact that he changed ridings. What was the reason for the change? Why not let his previous constituents have their say regarding how they measure his performance? I think we all know the answer. Has anyone asked him about why he changed ridings? His answer really would not matter.
His salary at the expense of the Nunavut taxpayer with very little return should be put to an end in this election by the voters of this constituency. Then perhaps someone can step up and contribute in a positive manner to the future of Nunavut.
Is Nunatsiaq going to do a proper riding and candidates profile for Niaqunnguu like all the other ridings and candidates? Or are we stuck with one sentence quotes from this forum?
Vote for change! Lucy Idlout has lived experience on what she is talking about and will speak with diplomacy as well as from her heart.