Is Nunavut better off today than 4 years ago? … Maybe?

After U.S. presidential candidate Ronald Reagan asked Americans in 1980, “Are you better off than you were four years ago?” it has been a simple test for voters.

As Nunavummiut prepare to elect a new territorial government on Oct. 27, they should ask that same question.

Is Nunavut better off now than it was four years ago? Maybe? But only marginally? Depends on who you ask?

Despite some progress since the last election in 2021, it’s hard to point to any one area — employment, housing, education or health care — and answer with a resounding yes.

In his farewell to the legislative assembly Wednesday, Premier P.J. Akeeagok, who is not seeking re-election, said “no government ever completes the work” it sets out to do.

He pointed to the opening of a long-term care facility in Rankin Inlet and the implementation of $10-a-day daycare as achievements.

Akeeagok released a final report on the Katujjiluta (Working Together) mandate MLAs adopted in 2022 to be the sixth legislative assembly’s guide.

Yet during the past term, MLAs tried — and failed — to oust the premier, a group of MLAs emerged as a de facto opposition party, a cabinet minister lost his portfolio over a conflict of interest, another resigned three months into the job, and two stepped down citing family reasons. Another resigned the same day the RCMP charged him with assault. And another MLA was ejected from the legislature for being drunk.

Not everyone on the team was always working together.

There were historic developments, including the devolution agreement that will see Nunavut take control of a vast majority of its Crown lands from the federal government — in 2027.

The Nunavut 3000 plan to build 3,000 homes between 2022 and 2030 was a cornerstone of this government’s agenda. But nearly halfway through that eight-year, $2.6-billion plan, progress has been slow. Instead, the shortage of adequate and affordable housing persists.

The prevalence of suicide remains a heartbreaking reality in Nunavut. The government declared it a crisis (again) following a recommendation from this year’s coroner’s inquest into the 2019 death of Kimmirut man George Arlooktoo.

Just days ago, MLAs talked about three Pond Inlet deaths in July. MLA Karen Nutarak said that without the interventions of the Government of Nunavut “the situation could have been even worse.”

Among the first issues MLAs faced in 2021 were protests by high school students in Iqaluit and Rankin Inlet, demanding better mental health supports to prevent suicides.

In 2021, Nunavut’s unemployment rate was around 10 per cent. In August 2025, it was 9.8 per cent.

In education, too many Nunavut students don’t earn a high school diploma. That challenge persists.

The high cost of living continues to be a daily difficulty.

This government raised the minimum wage twice, from $16 an hour in 2021 to its current $19.75 an hour — the highest in Canada.

In 2022, the Government of Nunavut negotiated a new contract with its 4,000 unionized workers. Last week, it announced a tentative agreement had been reached to renew the contract, though details are under wraps until union members vote on it.

In 2023, the GN gave bonuses to health-care workers and new hires in a bid to retain and recruit workers.

Despite progress in a few areas and despite labour stability and generous retention efforts, the GN has the same problem it has had for years — it doesn’t have the capacity to adequately provide all the public services it’s responsible for.

So back to the Reagan question: It’s important for Nunavut voters to think carefully about whether the sitting MLAs who are running for re-election deserve another four-year term or if it’s time to trust a new crop of politicians.