Liberal Mandy Gull-Masty ousts Bérubé to win Nunavik riding
Local race marked by grueling back-and-forth with incumbent Bloc Québécois candidate and issues that hampered voting
Liberal Mandy Gull-Masty celebrates her win April 28 in the Abitibi—Baie-James—Nunavik—Eeyou riding community of Chibougamau. On Tuesday, she was sworn in as a member of Prime Minister Mark Carney’s cabinet. (Photo courtesy of Julie d’Auteuil / Mandy Gull-Masty)
Liberal Mandy Gull-Masty has won the Abitibi—Baie-James—Nunavik—Eeyou riding after a neck-and-neck race with incumbent Sylvie Bérubé that lasted into the early hours Tuesday.
Gull-Masty received 12,256 votes, or 40.7 per cent of ballots cast in the Nunavik riding, after 213 of the 214 polls had reported. In second place was the incumbent, Bloc Québécois’ Sylvie Bérubé with 10,296 votes or 34.3 per cent.
Steve Corriveau of the Conservatives came third with 6,788 votes or 22.6 per cent, and the NDP’s Thai Dillon Higashihara got 726 votes for 2.4 per cent.
“I think I am still in shock,” Gull-Masty said in a phone interview from Chibougamau’s Maitre Renard Microbrewerie, where she celebrated her victory with her family, colleagues and neighbours.
Throughout the night, Gull-Masty and Bérubé jockeyed back and forth for first place. By 1:30 a.m., Gull-Masty had unofficially dethroned Bérubé, who held the riding since 2019.
“It was really tough,” Gull-Masty said, admitting that travelling in a riding the comprises 50 per cent of all of Quebec was demanding.
“Doing this is probably one of the biggest challenges that somebody can undertake.”
She said, “I traveled everywhere, I made sure I was everywhere,” and noted she was the only candidate to have set foot in all regions of the riding.
To be elected is one of the greatest honours for her, and she intends to return the honour by giving “my ultimate capacity to serve everyone.”
There were issues that plagued Nunavik election day. Akulivik and Ivujivik’s polling stations did not open, while other communities faced reduced polling hours.
An Election Canada representative cited difficult weather conditions and problems with hiring local staff.
No further information was provided Monday about the state of the elections in Nunavik, and what it all might mean for people who didn’t get the opportunity to cast a ballot.
Gull-Masty said she reported the inconsistencies to Elections Canada. “There is going to be a report, there is going to be an investigation,” she said. “I am now elected, and this is one of my huge concerns.”
She said she has been paying attention to what is going on in the North and the needs of Nunavimmiut. “There is a lot more work to do to address the realities and the disconnection of Nunavik,” she said.
“Far too long have [Nunavimmiut] been ignored, and this will no longer be the case.”
If Ms. Gull-Masty has integrity, she will ask for another election. How can you represent Inuit when most of them were not able to vote? If Bérubé won, this would already be discussed.
I will not vote again , unless , i get a gift card or some sort of voucher .
Those small Northern communities are not leaning Bloc….
They still deserve to vote. If Gull-Masty had been short by a few votes, there would be people screaming murder on here. A couple of villages did not vote at all while others had extremely reduced hours. That isn’t fair to anyone, Dubé or Gull-Masty, and accepting the election result as is makes it acceptable to deny the rights of Nunavimmiut. I’m shocked by how comfortable people are about this.
The situation needs to be fixed, but some is not the same as “most”.
you guys are doomed too
“An Election Canada representative cited… problems with hiring local staff.”
No kidding eh?
@ Same old same old
“An Election Canada representative cited… problems with hiring local staff.”
Nice deflection ELECTIONS CANADA
I don’t think the local staff was the real problem. Looks like they were last minute contacts by ELECTIONS CANADA!
Clearly the “Fly-in/Fly-out” ELECTIONS CANADA officials in charge fell asleep at the switch and tried to play catch-up, to little to no avail.
Seems at least two communities weren’t even delivered the required voting kits. But sure, that’s caused by locals.
Correct, we didn’t receive the papers.
Intelligent, lovely person. I wish her and her constituents all the best for the next four years.
can we really write something here?
Mandy’s picure was taken in Chibougamau’s best brewery; Maitre Renard.