Airstrip, cost of living top of mind for Tununiq candidates
Three hopefuls vie for seat in riding that includes Pond Inlet
Three candidates are running in the Tununiq riding. They are Pond Inlet resident Brian Koonoo, left, Rankin Inlet’s Verna Strickland, and Pond Inlet’s David Qamaniq. (Photos courtesy of Elections Nunavut)
Nunatsiaq News is publishing riding profiles ahead of the Oct. 27 territorial election. Keep your eye on our website to learn more about who is running in your area.
A trio of candidates is competing to represent the Tununiq riding, which encompasses the hamlet of Pond Inlet.
The candidates are Pond Inlet residents Brian Koonoo and David Qamaniq, and Rankin Inlet resident Verna Strickland.
“My heart’s always in Pond Inlet,” said Strickland, who grew up in the hamlet of 1,500 with her grandparents.
At the top of her campaign priorities is addressing the high cost of living in Pond Inlet.
“I still go back to Pond Inlet as much as I can, and when I go to Pond Inlet I try to shop,” Strickland said. “It’s mind-boggling how people in Pond Inlet are able to survive even with the high cost of living.”
She said her ability to communicate is her big strength.
“I have the ability to speak, read, and write Inuktitut and I can relate to Inuit in a culturally sensitive way,” she said.
She has two grown children and six grandchildren.
In Rankin Inlet, Strickland works in human resources administration and the social work field, having completed her bachelor of social work degree remotely through Memorial University in Newfoundland and Labrador.
She plans to attend the convocation ceremony in St. John’s, N.L., later this month and to visit Pond Inlet during the campaign.
Koonoo is recently retired after working with Parks Canada for 22 years, including seven years as a peace officer and the remainder as a resource management officer. He has been involved with the local hunters and trappers organization throughout his employment.
“The reason why I’m running is to advocate for the new airstrip,” he said.
A longer runway would increase the capacity for bringing in groceries and other provisions, as well as create more jobs and more business opportunities in the hamlet, Koonoo said.
Other measures he would push for include opening more land for housing and promoting young, homegrown businesses.
“I’m willing to advocate for people’s concerns and to create more jobs for Pond Inlet — explore different ways of making it easier for the people to acquire businesses,” he said.
Koonoo is married with six daughters and three grandchildren.
He wrote two children’s books for Inhabit Media’s Animals Illustrated Series, titled Arctic Fox and Arctic Land Mammals. He has a third work with the publisher, a non-fiction book called Inuunira: My Story of Survival.
Qamaniq represented the Tununiq riding from September 2019 to October 2021, after winning a byelection to fill the vacancy created by the death of former MLA Joe Enook.
Qamaniq ran again in the 2021 election, losing to Karen Nutarak, who is not running for re-election.
He’s also a former mayor of Pond Inlet, having served from 2005 to 2007. Qamaniq has worked with the local district education authority for 12 years and served as a community liaison officer for the Qikiqtani Inuit Association.
Nunatsiaq News reached out to Qamaniq for an interview but did not receive a reply.
Any of these 3
Tununiq will now have a good representative.
Verna is the clear winner. Educated, experienced in Government, administration, HR, and social work. This the background her community and Nunavut need right now. Good luck!
For the past few months our sat tv goes on the blink because of rain and fog.
Is there anything can be done about this malfunction ?
It costs $120 dollars per month for this service.
I was hoping to hear potential MLA’s give their speeches!!
Maybe time to bring back cable ?
I want Brian Koonoo to win, so he can get experience in the Legislative Assembly. After a few years there I want him to be Canada’s next Prime Minister. Mark Carney is a smart man in the wrong job. I think Brian Koonoo is the person who can put Trump in his place. Go Brian go!
Is it not great to have candidates who are and should be running to represent all Nunavummiut across the territory saying things like quote, “The reason why I’m running is to advocate for the new airstrip,” Not surprising candidates are trying to speak to their local constituents. Trying to get their vote. That is understandable. However short sighted (see below). The other candidate quote, “likes to shop”. What does that have to do with being an MLA? The third candidate was “unreachable” (to add to the growing list).
With all of the urgencies (Healthcare, Social Services, Housing, Education, food insecurities, etc, etc..) facing Nunavummiut across the territory, including in their own riding. You would think the candidates would offer some insight into the issues they would like to try and address and how they would do that. Instead, what we keep hearing is local issues and absolutely no action plans or ways the candidates if elected, will try and improve the lives of all Nunavummiut.
25 years into this Nunavut experiment and people are still putting their name in the hat and then campaigning like the election is about running for mayor and not MLA’s, potential Cabinet Ministers and perhaps even the Premier.
Remember. If you get the chance. Ask the candidates tough questions and expect tangible answers. Then make your choice. Give an Elder a lift to the polls, grab a friend or family member and GO VOTE!
Yep, exactly! These are potential legislators yet they want to talk Internet service, air freight costs, youth programs, etc. A single MLA cannot impact those things on a local level because the office an MLA is not structured to provide those local services. You need to pass laws that improve lives, strengthen Government policies so the administration can improve things, and think of things on a wider societal level. But sadly the vision is just too narrow.