News quiz May 10 | Elections, elders and melting permafrost

Have you been paying attention to the news of the North over the past week? Let’s see for ourselves. Fire up the quiz!

1. Monday was an important day on the calendar. Why is that?

A. It was the anniversary of Iqaluit being named Nunavut’s capital.
B. It was the fourth anniversary of Mary Simon being named Canada’s first Inuk Governor General.
C. It was Red Dress Day.

2. A team from Laval University recently released results of a study on the composition of Nunavik’s melting permafrost. What substance were they testing for?

A. Mercury
B. Arsenic
C. Lead

3. Speaking with a Nunatsiaq News reporter, newly re-elected NDP MP Lori Idlout was asked about reports that the governing Liberals, who are three seats short of a majority, were trying to convince opposition members to cross the floor. How did she respond?

A. She is leaning toward joining the Liberals.
B. She didn’t rule it out.
C. Not a snowball’s chance in hell.

4. Canada’s chief electoral officer issued a response to election day problems in Nunavik voters, including polls that didn’t open and others that closed early. What did he say?

A. He apologized and said Elections Canada would investigate.
B. He apologized and promised a new election will be held.
C. He apologized but said that’s just the way it goes sometimes for remote communities.

5. Later this month, a new long-term care facility in Rankin Inlet will start receiving Nunavut elders currently living at Embassy West Senior Living in Ottawa. The Government of Nunavut is planning two other long-term care homes — where will they be built?

A. Grise Fiord and Iqaluit
B. Pangnirtung and Iqaluit
C. Cambridge Bay and Iqaluit

The Liberals came up three seats short of a majority government in winning the April 28 federal election. According to reports, they are trying to entice enough opposition members to cross the floor to create a majority. (File photo)

Answers

1. C — Monday was Red Dress Day, formally known as the National Day of Awareness for Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls and Two-Spirit-Plus People.
2. A — The researchers studied mercury that gets released as Nunavik’s permafrost melts. Fortunately, it found levels of the toxic substance were much lower than feared.
3. B — Idlout appeared to not close the door entirely on switching parties. While citing “many promises that were broken” by the previous Liberal government, she also said “it’s something I will not make a rash decision” about.
4. A — Stéphane Perrault issued a statement apologizing for the “shortcomings” and said Elections Canada will investigate so it doesn’t happen again.
5. C — A 24-bed facility in Cambridge Bay is expected to open in late 2028 and a 48-bed home in Iqaluit should open by late 2029 or early 2030.