Nova Scotia senator wants to help Nunavut as Senate vacancy lingers

While Nunavut’s sole Senate seat remains vacant, a Nova Scotia senator hopes to help Nunavummiut in the upper chamber on issues such as infrastructure and national defence.

Sen. PJ Prosper was in Iqaluit last week for meetings with local and territorial government officials and Inuit organizations. A lawyer, he was appointed to the Senate in 2023 following a lengthy career in Mi’kmaq leadership and governance.

“For Mi’kmaq people, we have a word — L’nu — which is inclusive of, certainly, Mi’kmaq people. But all Indigenous people, we consider to be L’nu,” Prosper said in an interview.

“I want my work in the Senate to help all L’nu people.”

Prosper’s tenure overlapped with the final months of former Nunavut senator Dennis Patterson, who retired in December after 14 years in the Senate. The two worked in the same caucus as members of the Canadian Senators Group, whose members vote independently in the Senate.

After Patterson’s retirement, some of his staff joined Prosper’s office. With that, Prosper has participated in meetings to learn about issues that exist in Nunavut.

Some of the issues he highlighted include water infrastructure upgrades and improving the Department of National Defence’s capabilities in the Arctic.

“Certainly, part of this trip has been just understanding what some of those issues are from a variety of areas, which is really quite informing,” Prosper said of his visit to Iqaluit.

He said he’s also been learning about the “hopes and dreams” of people in the territory.

Nunavut has been without a senator for nearly 11 months — a lack of representation Prosper called “unfortunate.”

From left, deputy Premier Pamela Gross, Sen. PJ Prosper and Premier P.J. Akeeagok meet at the legislative assembly. During last week’s legislative proceedings, Gross and Akeeagok briefly stepped out of the chamber to thank Prosper for taking interest in Nunavut issues while the territory is without its own senator. (Photo by Jeff Pelletier)

Prosper made it clear that he’s not acting as a senator for Nunavut while the seat remains empty. He has his own constituents that he was appointed to represent.

However, he wants to keep learning about the territory and be an “ally” in the upper chamber.

“The region is deserving of their own representation,” Prosper said.

“I certainly would like to work in any way I can to help them further the interests of the North.”

Until an appointment is made, the application process for a new senator for Nunavut remains open, said Daniel Savoie, a Privy Council Office spokesperson, in an Oct. 31 email to Nunatsiaq News.

Prosper said being a senator was not a job he initially imagined for himself. He described it as “informative and satisfying” and encouraged people in Nunavut to apply.

“I’m just quite honoured and thankful [to] all the incredible people we met,” he said, reflecting on his first visit to Iqaluit.

“The resilience, the spirit, the culture, the traditions of the North are quite special.”