NTI gearing up for December election

SEAN McKIBBON
Nunatsiaq News

IQALUIT — Nunavut Tungavik Incorporated is gearing up for the election of its president and second vice president, with the appointment of former Natilikmiot MLA John Ningark as the organization’s chief returning officer.

The nomination period for candidates will take place from Oct. 4 to Nov. 1, with the election taking place Dec. 13, co-coinciding with municipal elections in the hamlets, said Kirt Ejesiak, an NTI spokesman.

“The names of 10 beneficiaries and $200 is what candidates will need to be nominated,” said Ejesiak, explaining that nomination papers will be available Oct. 4 from local NTI offices and from the chief returning officer.

The terms of the two offices have now been extended to four years from three, said Ejesiak. Talk of abolishing the position of second vice-president seems to be on hold for now he said.

Only beneficiaries 16 years of age or older on the day of the election are eligible to vote or be candidates, said Ningark.

He said he had only just been appointed to the position by the NTI board and was still getting organized, so he was unable to answer any questions about whether there will be a limit on what candidates can spend in the election.

If either NTI’s current president, Jose Kusugak, or second vice president Raymond Ningeocheak declare their candidacy in the next election they will be out of their NTI offices and will have to use their own resources to campaign, said Ejesiak.

NTI’s board of directors consists of four executive elected members, three presidents and three vice presidents from the regional Inuit Associations, and one non-voting member who is the chair of the Nunavut Trust.

NTI’s executive has four members who are elected on a staggered basis. The president and vice president are elected, and then the first vice president and vice president of finance (formerly known as the secretary treasurer) are elected half-way into the president’s term.

NTI will hold one last general meeting of its board of directors before the election. That meeting will be held in Clyde River Oct. 26-28.