This map shows proposed electoral boundaries for Nunavut as they appear in Bill 35, An Act Respecting the Constituencies of Nunavut. (Image courtesy of the Legislative Assembly of Nunavut)
Nunavut MLAs kill bill that proposed electoral boundary changes
Some MLAs expressed constituent wishes for community representation in legislative assembly
Nunavut’s lawmakers have struck down a bill that would have changed the territory’s electoral boundaries.
Bill 35, An Act Respecting the Constituencies of Nunavut, passed second reading on Oct. 23 and landed on the agenda of the assembly’s committee of the whole on Oct. 26.
Amittuq MLA Lorne Kusugak asked for a recorded vote on clause two of the bill, which would have repealed and replaced the territory’s electoral boundaries.
Eleven MLAs voted against that clause, eight voted in support, and one MLA, Gjoa Haven’s Tony Akoak, abstained.
“Given the defeat of clause two, the core of the bill no longer exists and therefore we cannot proceed any further with Bill 35,” said committee chairperson MLA Joe Savikataaq.
He later reported back to legislature that Bill 35 is defeated and won’t be given second reading.
In the committee debate, 11 MLAs spoke on the bill, which followed recommendations from the territory’s Electoral Boundary Commission to reconfigure ridings in the Kivalliq region and Iqaluit.
The biggest changes would have paired Rankin Inlet North with Coral Harbour, and Chesterfield Inlet with Naujaat, replacing the current ridings of Rankin Inlet North-Chesterfield Inlet and Ailivik, which comprises the communities of Coral Harbour and Naujaat.
Arviat would have seen its boundary line drawn across an east-west direction in an effort to keep representation proportional as the community grows. Minor tweaks were proposed to even out population numbers across Iqaluit’s ridings as well.
Quttiktuq MLA David Akeeagok, who represents Grise Fiord, Resolute Bay and Arctic Bay, said his constituents want their own MLAs in the legislature.
“I have been told this concern by constituents,” he said.
“Since I represent three distinct communities, and two communities are less than half the size of the third community, which is double the size of these smaller communities. With that being the case, this has been a cause of disconcertment.”
Uqqummiut MLA Mary Killiktee also said her constituents, who live in Clyde River and Qikiqtarjuaq, want their own MLAs, and for that reason she would not support the bill.
Iqaluit MLAs generally spoke in favour of the bill, pointing out the changes worked well to balance out population disparities in the city.
Iqaluit-Tasiluk MLA George Hickes said that currently the Iqaluit riding with the lowest population, Iqaluit-Niaqunnguu, has 1,630 people while the most populated riding, Iqaluit-Manirajak, has 2,806 people.
“With the difference in growth of different constituencies across the city, some balance and more parity, I think, is important,” Hickes said.
The proposed changes would have brought all four Iqaluit ridings to about 2,200 people each.
What planet are these people from? Every community gets its own MLA? Nice idea but what would that mean overall? Start with 25 MLAs for 25 communities. But then several communities have fewer than 500 residents while Iqaluit has 7-8 thousand, Rankin and Arviat are about 3 thousand and so on. So how many extra constituencies will they and the mid-size communities get? Aside from political pressures, while the courts have been tolerant of wide variations in constituency population when challenges have been brought under the Charter of Rights equality provisions, there are limits. Hard to see a Leg of fewer than 40 MLAs. Easily more. Wouldn’t that make for great government? Tho it would help reduce unemployment.
The Amittuq riding is not Lorne Kusugak. it is Joelie. Kaenerk.