Reflections, uncertainty: Nunavut premier plans life after politics
Akeeagok doesn’t rule out return to territorial politics; no MLAs offer comment on his re-election decision
Premier P.J. Akeeagok is all smiles after announcing he will leave office as an MLA this fall. (Photo by Jeff Pelletier)
After announcing he won’t seek re-election on Oct. 27, Premier P.J. Akeeagok spent the rest of Tuesday taking phone calls, speaking with reporters, even greeting a group of visitors from Edmonton at the Nunavut legislative assembly.
“It’s been a lot of reflection, actually, as I feel very content with the decision,” Akeeagok said in an interview, adding he decided “just in the past few days.”
In a statement released Tuesday, Akeeagok said he wants to spend time with his family and he’s “not stepping away for another role.”
MLAs picked him to be premier in 2021 after he won his first term as MLA for Iqaluit-Niaqunnguu that year.
Before entering territorial politics, Akeeagok was president of the Qikiqtani Inuit Association for seven years.
“My children are young as well, and I think it’s so important to ensure that as they’re starting to grow that I’m there as well.”
Iqaluit-Tasiluk MLA George Hickes and Amittuq MLA Joelie Kaernerk — a former minister under Akeeagok — were among the few MLAs in the legislative assembly Tuesday.
After learning from a reporter of Akeeagok’s decision, Hickes declined comment, saying he needed to “digest” the news.
It was fresh for Kaernerk, too, who said he wanted to think a while before providing a comment.
Nunatsiaq News emailed all MLAs to ask about Akeeagok’s decision. None responded Tuesday afternoon.
Akeeagok’s statement offered an overview of major events and what he sees as his accomplishments as premier: the signing of the devolution agreement in 2024, the national early childhood education agreement, the launch of Nunavut 3000 housing initiative, and the 10-year, $1.5-billion renewal of the Nunavut Agreement implementation contract.
It didn’t mention the resignations of six cabinet ministers, several damning Auditor General of Canada reports on family services and housing, and Akeeagok narrowly surviving a vote of confidence in November by a 10-8 margin.
“No one ever said this job is easy,” Akeeagok said.
“I really feel proud of the record I have, the transparency of sharing progress reports.… From that perspective, I think there’s things that I’m proud about in terms of the work that we’ve done.”
Nunavut MP Lori Idlout thanked Akeeagok for his work, saying, “Making a decision not to run again is an important one.
“I am sure P.J. will succeed the way he wants to, anywhere he goes,” Idlout said in a statement.
In a post on X, Rebecca Alty, the federal Crown-Indigenous Relations minister, thanked Akeeagok for his “remarkable leadership and commitment to building a stronger future for Nunavummiut.”
Akeeagok said his future is uncertain.
He’ll stay on as premier until the election writ is dropped on Sept. 22. Then he and the cabinet will assume “caretaker” roles until a new cabinet is formed after the election.
He chuckled when asked if he’ll be unemployed later this year.
“We’ll look at opportunities when that moment hits, but right now, I’ve really focused on getting us to that finish line here,” he said, adding he’ll advocate for “nation-building” projects in Nunavut until he’s gone.
Akeeagok didn’t rule out a return to territorial politics or another leadership position later.
“There’s always that opportunity. I’m only 40,” he said.
What a legacy.
2000 unfilled GN positions.
Inuit employment in the GN at 52%.
Suicide crisis in Nunavut continuing.
Homelessness worse today than when the Premier took office.
A legacy of sole source housing contracts that are way over budget and way behind schedule.
More GN jobs being filled by people outside Nunavut than ever before.
Increasing closures of health centers due to lack of staff.
High school graduation at 25%, mostly non-academic.
Teacher graduation rate at NAC below the rate needed to replace retiring Inuktitut-speaking teachers.
$10 a day daycare, but mostly for those parents who already had their children in daycare, rather than for those who previously could not afford day care.
Elder care close to home, but only for a few residents of Rankin Inlet.
Nicest smile of any Nunavut Premier.
Imagine thinking any of those problems could be solved in a 4 year term.
OMG! Looks like you are blaming everything on PJ, even stuff that don’t pertain to him. .
But let’s look at this shall we: The Premier listed as his three big accomplishments signing on to the national daycare initiative, the devolution agreement and the Nunavut 3000 housing initiative.
National daycare initiative: This is really program that the federal libs take credit for. While Nunavut went along with the other provinces, daycare remains hard to get and unaffordable for many so this is a fail and not an accomplishment.
Devolution agreement: This file has been dragging on for at least ten years and he just happened to be premier when the bureaucrats finally stopped procrastinating and got something for him to sign. That said, all that this agreement accomplishes is to offload a bunch of costly federal responsibilities onto Nunavut that we will not be able to staff or afford. This agreement is an accomplishment for the Feds and a burden for Nunavut.
Nunavut 3000: Very few homes being built. This is turning into a scandal and not an accomplishment.
People: hey look writing on the wall
PJ: yeah yeah I seen it
I can’t think of one truly competent or good Premier since the creation of Nunavut. Paul O was the most educated and on the face of it qualified except that power went to his head. Unfortunately most did not have the necessary experience or confidence to truly fulfill the Premier role. One day Nunavut may have a truly good Premier.
And like all debates in Nunavut the answer is EDUCATION
Something we are surely lacking.