Return of the Arctic ambassador: Here’s who might be up for the job
Revival of Arctic ambassador role part of Canada’s Arctic foreign policy announced in 2024
More than six months after the federal government announced its plan to revive the Arctic ambassador position, nobody has been appointed to the role. Possible candidates could include, from left, Aluki Kotierk, Natan Obed, P.J. Akeeagok, Manitok Thompson, Lisa Kopperqualak or David Akeeagok. (File photos)
More than six months after the federal government revived the position of Canada’s Arctic ambassador, the job remains vacant.
The ambassador works with Canada’s Arctic allies, Indigenous Peoples and provincial and territorial governments to promote the country’s domestic and foreign policy agendas, advance Canada’s Arctic interests and raise awareness of Indigenous rights in the Arctic, according to Global Affairs Canada.
“Canada’s Arctic ambassador will be announced in due course,” Charlotte MacLeod, a spokesperson for Global Affairs Canada, said in a June 25 email, when asked about the vacancy.
The ambassador — to be named by the federal cabinet — was one of the key pillars of the federal government’s $34.7-million Arctic foreign policy announced in December.
The role of an ambassador for circumpolar affairs was created by Jean Chrétien’s Liberal government in 1994. Mary Simon, the current governor general, was the first ambassador until 2004 when she was replaced by Jack Anawak, a former Nunavut MP.
In 2006, Stephen Harper’s Conservative government eliminated the position to save money. To some, the cut was a signal of the federal government’s disinterest in Arctic affairs.
As the role is brought back, here are some potential candidates who might be up for the gig.
Nunavut Premier P.J. Akeeagok (File photo by Arty Sarkisian)
P.J. Akeeagok, Nunavut premier — A first-time MLA, Akeeagok announced July 8 he won’t seek re-election in the Oct. 27 territorial election.
Akeeagok said in a social media post he is not “stepping away for another role.” It’s a move to spend more time with his family.
He didn’t say what his future plans are, but said he will ” look at opportunities when that moment hits.”
Akeeagok was elected to the legislative assembly in November 2021, winning the Iqaluit-Niaqunnguu riding after seven years as president of the Qikiqtani Inuit Association. That same month, he was elected premier in a vote by MLAs, succeeding Joe Savikataaq.
ITK president Natan Obed (Photo by Jeff Pelletier)
Natan Obed, president of Inuit Tapiriit Kanatami — Obed’s term as president of the national Inuit organization is winding down, with an election scheduled for the third week of September.
In 2021, Obed was the only candidate to run and was acclaimed as president for a third term as head of the organization.
Before that election, he told Nunatsiaq News he would not seek re-election in 2025.
No one has put their name forward as a potential contender in the upcoming election, and Obed hasn’t publicly laid out his post-presidency plans.
Prior to his time as ITK’s president, Obed served at the Labrador Inuit Association, Nunavut Tunngavik Inc. and chaired ITK’s National Inuit Committee on Health.
Aluki Kotierk, former president of Nunavut Tunngavik Inc. — Aluki Kotierk has had several appointments after stepping down last December as president of Nunavut Tunngavik Inc., the territory’s lands claim organization.
Aluki Kotierk, the former president of Nunavut Tunngavik Inc.(File photo by Jeff Pelletier)
In February, she was appointed to lead an external review of Nutrition North Canada, a food subsidy program. As well, she was appointed to chair the United Nations Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues.
Manitok Thompson, retired politician and broadcasting executive —Thompson is only a few days into her retirement from the Inuit Broadcasting Corp., and from Nunavut and Northwest Territories politics.
She was the only woman to be elected to the first Nunavut legislative assembly, and in 2004 ran unsuccessfully as an independent to represent Nunavut in Parliament.
Although Thompson retired, she said she might “show up again” and will stay vocal on issues important to Inuit.
Lisa Koperqualuk (File photo by Lisa Gregoire)
Lisa Kopperqualak, former president of Inuit Circumpolar Council — Kopperqualak, a longtime Nunavik writer and Inuit advocate, resigned as president of Inuit Circumpolar Council Canada in March to “pursue her next chapter of advocacy work for Inuit interests,” the ICC’s statement said.
In 2018, she was elected vice-president of international affairs at ICC Canada. Then in 2022, she was appointed as the council’s president.
David Akeeagok, MLA and minister with seven portfolios — Akeeagok was the first Nunavut MLA to announce he will not run in the fall territorial elections.
Nunavut cabinet minister David Akeeagok (File photo by Jeff Pelletier)
As a family man, he was having a hard time managing work and personal life, he told reporters at the legislative assembly June 3.
As MLA for Quttiktuq. Nunavut’s northernmost riding, Akeeagok served as a minister under premiers Paul Quassa, Joe Savikataaq, and his nephew, the current Premier P.J. Akeeagok.
We’ve been told that the federal government will be running a deficit of at least 90 billion this year. We’ve been told that the federal government will need to come up with 150 billion in military spending to meet the commitments that it recently made to NATO. We’ve been told that the federal government is over a trillion dollars in debt. What this means is that we can no longer afford this public relations office of Arctic ambassador!!! I would implore the Carney government to stop the insanity here. You are going to be laying off a lot of people this year. You can’t afford the extravagance of this symbolic office that has no concrete purpose will never produce any concrete deliverables. Please don’t do it.
If your fav, Poilievroosie, did this you’d be singing his praises.
D Akeagok stated clearly he would not be running in his current riding. Said announcing early so possible candidates have time to consider running.
From his Facebook page
“reading the media clips, I want to clarify what I said in the Assembly, This upcoming election, I feel that I will not be able to represent the Quttiktuq riding and I wanted my constituents to know that I am not planning to put my name forward for Quttiktuq riding for the third time for reasons that I feel there is no more balance between Family, MLA duties (3 communities) and cabinet duties.
In September, during our last sitting I plan on making my intentions known what my future hold, it will be made with my family support of course. stay tuned.”
This is a weird article spun from baseless navel gazing and none of those suggested candidates have the required training and skills. Natan is probably the best of the bunch but he’s built a career speaking well while saying nothing.
Akeeagok has the most integrity of all those suggested in the news piece. The crowd dipping lines in the river agree. And they agree that Aluki would be throwing away opportunities.
I want , one of our own , ” HER EXCELLENCY MARY SIMON ” to be ambassador , she is used to the jet set life style . Isn t her prescent job ending soon ?
One thing Harper got right. This is a BS make-work and do-nothing job. No self-respecting person–too often a contradiction in terms–should take the job.
You got that right , its a ” do nothing ” job.
Koperqualuk is the only candidate with legitimate international transboundary experience related to Arctic issues, otherwise this is a list of wannabes and washed up former politicos whose best days are way behind them.
Koperqualuk is trilingual an impotant skill inbilingual Canada
As a taxpayer, please, no more “honorary roles” that have no benefit to us. We can’t afford it.