Safety, youth are priorities for Cambridge Bay candidates
Three-way race unfolding in Kitikmeot hub, where cabinet minister faces two challengers
Pamela Hakongak Gross, left, Fred Pedersen and Peter Ohokak are running to represent Cambridge Bay in the Oct. 27 territorial election. (Photos courtesy of Elections Nunavut)
Nunatsiaq News is publishing riding profiles ahead of the Oct. 27 territorial election. Keep your eye on our website to learn more about who is running in your area.
The race for Cambridge Bay’s seat in the Nunavut legislative assembly has drawn three candidates: incumbent Pamela Hakongak Gross, Kitkmeot Inuit Association executive director Fred Pedersen, and Peter Ohokak.
Gross and Pedersen talked to Nunatsiaq News about their priorities. Ohokak declined an interview request, saying he prefers to keep his platform local.
Gross, who has represented the riding since 2021, is seeking re-election after serving as Nunavut’s deputy premier, minister of education, culture and heritage, languages, and seniors.
She says she wants to continue the work she’s begun, citing progress on child care, education and infrastructure as key accomplishments during her term.
“We’re the first jurisdiction in Canada to offer $10-a-day child care and we’ve also enhanced the wages and included northern residency into the salaries for child-care workers,” Gross said in an interview.
Pedersen is on leave from KIA, where he has spent three decades, to run in the election.
He said his experience in policy negotiations gives him the tools to “speak loudly to bring about change” in Cambridge Bay.
Pedersen is also eyeing education. He pointed to Nunavut Arctic College’s programs, which he said could be greatly expanded if Cambridge Bay is considered as a potential site for Inuit Tapiriit Kanatami’s Inuit Nunangat University.
“Providing a variety of good education programs becomes part of a community’s economy,” Pedersen said.
Both Gross and Pedersen said that the community faces pressing issues around public safety. This is in light of four men being arrested this summer in connection with a violent assault related to alleged drug dealing.
Gross said she has pushed for stronger co-ordination between Nunavut and the Northwest Territories to address security concerns about drugs entering the Kitikmeot Region from the Yellowknife airport.
“Enhanced security screening [at the airport] is what we’re asking for and hopefully we’ll know more with the coming federal budget,” she said.
Pedersen added he’d like to work with the RCMP to establish a permanent drug dog presence in Cambridge Bay.
Earlier this summer, Gross joined Cambridge Bay Mayor Wayne Gregory and RCMP Supt. Kent Pike at a town hall where residents shared concerns following the assault. She plans to host another town hall meeting if re-elected, focusing on youth programs and parenting support.
“We need to have the youth at the table to work on solutions,” she said.
Pedersen agreed on the need for better recreation facilities and programs for youth to “release their frustrations and energy,” noting that the baseball diamond has no fencing or artificial turf.
Other priorities include the completion of the new arena, construction of a new youth centre, and renovation to the community swimming pool, Gross said.
Improving airport facilities and paving the runway are also high on the agenda for Gross and Pedersen, as Cambridge Bay serves as a regional hub for travel and medical transport, they said.
The Cambridge Bay Housing Association plans to host a candidates forum at the community hall ahead of election day. The date has yet to be decided.
Looking forward to the candidates forum. Not sure why any candidate would decline free platform advertising from Nunatsiaq…
Probably seeing what this candidate thinks of the free press, seems like a red flag to me. If elected, will they not speak with the press or answer questions? Pretty weird decision. Keeping it local, Nunatsiaq is one of the arms that tries to keep information flowing, though maybe not the best, who else is? See if they can get elected in the end.
Don’t forget who was in charge when old and new arena have been sitting empty due to lack of short term and long term planning – our youth have missed out on a recreational facility the last few years.
Our youth deserve more.
Perhaps Mrs. Gross can tell the people of Cambridge Bay and all other Nunavummiut’s; how what took place in Nunavut during the last government was allowed to happen. Especially given the fact she was a Cabinet Minister and Deputy Premier. Maybe explain to everyone, other than $10 Day Care, why she thinks she deserves for them to vote for her given the multiple failures of this past government. With everything that has been exposed and discussed, especially in the last 10 months. Things like the Social Services mess, multiple AG Reports, suicide crisis/emergency, Education debacles, the Housing mess, fiscal irregularities, and on, and on. With all the reports, articles, media coverage and information that is out there, it is incredible that this candidate talks about everything but those issues. Actually, not incredible. She just hopes no one notices or more importantly remembers.
Given the opportunity afforded to the candidates by Nunatsiaq News, it is even more curious that one of the candidates declined the opportunity to state their case and position and the other candidate who did speak and who is opposing this previous MLA did not appear to be pushing for answers on those questions and are not speaking directly to voter on how THEY would take action on those very issues.
The only thing that had any value coming from the two candidates was the goal of trying to implement processes for controlling and eliminating illegal substances and enhancing security and policing to make Cambridge Bay safer. Which are clearly very important issues.
That leaves it up to the people of Cambridge Bay to do their homework, ask the candidates tough questions and then decide for themselves come October 27th. Most importantly GET OUT and VOTE.
Isn’t it a shame each new cabinet, election after election…..They’re left with nothing done from all previous cabinet? Maybe that should be the solution going forward, “lets see what the other old guys with no ambition or drive, left us. Sad but true. But you people have a choice, you did choose to live in -80’c Cam-bay. good luck!
We need to be able to vote “none of them” and get new candidates.
I find it funny that Gross says they were the first to roll out the $10 a day childcare. That is far from the truth. Other provinces and territories have rolled it out, way before Nunavut did. This was not as a result of her action rolling the momentum for the GN to realize this accomplishment, but rather federal action from the Liberal party to realize their campaign platform goal. They were the ones that pushed provinces and territories to accomplish this. The GN was on track to realize this goal prior to Gross becoming the Minister of Education.
What has she done outside of $10 a day in her role as Minister of Education? How many Nunavut post-secondary students struggle with FANS funding…I have heard of students not being able to attend their programs for the semester due to no funding from slow (or no) administrative processing from FANS, and not all students have family to fall back on or access to credit to offset slow (or no) funds from FANS.
Does Fred know how difficult, almost impossible, it is to get a police dog in a community? It is laughable that he has this as a campaign platform. I feel like he is just saying this to attract votes from those who want action. What other viable plans does he offer for public safety when Cambay is struggling so acutely with public safety and hard drugs right now.
What has Ms Gross done? Never in town or hamlet council meeting except election time. Every mla since down of time wants to pave the runway.
Police dog Freddy? Seriously. When KIA staff were quietly taking 4 weeks off at Christmas with no annual leave required whos idea was that?
No one knows peters platform outside fb and the bay so good luck to us finding out.
Come on Pam! You really think all the drug busts are because of you. People got tired of waiting and took the matter into their own hands. Community Justice at it’s best. Way to go Ikalutktutiakmiut. Elder care facility – you honestly think people will believe you stating it was you who got our facility. It was already in discussions in the 5th assembly. You haven’t been around. Only show up when a crisis happens. Attending meetings close to election. Get out and vote people! Anyone but her!!!!