Say what? Nunavut MLAs talk hockey, birthdays and Trump

U.S. President Donald Trump has made his way into the speeches of Nunavut MLAs. (Photo courtesy of White House gallery)

This story is the third story in a series about Nunavut’s sixth legislative assembly through an analysis of Hansard, the official record of debate in the legislature. Stay tuned for more stories covering the previous government’s most-discussed issues.

Nunavut MLAs rarely allow themselves to use foul language, snarky comebacks or personal insults in the legislature.

The northern consensus-style government, where MLAs are elected as independents and there are no political parties, has always been relatively civil.

Too civil for some people’s liking.

“Everybody’s so nice, afraid to ask tough questions,” said former MLA Manitok Thompson.

“We don’t see debates happening, so people don’t feel like the government works for us anymore.”

Often, MLAs dedicate their members’ statements to offering birthday or wedding anniversary congratulations instead of addressing issues important to Nunavummiut, she said.

As the newly elected legislators continue the seventh legislative assembly which opened on March 5, Nunatsiaq News looked back at 145 Hansard documents covering the previous assembly’s record of debate to find out what Nunavut’s representatives talked about in between policy discussions.

Over the four years of the sixth legislative assembly, from 2021 to 2025, the word “birthday” was repeated 442 times and “anniversary” 113 times, according to Hansard.

By comparison, Nunavut’s least-talked-about community, Resolute Bay, was mentioned by MLAs fewer than 100 times over four years.

Along with birthday wishes, MLAs have made many attempts at humour over the four years. Usually, but not always, those comments were followed by an italicized “laughter” in Hansard to indicate the joke was a success in the assembly.

“If he hasn’t seen a visit from the eye team, maybe he should get a pair of glasses,” then-health minister John Main said in March 2022. “That’s just a joke.”

That was Main’s comeback to a question by Amittuq MLA Joelie Kaernerk, who said he hadn’t seen an eye exam team in his community in a long time.

Hansard editors didn’t give Main’s joke a “laughter” note.

There were a total of 516 instances of “laughter” noted in the assembly; 2,715 “applause” notes, and 65 “Hear! Hear!” exclamations.

The Edmonton Oilers were the most cheered-for National Hockey League team with more than 40 mentions. The assembly’s most outspoken hockey fan, Hudson Bay MLA Daniel Qavvik, devoted several members’ statements to praising his favourite club.

The Toronto Maple Leafs — Main’s favourite team — got 17 mentions in the assembly while the Montreal Canadiens had to settle for one mention, by then-housing minister Lorne Kusugak.

Nunavut MLAs also often added their voices to the national condemnation of the Trump administration in the United States. Its actions since assuming office last year were described as “irrational and indefensible” by Iqaluit-Sinaa MLA Janet Pitsiulaaq Brewster.

The U.S. was mentioned 35 times in 2025, with President Donald Trump named seven times.

Elon Musk, SpaceX CEO and Trump supporter, was mentioned 12 times, even more than Prime Minister Mark Carney, whose name came up seven times.

“Elon Musk continues to borrow Trump’s language and refers to our prime minister as governor. This is not only disrespectful, but an insult to all Canadians,” Iqaluit-Manirajak MLA Adam Arreak Lightstone said in February 2025, explaining why he had signed a petition to have Musk’s Canadian citizenship revoked.