Sheutiapik takes Iqaluit mayor’s job by acclamation

Elisapee Sheutiapik will serve as Iqaluit’s mayor for the next three years, after winning the part-time job by acclamation this week.

Sheutiapik was the only person nominated for mayor at the close of nominations this past Monday for Iqaluit’s Oct. 16 municipal and school committee elections.

She said her biggest priorities will be to conduct a public “visioning and planning exercise” and to keep on pushing for a deep-sea port for Iqaluit.

The planning exercise will be aimed at figuring out priorities for the city’s next five-year capital funding agreement with the Government of Nunavut, and the city’s 30-year plan.

On Oct. 16, however, Iqaluit voters will still go to the polls to elect eight city councillors from a field of 10 candidates.

As for Iqaluit’s three school committees, it’s not possible to say yet if a vote can be held to elect members for them.

Neither the Iqaluit District Education Authority (seven vacant seats), the Apex District Education Authority (seven vacant seats), nor the commission scolaire francophone du Nunavut attracted enough candidates to hold an election.

Kirt Ejesiak, the chief returning officer, has extended the nominating period for these bodies by one week, until Sept. 18 at 3:00 p.m.

Another vote to be conducted on Oct. 16 is for ratepayers only: two plebiscite questions on the borrowing of money for capital projects.

One plebiscite will ask ratepayers to approve the borrowing of up to $12 million for a new recreation centre. The other plebiscite will ask ratepayers to approve the borrowing of up to $6 million for a new city hall.

As for a new city hall, municipal officials have long recognized that their current municipal building is too small and does not meet modern building code standards.

City officials say they will provide more information about these ideas starting next week.

In the city council election, voters will get to choose eight councillors from an all-male group of 10, made up of Inuit, non-Inuit, newcomers, and long-term residents.

They are: David Alexander, Oopeetee Atagooyuk, Mark Boudreau, Allen Hayward, Grant Hipfner, Jimmy Kilabuk, Jim Little, Claude Martel, Simon Nattaq, and Glen Williams.

On polling day, voters may cast votes for at least one, but not more than eight council candidates.