The revolving cabinet doors of the 6th Nunavut legislature

It’s been an easy come, easy go term for some in Nunavut’s cabinet.

Since the last territorial election in October 2021, six MLAs have been elected to the executive chamber by their colleagues and have since departed for one reason or another. All continue to serve as regular members.

Following Hudson Bay MLA Daniel Qavvik’s departure from cabinet last week, Nunatsiaq News is looking back on who has resigned, and why, over the past three years.

Adam Arreak Lightstone

Lightstone was the first of two original ministers to resign from cabinet. The Iqaluit-Manirajak MLA served as minister of finance and minister of human resources for five months.

In March 2022, Lightstone lost his cabinet portfolios over an apparent conflict of interest. The following month, he resigned from cabinet.

In an April 2022 speech to his colleagues, Lightstone denied behaving in an “unethical fashion,” but acknowledged he had made a mistake.

Craig Simailak

Simailak, the MLA for Baker Lake, was elected to cabinet the same day Lightstone announced he was stepping down.

During his 10-month tenure in cabinet, Simailak held several roles including minister of justice, minister responsible for Qulliq Energy Corp., minister responsible for labour, minister responsible for democratic institutions, and minister responsible for the Human Rights Tribunal.

He announced in the legislature in March 2023 that he was resigning from cabinet, citing a struggle to balance work and family life.

Joanna Quassa

Nearly two years into the sixth legislative session, Quassa announced her resignation from cabinet in a September 2023 news release, citing family reasons.

Quassa was a newly elected as the MLA for Aggu in November 2021. A month later, she was elected into cabinet by colleagues.

During her cabinet tenure, she served as minister of environment, minister of energy, and minister responsible for Nunavut Arctic College.

Joelie Kaernerk

Kaernerk and Qavvik were chosen during a leadership conference in September 2023 to fill the two cabinet vacancies left by Simailak and Quassa.

Kaernerk, the MLA for Amittuq, served as minister of culture and heritage, minister of languages, and minister responsible for Qulliq Energy Corp.

In January 2024, Premier P.J. Akeeagok announced in a news release that he was stripping Kaernerk of his cabinet portfolios, citing “code of conduct” violations. Kaernerk would step down as a minister thereafter.

During this year’s winter sitting, MLAs voted to suspend Kaernerk from the legislature for showing up to work intoxicated. He returned to the chambers during the fall sitting.

Karen Nutarak

Tununiq MLA Karen Nutarak was voted into cabinet this past March via a motion in the legislature.

During her brief tenure in cabinet, Nutarak was minister of justice, the minister responsible for Nunavut Arctic College, minister responsible for labour, and minister responsible for the Human Rights Tribunal.

Following the spring sitting, three months into the job, Akeeagok announced Nutarak’s resignation from cabinet, citing personal and family reasons.

Daniel Qavvik

Hudson Bay MLA Daniel Qavvik’s tenure as a minister came to an end Nov. 13. He held multiple portfolios, including as minister of environment; energy; languages; and culture and heritage.

“Personal reasons” were cited in a Nov. 14 news release announcing his resignation. A week earlier, Qavvik was one of 10 MLAs to stand by Akeeagok and defeat a motion to remove the premier.

Nunatsiaq News has attempted on several occasions to contact Qavvik about his resignation, but he has not responded.