‘There’s probably 10,000 reasons’: MLA Brian Koonoo resigns from cabinet
Territorial leader who held 4 portfolios says his family wants to be together
Tununiq MLA Brian Koonoo is no longer a cabinet minister. He resigned for “personal reasons,” Nunavut Premier John Main announced Monday. (Photo by Daron Letts)
This story was updated Tuesday, Nov. 3, 2026, at 6:05 p.m. ET.
Brian Koonoo has resigned as a Nunavut cabinet minister effective immediately, Premier John Main announced Monday evening, citing “personal reasons.”
In an interview, Koonoo said “there’s probably 10,000 reasons” for his decision.
“The main parts are my family’s homesick and we want to be together again,” he said. “And I would like to start supporting my constituency more in a full capacity, and also I miss hunting.”
Koonoo previously held three portfolios, including environment, energy, languages, and culture and heritage.
Cecile Nelvana Lyall, the minister responsible for the Nunavut Housing Corp., will take on environment and energy.
The languages and culture and heritage posts will go to Human Resources Minister Annie Tattuinee, who is also the minister responsible for the Workers’ Safety and Compensation Commission.
This is Koonoo’s first term in the legislative assembly after being elected in the 2025 territorial election. He represents the Tununiq riding that consists of Pond Inlet. Koonoo a hunter, and children’s book author and former Parks Canada employee.
Koonoo was not present for Monday’s sitting of the legislative assembly.
— With files from Daron Letts
Update: This story was updated to include comments from Brian Koonoo.
David Akeeagok needs to resign too. The educationall system is broken. My son is 16 years old and hardly reads and writes as there are no qualified teachers to teach him. Most substitue teachers here in Clyde River can’t also read and write english. He doesn’t bother going to the school now as it’s not an educational anymore.
Education is also the responsibility of parents. Force your 16 year to go to school. Parent up! put some books out at home instead of a tv on all the time. Teachers have a very hard time at any school, but especially in Nunavut. what do you do to support your kids education? what do you do to support the teachers?
Education system been broken for ever, any other jurisdiction if students are failing, the teachers would be laid off for not teaching well. Most of the southern teachers don’t know how to teach or understand reality of Inuit situation. So saying Akeegok should resign it mute.
NHC is a massive, important and stressful portfolio. To add Energy and Environment to that same minister is wild.