Who wants to be Nunavut’s next premier?
Newly elected MLAs prepare to select their Speaker and cabinet at the legislature Tuesday
Quttiktuq MLA Steven Taqtu poses for his official portrait at the Nunauvt legislative assembly. Taqtu is one of a few new MLAs not seeking a ministerial role in the new government, but says he’s excited to take part in Tuesday’s vote. (Photo by Jeff Pelletier)
As Nunavut’s new crop of MLAs prepare to choose their premier, cabinet and Speaker, a picture is starting to emerge about who will — and won’t — make up the new executive.
They meet Tuesday at 10 a.m. in the legislative assembly in Iqaluit for the Nunavut Leadership Forum. The gathering will allow MLAs fill these roles through a nomination and secret ballot process that includes speeches and a question period for premier and cabinet hopefuls.
Nunatsiaq News was able to catch up with 12 of 21 MLAs Friday afternoon to ask who is eyeing a leadership role in Nunavut’s seventh legislative assembly.
Aggu will not have a representative at the forum, as it does not yet have an MLA and awaits the results of a Dec. 15 election after the first vote on Oct. 27 ended in a tie.
The race for premier could have at least three contenders.
“As for the premiership, if I do get nominated I won’t say no,” said David Akeeagok, the MLA for Iqaluit-Niaqunnguu.
Akeeagok was a minister in Premier P.J. Akeeagok’s government with portfolios that included community services and justice.
Arviat North–Whale Cove MLA John Main, who served as health minister for the past four years, also didn’t rule out wanting to be premier.
“I want to be in a leadership role,” he said, without providing any specifics.
Iqaluit-Tasiluk MLA George Hickes — one of two members returning for a fourth consecutive term — declined to elaborate on his premiership ambitions, but said he wants to return to cabinet after being a regular member during the last term.
“I do think my experience at the cabinet level would be very valuable,” Hickes said.
There are cabinet ambitions for a few other MLAs who have said they are not eyeing the premier’s seat.
The size of cabinet isn’t set in stone, as long as a majority of MLAs are not in the executive. This batch of MLAs has agreed ahead of the forum it will choose eight ministers, according to a news release Monday from the legislative assembly.
Iqaluit-Sinaa’s Janet Pitsiulaaq Brewster, South Baffin’s David Joanasie and newcomer Kugluktuk MLA Simon Kuliktana have stated they are not interested in being premier but are interested in cabinet roles.
“It really depends on who puts their name forward and, like the last time, I’m interested in serving in the best way possible,” Brewster said.
Before the election, Iqaluit-Manirajak’s Gwen Healey Akearok and Hudson Bay’s Daniel Qavvik also expressed interest in serving in cabinet. Pangnirtung’s Johnny Mike said he “enjoyed” his time as a minister in the government of former premier Peter Taptuna, when asked about possibly returning to that role.
Incumbent MLAs Alexander Sammurtok of Rankin Inlet North-Chesterfield Inlet and Craig Simailak of Baker Lake declined to be interviewed for this story.
Three rookie MLAs say they don’t intend to seek cabinet positions.
David Porter of Gjoa Haven and Steven Taqtu of Quttiktuq both stated they want to spend their first terms learning the ropes as regular MLAs.
“I’m too new,” Taqtu said, rejecting any cabinet ambitions.
Fred Pedersen of Cambridge Bay said he believes his community needs to have a regular MLA as its representative this time around.
His seat was previously held by several ministers, including Keith Peterson until 2017, Jeannie Ehaloak until 2021, and Pamela Gross until the most recent election.
“I think the voters wanted to elect somebody that was going to stay around the community more and report to them on what they’re doing on their behalf,” Pedersen said.
Netsilik’s Cecile Lyall didn’t elaborate on her ambitions when asked but said she’s “excited” to participate in the forum.
Nunatsiaq News did not get comment from newly elected MLAs Annie Tattuinee, Abraham Qammaniq, Gordon Kautuk, Hannah Angootealuk, Brian Koonoo or Jamie Kablutsiak.
Overall, MLAs seem to be excited by the chance to meet their new colleagues. Since Nov. 6, they have been gathering in Iqaluit, getting to know each other, learning about the operations of various GN departments and taking part in the onboarding process, which includes activating their work emails and getting on payroll.
“I’ve been doing this for 12 years and I still learn stuff all the time,” Hickes said.
Heart wants Hickes to pull through but head thinks John Main is going to win in second round of votes
Well not any surprises here are there? Trying to build a new car out of old parts. Based on what everyone already knew, Nunavummiut will end up with a Premier (either Akeeagok or Main) and a handful of Cabinet members that were complicit in the dumpster fire of the last 4 years. Where do you think that will lead? Anyone have confidence that electing any of those individuals from the last government into either the role of Premier or into Cabinet is going to build a government capable of applying the fundamental changes required to move Nunavut forward in a meaningful manner?
Were the last 4 years of crisis, mismanagement and outright negligence not enough? Cleary not. Was there not enough evidence presented in the media, on social media and in the sittings of the recorded sessions of the Legislature to clearly show that these members from the last Government were aware of the improprieties, irregularities and outright failures of the Premier, Cabinet members and MLAs to fulfill their required diligence regarding Healthcare, Social Services, Housing, Education, Finances, Food Insecurity, etc, etc..)? What more evidence was needed to clearly show that these individuals were not working for the betterment of Nunavut and Nunavummiut? That they were unqualified for their jobs. Not sure what more was needed to demonstrate this.
We now risk having a Premier and a Cabinet primarily made up of the same old parts who will simultaneously try and sell themselves to Nunavummiut as bright, shiny and “NEW”.