2017 Nunavut general election

2017 Nunavut general election

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22 seats in the Legislative Assembly of Nunavut
Turnout	63.3% [1] (7.0pp)
Results by electoral district, shaded by winners' vote share. As Nunavut elections are on a non-partisan basis, all candidates run as independents. Results by electoral district, showing whether the incumbent candidate was re-elected, defeated, or didn’t run again.
Premier before election Peter Taptuna Premier after election Paul Quassa

The 2017 Nunavut general election was held on October 30, 2017 to return the members of the 5th Nunavut Legislature. ^[2] The fifth general election held since the creation of the territory in 1999, it was the first election held under Nunavut's new fixed election dates law, which requires elections to be held no more than four years after the prior election. ^[3]

Unlike most federal or provincial elections in Canada, elections to the Legislative Assembly of Nunavut are conducted on a non-partisan consensus government model, in which all candidates run as independents rather than being nominated by political parties. The premier and executive council are then selected internally by the MLAs at the first special sitting of the legislature.

Candidates

As of the close of nominations on September 29, 2017, three MLAs, Steve Mapsalak, Keith Peterson and Premier Peter Taptuna were the only incumbents not running again. ^[4] One district, Kugluktuk, saw only one candidate register by the close of nominations; that candidate, Mila Adjukak Kamingoak, was immediately declared as acclaimed to office. ^[5]

In one district, Cambridge Bay, formal declaration of the winner was not made until November 5, with the initial results undergoing an automatic recount due to a margin of less than two per cent between the top two finishers. ^[6] The recount confirmed that the original count was correct. ^[7]

Followup

A record number of women were elected to the legislature; ^[8] in addition to Kamingoak's acclamation, four more women were declared elected on election night, and a woman won the recount in Cambridge Bay. ^[8] These six women, representing 27 per cent of the legislature, represent the first time in the territory's history that it has ranked higher than last or second-last among Canada's provinces and territories for female membership in the legislature.

Following the election, only three of the eight incumbent cabinet ministers had been reelected: three were defeated and two, including Premier Peter Taptuna, chose not to run again. Overall, half of the legislature's 22 incumbents were reelected.

On November 17, 2017, the Nunavut Leadership Forum convened in Iqaluit to choose the next premier. MLAs Joe Savikataaq, Cathy Towtongie, Patterk Netser, and Paul Quassa put their names forward; ultimately, Quassa was elected premier, and Joe Enook was chosen as Speaker. The Executive Council was to consist of David Akeeagok, Pat Angnakak, Jeannie Ehaloak, David Joanasie, Lorne Kusugak, Savikataaq, and Elisapee Sheutiapik. ^[9]

In 2018, however, Quassa lost a confidence vote in the legislature, and was succeeded as premier by Savikataaq. ^[10]

Results

The Legislative Assembly is run on a consensus government system, in which all MLAs sit as independents and are not organized into political parties. Note, accordingly, that colours in the following charts are used solely to indicate candidate status, not political party affiliations.

Statistics

Reelection statistics
	Seats	Did not run again	Defeated	Reelected
All MLAs	22	3 (13.6%)	8 (36.3%)	11 (50.0%)
Cabinet ministers	8	2 (25.0%)	3 (37.5%)	3 (37.5%)

Candidates

Candidates by district
District	Communities	Winner	Second	Third	Fourth	Others	Incumbent Bold denotes cabinet ministers
Aggu [11]	Igloolik (north part)	Paul Quassa 106	Matt Teed 96	Richard Amarualik 79	Jerome Sheaves 14		Paul Quassa Reelected
Aivilik [12]	Coral Harbour, Naujaat	Patterk Netser 318	Jack Anawak 218				Steve Mapsalak Did not run again
Amittuq [13]	Igloolik (south part), Hall Beach	Joelie Kaernerk 115	Paul Haulli 84	George Qulaut 69	Reena Akumalik Irqittuq 46	Jason Ikeperiar: 41 Solomon Angugasak Allurut: 39 Erasmus Ivvalu: 22	George Qulaut Defeated
Arviat North-Whale Cove [14]	Arviat (north part), Whale Cove	John Main 408	George Kuksuk 115				George Kuksuk Defeated
Arviat South [15]	Arviat (south part)	Joe Savikataaq 280	Jason Gibbons 234				Joe Savikataaq Reelected
Baker Lake [16]	Baker Lake	Simeon Mikkungwak 389	Karen Kabloona 280				Simeon Mikkungwak Reelected
Cambridge Bay [17]	Cambridge Bay	Jeannie Ehaloak 259	Pamela Gross 250	Harry Maksagak 126			Keith Peterson Did not run again
Gjoa Haven [18]	Gjoa Haven	Tony Akoak 171	James Taqaugaq Qitsualik 133	Paul Puqiqnak 79	Joseph Aglukkaq 53		Tony Akoak Reelected
Hudson Bay [19]	Sanikiluaq	Allan Rumbolt 131	Peter Qavvik 112	Peter Kattuk 105			Allan Rumbolt Reelected
Iqaluit-Manirajak [20]	Iqaluit (west part)	Adam Lightstone 253	Monica Ell-Kanayuk 227	Jude Lewis 81	Okalik Eegeesiak 64		Monica Ell-Kanayuk Defeated
Iqaluit-Niaqunnguu [21]	Iqaluit (east part)	Pat Angnakak 231	Franco Buscemi 196	Anne Crawford 134			Pat Angnakak Reelected
Iqaluit-Sinaa [22]	Iqaluit (south part)	Elisapee Sheutiapik 237	Paul Okalik 150	Cindy Rennie 86	Adamee Itorcheak 56		Paul Okalik Defeated
Iqaluit-Tasiluk [23]	Iqaluit (north part)	George Hickes 449	Jacopoosie Peter 121				George Hickes Reelected
Kugluktuk [24]	Kugluktuk	Mila Adjukak Kamingoak acclaimed					Peter Taptuna Did not run again
Netsilik [25]	Taloyoak, Kugaaruk	Emiliano Qirngnuq 310	Joe Tulurialik 141				Emiliano Qirngnuq Reelected
Pangnirtung [26]	Pangnirtung	Margaret Nakashuk 266	Harry John Dialla 129	Johnny Mike 93	Hezakiah Oshutapik 31		Johnny Mike Defeated
Quttiktuq [27]	Arctic Bay, Grise Fiord, Resolute	David Akeeagok 189	Mishak Allurut 78	Isaac Shooyook 45	Kataisee Attagutsiak 44	Leo Eecherk: 34 Andrew Taqtu: 9 Mavis Manik: 6 Gary Kalluk: 2 Rachel Qitsualik-Tinsley: 0	Isaac Shooyook Defeated
Rankin Inlet North-Chesterfield Inlet [28]	Rankin Inlet (north part), Chesterfield Inlet	Cathy Towtongie 171	Cedric Autut 147	Tom Sammurtok 93	Douglas Aggark 58		Tom Sammurtok Defeated
Rankin Inlet South [29]	Rankin Inlet (south part)	Lorne Kusugak 309	Alexander Sammurtok 136				Alexander Sammurtok Defeated
South Baffin [30]	Cape Dorset, Kimmirut	David Joanasie 318	Michael Salomonie 201				David Joanasie Reelected
Tununiq [31]	Pond Inlet	Joe Enook 258	David Qamaniq 146	Jeannie Mills 102			Joe Enook Reelected
Uqqummiut [32]	Clyde River, Qikiqtarjuaq	Pauloosie Keyootak 235	Jerry Natanine 191	Johnathan Palluq 118			Pauloosie Keyootak Reelected

As of November 1, all results are unofficial. ^[33]

References

1. "63.3 per cent of Nunavut voters cast ballots in 2017 election". 8 November 2017.
2. "Nunavut MLAs approve money to be spent by next legislature" Archived 2017-11-07 at the Wayback Machine . Nunatsiaq News , June 8, 2017.
3. "Nunavut MLAs opt for fixed election dates, code of conduct" Archived 2018-02-12 at the Wayback Machine . Nunatsiaq News , February 24, 2014.
4. "Elections Nunavut Declared candidates". Archived from the original on 2017-09-29. Retrieved 2017-09-29.
5. "The fifth Nunavut assembly’s first MLA: ready to engage with constituents". Nunatsiaq News , October 2, 2017.
6. "Close race in western Nunavut hub triggers recount". Nunatsiaq News , October 31, 2017.
7. "'I'm finally feeling rested': Recount confirms Jeannie Ehaloak's election in Cambridge Bay". CBC North, November 5, 2017.
8. "New faces, and a record number of women, will make up Nunavut's next legislature". CBC North, October 30, 2017.
9. "Paul Quassa will be Nunavut's next premier". CBC News. 17 November 2017. Retrieved 17 November 2017.
10. "After Paul Quassa ejected, Nunavut chooses deputy as new premier". CTV News . June 14, 2018. Retrieved August 2, 2019.
11. Results for Aggu Archived 2017-11-07 at the Wayback Machine from Elections Nunavut.
12. Results for Aivilik Archived 2017-11-07 at the Wayback Machine from Elections Nunavut.
13. Results for Amittuq Archived 2017-11-07 at the Wayback Machine from Elections Nunavut.
14. Results for Arviat North-Whale Cove Archived 2017-11-07 at the Wayback Machine from Elections Nunavut.
15. Results for Arviat South Archived 2017-11-07 at the Wayback Machine from Elections Nunavut.
16. Results for Baker Lake Archived 2017-11-07 at the Wayback Machine from Elections Nunavut.
17. Results for Cambridge Bay Archived 2017-11-07 at the Wayback Machine from Elections Nunavut.
18. Results for Gjoa Haven Archived 2017-11-07 at the Wayback Machine from Elections Nunavut.
19. Results for Hudson Bay Archived 2017-11-07 at the Wayback Machine from Elections Nunavut.
20. Results for Iqaluit-Manirajak Archived 2017-11-07 at the Wayback Machine from Elections Nunavut.
21. Results for Iqaluit-Niaqunnguu Archived 2017-11-07 at the Wayback Machine from Elections Nunavut.
22. Results for Iqaluit-Sinaa Archived 2017-11-07 at the Wayback Machine from Elections Nunavut.
23. Results for Iqaluit-Tasiluk Archived 2017-11-07 at the Wayback Machine from Elections Nunavut.
24. Results for Kugluktuk Archived 2017-11-07 at the Wayback Machine from Elections Nunavut.
25. Results for Netsilik Archived 2017-11-07 at the Wayback Machine from Elections Nunavut.
26. Results for Pangnirtung Archived 2017-11-07 at the Wayback Machine from Elections Nunavut.
27. Results for Quttiktuq Archived 2017-11-07 at the Wayback Machine from Elections Nunavut.
28. Results for Rankin Inlet North-Chesterfield Inlet Archived 2017-11-07 at the Wayback Machine from Elections Nunavut.
29. Results for Rankin Inlet South Archived 2017-11-07 at the Wayback Machine from Elections Nunavut.
30. Results for South Baffin Archived 2017-11-07 at the Wayback Machine from Elections Nunavut.
31. Results for Tununiq Archived 2017-11-07 at the Wayback Machine from Elections Nunavut.
32. Results for Uqqummiut Archived 2017-11-07 at the Wayback Machine from Elections Nunavut.
33. 2017 General Election Archived 2017-11-07 at the Wayback Machine from Elections Nunavut.