The 2017 Nunavut general election was held on October 30, 2017, to return the members of the 5th Nunavut Legislature."Nunavut MLAs approve money to be spent by next legislature" . Nunatsiaq News, June 8, 2017. 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."Nunavut MLAs opt for fixed election dates, code of conduct" . Nunatsiaq News, February 24, 2014.

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. 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."The fifth Nunavut assembly’s first MLA: ready to engage with constituents" . Nunatsiaq News, October 2, 2017.

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."Close race in western Nunavut hub triggers recount" . Nunatsiaq News, October 31, 2017. The recount confirmed that the original count was correct."'I'm finally feeling rested': Recount confirms Jeannie Ehaloak's election in Cambridge Bay". CBC North, November 5, 2017.

Follow up A record number of women were elected to the legislature;"New faces, and a record number of women, will make up Nunavut's next legislature". CBC North, October 30, 2017. in addition to Kamingoak's acclamation, four more women were declared elected on election night, and a woman won the recount in Cambridge Bay. 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.

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

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 statisticsSeatsDid not run againDefeatedReelected 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 districtDistrictCommunitiesWinnerSecondThirdFourthOthersIncumbentBold denotes cabinet ministersAgguResults for Aggu from Elections Nunavut. Igloolik (north part) Paul Quassa106 Matt Teed96 Richard Amarualik79 Jerome Sheaves14 Paul QuassaReelectedAivilikResults for Aivilik from Elections Nunavut.Coral Harbour,Naujaat Patterk Netser318 Jack Anawak218Steve MapsalakDid not run againAmittuqResults for Amittuq from Elections Nunavut. Igloolik (south part),Hall Beach Joelie Kaernerk115 Paul Haulli84 George Qulaut69 Reena Akumalik Irqittuq46 Jason Ikeperiar: 41Solomon Angugasak Allurut: 39Erasmus Ivvalu: 22 George QulautDefeatedArviat North-Whale CoveResults for Arviat North-Whale Cove from Elections Nunavut.Arviat (north part),Whale Cove John Main408 George Kuksuk115 George KuksukDefeatedArviat SouthResults for Arviat South from Elections Nunavut.Arviat (south part) Joe Savikataaq280 Jason Gibbons234Joe SavikataaqReelectedBaker LakeResults for Baker Lake from Elections Nunavut.Baker Lake Simeon Mikkungwak389 Karen Kabloona280Simeon MikkungwakReelectedCambridge BayResults for Cambridge Bay from Elections Nunavut.Cambridge Bay Jeannie Ehaloak259Pamela Gross250Harry Maksagak126Keith PetersonDid not run againGjoa HavenResults for Gjoa Haven from Elections Nunavut.Gjoa Haven Tony Akoak171James Taqaugaq Qitsualik133Paul Puqiqnak79Joseph Aglukkaq53Tony AkoakReelectedHudson BayResults for Hudson Bay from Elections Nunavut.Sanikiluaq Allan Rumbolt131 Peter Qavvik112 Peter Kattuk105Allan RumboltReelectedIqaluit-ManirajakResults for Iqaluit-Manirajak from Elections Nunavut.Iqaluit (west part) Adam Lightstone253Monica Ell-Kanayuk227Jude Lewis81Okalik Eegeesiak64Monica Ell-KanayukDefeatedIqaluit-NiaqunnguuResults for Iqaluit-Niaqunnguu from Elections Nunavut.Iqaluit (east part) Pat Angnakak231Franco Buscemi196Anne Crawford134Pat AngnakakReelectedIqaluit-SinaaResults for Iqaluit-Sinaa from Elections Nunavut.Iqaluit (south part) Elisapee Sheutiapik237Paul Okalik150Cindy Rennie86Adamee Itorcheak56Paul OkalikDefeatedIqaluit-TasilukResults for Iqaluit-Tasiluk from Elections Nunavut.Iqaluit (north part) George Hickes449Jacopoosie Peter121George HickesReelectedKugluktukResults for Kugluktuk from Elections Nunavut.Kugluktuk Mila Adjukak Kamingoakacclaimed Peter TaptunaDid not run againNetsilikResults for Netsilik from Elections Nunavut.Taloyoak,Kugaaruk Emiliano Qirngnuq310 Joe Tulurialik141Emiliano QirngnuqReelectedPangnirtungResults for Pangnirtung from Elections Nunavut.Pangnirtung Margaret Nakashuk266Harry John Dialla129Johnny Mike93Hezakiah Oshutapik31Johnny MikeDefeatedQuttiktuqResults for Quttiktuq from Elections Nunavut.Arctic Bay,Grise Fiord,Resolute David Akeeagok189Mishak Allurut78Isaac Shooyook45Kataisee Attagutsiak44Leo Eecherk: 34Andrew Taqtu: 9Mavis Manik: 6Gary Kalluk: 2Rachel Qitsualik-Tinsley: 0Isaac ShooyookDefeatedRankin Inlet North-Chesterfield InletResults for Rankin Inlet North-Chesterfield Inlet from Elections Nunavut.Rankin Inlet (north part),Chesterfield Inlet Cathy Towtongie171Cedric Autut147Tom Sammurtok93Douglas Aggark58Tom SammurtokDefeatedRankin Inlet SouthResults for Rankin Inlet South from Elections Nunavut.Rankin Inlet (south part) Lorne Kusugak309Alexander Sammurtok136Alexander SammurtokDefeatedSouth BaffinResults for South Baffin from Elections Nunavut.Cape Dorset,Kimmirut David Joanasie318 Michael Salomonie201David JoanasieReelectedTununiqResults for Tununiq from Elections Nunavut.Pond Inlet Joe Enook258David Qamaniq146Jeannie Mills102Joe EnookReelectedUqqummiutResults for Uqqummiut from Elections Nunavut.Clyde River,Qikiqtarjuaq Pauloosie Keyootak235Jerry Natanine191Johnathan Palluq118Pauloosie KeyootakReelected As of November 1, all results are unofficial.2017 General Election from Elections Nunavut.

References