Voters in the electoral district of Aggu will return to the polls on Dec. 15 to choose one of six candidates after the Nunavut territorial election left the Iglulik riding with a tie back in October. Incumbent MLA Joanna Quassa and her only challenger on Oct. 27, Erasmus Ivvalu, both garnered 105 votes. This time around, four other candidates have entered the fray. Housing is a concern cited by all of them. Candidate Louisa Iyerak said an expansion of Nunavut Housing Corporation (NHC) units is needed for the community. “Iglulik has 328 public units with the population of 2,391. Extreme housing shortage needs more housing units that won’t mould. There are some units with mould that need to be addressed,” Iyerak said. Candidate George Qaunaq focused on the state of homes in disrepair in Iglulik. “Housing action and derelict unit cleanup,” Qaunaq said of his priorities. Meanwhile, Joanna Quassa said she wants to provide spaces for people with nowhere to go. She said creating a respite centre is a priority for her. “Safe place/shelter, where people can feel safe when they need a place to go to rather than being outside or going to people’s place and feel they are unwelcomed,” Quassa said. Iyerak said healthcare issues in the community are exacerbated by being on an island isolated from running water. She said a lack of local healthcare professionals is something the government can fix. “Many nurses and LPNs (licensed practical nurses) are hesitant to return due to harassment,” Iyerak said. “The government must find solutions to encourage them to come back. The minister of Health must take stronger action to protect nurses and public servants from reported harassment.” She added, “Iglulik being the fourth largest community in Nunavut, there’s no food bank, youth centre, public library and arena.” Lack of infrastructure is an issue Qaunaq and Quassa also mentioned. Qaunaq said that without services, Iglulik residents face a heightened danger, adding that “community safety and infrastructure” are areas he’d like to see improved. “Like getting a doctor, more mental health programs, shelters and food security,” he said. For Quassa, she wants to see programs directed at the oldest and youngest residents of Iglulik. “Elder and youth program funding be provided to community rather than through applications, so community wellness can have programs throughout [the] year without having to worry about funding,” Quassa said. Food security is among Iyerak’s top three priorities. She said produce often arrives in Iglulik overripe and the government needs to bring down rising grocery bills. “Without the food bank, the community helps each other with country food or dry goods,” she remarked. “The government urgently needs to bring the prices down.” “Addressing the shipping cost or hold the airline accountable for overpricing the shipping fees for groceries that aren’t handled properly; either cut down the shipping cost or invest in warehouses and grocery area in the cargo plane,” Iyerak suggested. Employment in Iglulik is among Qaunaq and Quassa’s other priorities, but the two candidates are taking a different approach. “Small locally-owned business,” is Qaunaq’s preference. Meanwhile, Quassa wants to take action on government jobs she said are leaving town. “Replacing GN positions that are being moved from Iglulik,” she said. Erasmus Ivvalu, who tied Quassa in the Oct. 27 election, Edward Attagutaluk, and Louis Tapardjuk did not respond to questions from from Nunavut News. Early voting in the Aggu byelection ran from Dec. 1 to Dec. 11. at the M&R Building. Election day voting will be held at the community hall from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m.
Aggu candidates outline priorities ahead of election
