Iqaluit's municipal candidates — a mix of veterans and newcomers — outline priorities

Municipal elections will take place across Nunavut on Oct. 23, with advanced polls opening this week on Monday. 

In Iqaluit, there will be two ballots on election day: one for mayor and one for city council. Candidates for district education authorities in Apex and Iqaluit have been acclaimed. 

Voters can cast their ballots at Abe Okpik Hall in Apex or at the Cadet Hall in Iqaluit from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. 

In preparation for the election, CBC reached out to candidates with a list of questions. Read their answers below. 

Have you run to be a municipal councillor before? If you were elected, how long have you been elected for and in what position?

I have had the privilege of running for election in Iqaluit twice before and have served on city council for approximately six-and-a-half years, including serving as deputy mayor for most of the past year. This experience has given me valuable insights into the workings of our city government and the challenges we face. It has also allowed me to contribute to the positive work that is already underway and to identify excellent opportunities for the future of Iqaluit.

Why do you want to run for council this time around?

The last challenging four-year term has shown me that there is an incredible amount of positive work happening in our city and great opportunities on the horizon. I want to lend my strengths and experience to the team that can help turn these opportunities into a reality for Iqaluit.

 What do you see as your community's greatest challenge for council (mayor and councillors) to overcome?

Our city's greatest challenges continue to be housing shortages and the infrastructure gaps that are causing them, and I am committed to addressing these and other pressing issues as I highlight in my campaign.

If you are elected, what are your top three priorities?

We can create many new housing opportunities by fast-tracking the development of new, affordable trucked water and sewer neighbourhoods. At the same time, we can use already secured federal funding to replace aged and leaking pipes now, ensuring we conserve the water supply we do have and allowing us to create and serve even more new homes. We can also immediately lower the cost of water for our residents as much of our water related capital costs can be addressed by the funding now in place, which is a big first step in helping with our cost of living challenges. Finally, to meet our current needs and future growth, we need to expand the services of our municipal enforcement team and provide additional support to our firefighter and paramedic crews to ensure the safety of our community.

What traits do you have that you think make you a good leader for your community?

My experience on council has allowed me to build positive working relationships with my colleagues and I also bring viable solutions to the table, collaborating closely with council members and city administration to address residents' concerns and develop effective policies that improve services and promote the growth of our community while managing our financial constraints responsibly.