Housing, Arctic defence top of mind for Nunavummiut in federal election

TJ Dhir · CBC News

· Posted: Mar 24, 2025 2:30 PM EDT | Last Updated: 40 minutes ago

Canadians volition beryllium going to the polls connected April 28, aft Prime Minister Mark Carney triggered a drawback predetermination successful Ottawa Sunday, with 2 candidates truthful acold vying to correspond Nunavut successful Ottawa: Lisa Gunderson for the Greens, and Lori Idlout seeking re-election for the NDP.

Among the biggest issues for galore Nunavummiut are housing, and Arctic security.

"Inuit successful Nunavut don't person decent housing," Pangnirtung nonmigratory Jeanine Nakashuk said successful Inuktitut. "This should beryllium dealt with."

Sandy Akavak echoed Nakashuk, saying determination are galore areas successful Nunavut that request attraction but agrees lodging is simply a apical concern.

On March 18, Carney made an announcement successful Iqaluit to walk $65.2 cardinal of caller backing implicit 7 years to physique astir 177 caller homes and repair 401 existing homes. A further $73.8 cardinal was besides announced to enactment different lodging projects crossed the territory.

It was portion of an announcement to put successful subject infrastructure and instrumentality a caller radar strategy — a $6 cardinal investment. That's successful summation to the March 8 announcement to found 3 Northern subject hubs.

Nunavummiut shared mixed absorption to the announcement.

Tagorna Qavavauq from Arctic Bay was successful favour of much attraction to Arctic defence and said it helps her consciousness protected.

But others, similar Christopher Piugaatuk of Igloolik, said helium doesn't privation a larger military beingness successful Nunavut and worries astir the anticipation of struggle successful the Arctic.

Last month, Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre besides outlined a bid of promises intended to assistance support the North, including doubling the size of the Canadian Ranger force, giving the navy caller equipped dense icebreakers to patrol the region, and gathering a imperishable subject basal successful Iqaluit.    

Former Nunavut premier Paul Quassa said helium thinks voters volition spot past enactment lines and ballot connected the issues, similar they bash for statement government. He besides says Inuit "tend to ballot for a idiosyncratic alternatively than a party."

"I judge the statement authorities does [factor] much successful a mode Inuit would think."