ᐃᓄᑐᖃᐃᑦ ᐃᓱᒪᒋᔭᖃᖅᐳᑦ NDP-ᑯᑦ ᓵᓚᖃᕐᓂᖏᓐᓂ 25-ᓂ-ᐅᑭᐅᓕᒃ ᒧᒥᓛᖅ ᖃᖅᑲᖅ ᓄᓇᕘᑉ ᐃᓚᒋᔭᐅᔪᖃᑕᐅᓂᐊᓕᖅᐳᖅ ᑲᓇᑕᐅᑉ ᒪᓕᒐᓕᐅᖅᑎᖏᓐᓄᑦ
Nunavut couple discouraged by adoption silence Volume 74 Issue 25 MONDAY, October 28, 2019
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Elders weigh in on NDP victory
Rajnesh Sharma /NNSL photos
Annie Nattaq hopes Qaqqaq will focus on mental health issues.
Don Kunuk believes it will be a learning process for the young MP.
Paul Atagooyuk is very stunned that Qaqqaq has won.
Rebecca Veevee likes how Qaqqaq is not afraid to speak her mind.
25-year-old Mumilaaq Qaqqaq is Nunavut's next MP by Rajnesh Sharma
Northern News Services
Iqaluit
She's never held political office. She's 25-years-old. She's your new MP. Mumilaaq Qaqqaq, a Baker Lake youth advocate and member of the New Democrat Party, will be one of the youngest MPs in Canada after receiving 41 per cent of the votes in Nunavut. She defeated the Conservative candidate Leona Aglukkaq, who received 25 per cent of the votes and Liberal candidate Megan Pizzo-Lyall, who garnered 31 per cent.
Nunavut News took to the streets to find out what people are thinking about their new MP. For Annie Nattaq, Qaqqaq's age is not a factor. It is her commitment and "positive" attitude that stands out for this elder. "If someone believes in doing something, then they will do it," she said. "Qaqqaq believes in herself and sounds committed." Nattaq admits that she was surprised when Qaqqaq won because had not heard much about her. "It is hard to say what to expect from her considering she has to work with the other parties," she
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said. housing crisis in Nunavut. Kunuk The elder hopes the new MP also hopes she will address the will address the housing needs of shortcomings of the much-maligned Nunavut and also its mental Nutrition North program. ᒧᒥᓛᖅ health issues. Even two days after ᖃᖅᑲᖅ Nattaq emphasized the Qaqqaq's victory, Paul importance of having supAtagooyuk is still feeling port workers in Nunavut that astonished. speak the language and know "I am absolutely stunned!" the culture. he exclaimed. "I was surprised she won!" He expected either the exclaimed Don Kunuk. Liberals or Conservatives to Mumilaaq He recognizes that Qaqqaq win, not the NDP. Qaqqaq is "pretty young" He is undecided how the and is going to have to learn MP's young age will impact about politics. her tenure. He hopes Qaqqaq will He hopes she will address the help the Inuit by addressing issues
MLA upset by cost of $209M fibre optic line
like housing and healthcare. Rebecca Veevee appreciates the fact that Qaqqaq does not seem to shy away from addressing troubling issues. Her strength lies in her "strong" voice and ability to answer questions well, said Veevee. "I was not really surprised she won because she has a strong voice. She answers well and that's what I like about her," she explained. Veevee hopes that with Qaqqaq's help, the homeless will be heard by the government. "Listen and give the homeless people houses," said Veevee.
Elders' feast a hit
"Remi was a strong advocate for his beautiful hometown of Kugaaruk." – Economic Development Minister David Akeeagok on the late Remi Krikort, page 11.