The Candidates: Iqaluit-Tasiluk

Iqaluit-Tasiluk takes in the Happy Valley neighborhood as well as newer developments along the so-called Road to Nowhere, which are home to many newcomers and government employees.

Happy Valley is older and more socially and economically mixed; it includes co-op and public housing as well as many private homes.

In this constituency, James T. Arreak, Jonathan Chul-Hee Min Park and Michael Salomonie are running against the incumbent George Hickes.

CBC has reached out to all candidates with a list of questions in Inuktut and English, as well as consulted candidates' own online campaign messages. The available information has been edited for length and clarity.

James T. Arreak

Born in Igloolik and raised in Pond Inlet, James T. Arreak finished Grade 12 at the Akaitcho Hall residential school in Yellowknife.

Arreak holds a Master's degree in business administration and bachelor degrees in management and business administration.

He has served as an assistant negotiator for the Qikiqtani Inuit Association, executive director at the Coalition of Nunavut District Education Authorities, president of the Nunavut Economic Forum, CEO of Nunavut Tunngavik Inc. and director of fiscal planning at Nunavut's Department of Finance.

He also has 24 years of other board experience and has coached volleyball.

"I care for Iqalungmiut as well as Nunavut, so I want to use my experience and skills to serve them," Arreak said.

Among the biggest issues in his constituency: inflation, "government inaction" for people that are in need of support and services, and public safety.

Arreak said he would also provide more access to constituents because "Iqaluit-Tasiluk residents have not heard from their MLA for a number of years now."

The biggest issues for Nunavut as a whole include housing, the lack of infrastructure across Nunavut, and implementation of Article 23 of the Nunavut Agreement to increase Inuit participation in government.

George Hickes

Born in Churchill, Man., George Hickes moved to Iqaluit in 2004 with his wife to raise their two youngest daughters.

With an educational background in finance and business experience in the financial services industry, Hickes completed the Government of Nunavut's advanced management program now known as the Hivuliqtikhanut Leadership Development Program in 2007.

Before being elected as MLA in 2013, Hickes held positions in finance, policy and governance with the territorial government. After his election, he served as minister in a variety of portfolios, including minister responsible for the Qulliq Energy Corp., the Nunavut Housing Corp., and the departments of health, finance and justice.

Hickes said he would like to continue as minister, but is not looking to become premier.

Hickes has also served as a volunteer firefighter, a member of the Canadian Rangers and a minor hockey coach.

While knocking on doors, he's heard concerns about COVID-19, housing, training opportunities for Inuit, bilingual Inuktitut education and utility rates.

"Public safety and caring for our elders are also important issues to a lot of people, which I believe I can make an impact on improving in our next government," Hickes said.

Bringing more care closer to home (health care, elder care, addictions and mental health) and working to see more and better housing would also be among his priorities.

Jonathan Chul-Hee Min Park

Jonathan Park is a lawyer who has lived and worked in Rankin Inlet since 2013 and in Iqaluit since 2018.

A newcomer to territorial politics, Park said he's running for MLA because he has many ideas to improve life in Nunavut.

Among his goals, Park would like to level the playing field between the haves and have-nots in Iqaluit. To that end, he would like to see a basic livable income established in the territory.

"I believe that government exists to make sure that our community is empowered and able to take care of every single person," he said on social media.

"We all have a right to exist, but we live in a system that makes those with less money or less ability feel like their existence is a burden. I believe that we must change the system to one that is filled with compassion for people and that seeks actions and policies that serve people instead of systems."

If elected, he said he would advocate for more support for non-profit organizations such as the Qajuqturvik Food Centre.

"We must work together if we are to end food insecurity in Nunavut," Park said.

Improving housing is among his priorities in his constituency and territory-wide.In the constituency, securing a more stable water supply is also important, he said.

Michael Salomonie

Michael Salomonie has an on-the-land education received at an outpost camp in Tasiujaqjuaq, west of Kinngait, that laid the foundation for his Inuktitut language and "my passion to be connected to the land," he said.

After completing high school in Kinngait he went to Aurora College in Fort Smith and then to the Royal Canadian Mounted Police Academy.

That was followed by 12 years of service with the RCMP both in Nunavut and Saskatchewan. He later worked for the City of Iqaluit, as a procurement officer with the Nunavut government, and with CBC Nunavut, which led to his role of manager of communications for the Government of Nunavut's Department of Culture and Heritage.

Most recently he's worked as manager of Inuit language marketing and with the City of Iqaluit as a casual dispatcher of Emergency Services.

Salomonie, also a fireworks display technician, has coached hockey at the Junior C level in Iqaluit. He is now a board member of the Iqaluit Qimmit Katimajiit "to further the relationship of Inuit sled dogs in our community."

His priorities include helping families navigate government services, improving child-care, full day Kindergarten and bringing elders back from the South.

For a stronger Nunavut economy, Salomonie would like to see the territory invest in an airline, work to repatriate fishing licenses and increase cruise ship tourism.