NDP's Mumilaaq Qaqqaq, 25, is Nunavut's next MP - Action News
Home WebMail Friday, November 22, 2024, 11:50 AM | Calgary | -10.8°C | Regions Advertise Login | Our platform is in maintenance mode. Some URLs may not be available. |
North

NDP's Mumilaaq Qaqqaq, 25, is Nunavut's next MP

Mumilaaq Qaqqaq was the youngest candidate running in the territories. Early Tuesday morning, she became one of the youngest MPs-elect in the country.

Qaqqaq defeats Conservatives' Leona Aglukkaq and Liberals' Megan Pizzo Lyall

Mumilaaq Qaqqaq, running for the NDP in Nunavut, has won the territory's only seat, scrutineers confirmed to CBC. (Sara Frizzell/CBC)

Mumilaaq Qaqqaq, 25,was the youngest candidate running for federal MPin any of the threeterritories.

Early Tuesday morning, she became one of the youngest MPs in the country.

With 55of 59 polls counted, the NDP candidate sat at 3,717votes nearly 1,000 more than her closest challenger, Liberal Megan Pizzo Lyall.

The margin was large enough that CBC's decision desk was able to confidentlyprojectQaqqaq's victory.

Pizzo Lyall called Qaqqaq to congratulate her on her win just after 2 a.m. ET.

Speaking to CBC from Baker Lake, where she watched the results roll in with family and friends,Qaqqaq said the evening was "just how I hoped. A quiet night."

"I think it'll take a few days to sink in," she said."I'm glad that Nunavut is up for change, and ready for change, and that's exactly what we've been needing for decades."

Qaqqaq will be the first NDP MP for the territory since 1980, back when the riding was named Nunatsiaq and the territory was still part of the Northwest Territories.

Conservative candidate Leona Aglukkaq watches the election coverage from the Grind and Brew restaurant in Iqaluit. (David Gunn/CBC)

Conservative candidate Leona Aglukkaq, a former cabinet minister in Stephen Harper's government, trailed in third, at more than 1,000 votes behind Qaqqaq.

"I'm super excited to be standing in the House of Commons, and be able to talk about things and help things happen," Qaqqaq said.

"Help funding come through, help people understand why things may or may not work here in Nunavut, and give a reality check at the federal level, so to speak."

A newcomer to politics, Qaqqaqwas outspoken on the campaign trail. At an all-candidates forum last week, she said the New DemocraticParty let her be herself, which meant she could be emotional as she answered questions for the audience.

That freedom would allow her to be a voice for Inuit in the House of Commons, she argued.

During a youth mock parliament in 2017, Qaqqaqrepresented Nunavut and spoke about how hard it is for Inuit to face suicide alone. She has said throughout her campaign that this issue affects her deeply.

Qaqqaq has promised to advocate for Nunavummiut to help address the housing crisis in the territory. The NDP platform promises half a million public housing units across the country, which Qaqqaq says is an opportunity for Nunavut.

While campaigning, she stayed with relatives whose home was infested with mould something she says is unacceptable, and is a reason she argued she would be a voice for change.

Federal politics were not part of her life plan, but a chance for her to be a voice for Inuit, she said.

"It was an opportunity that came to me a few weeks ago, not something I was expecting and I take every opportunity that I can to help Inuit, to help Nunavummiut, and this was a great opportunity," Qaqqaq told CBC.

Qaqqaq replaces incumbentHunter Tootoo, who was elected as a Liberal in 2015, but resigned from cabinet and the Liberal caucus in 2016.

Tootoo served out his term as an Independent MP, but did not run again.

Iqaluit voters queued at Cadet Hall to cast their votes for Nunavut's next member of Parliament. It was also the location of the advance polls for Nunavut's municipal election. (Nick Murray/CBC)

BlocQubcoiswins riding including Nunavik

In Abitibi-Baie-James-Nunavik-Eeyou the riding that includes all 14 Nunavik communities Sylvie Brub with theBloc Qubcoisis the new member of Parliament.

Of the 197 polls in the riding,177 have been reported, which represent nearly 90 per cent of the votes.

Brubwas running againstLiberal Isabelle Bergeron, Conservative Martin Ferron, NDP Jacline Rouleau, Green Kiara Cabana-Whiteley, People's Party Guillaume Lanouette and Marijuana Party candidate Daniel Simon.

The incumbent MP, Romeo Saganash of the NDP, did not seek re-election.

Blizzard conditions closed polling station

In Resolute Bay, where windsgustedto 90 kilometres per hour, the polling station closed a few hours early, in part because of the weather and in part because voter turnout had slowed.

"Workers decided to stay and they were serving electors. Poll is closing at this moment for security purposes," a spokesperson for Elections Canada said in an email at 7 p.m.

There are 111 eligible voters in the community, according to Elections Canada.

For this election, there are 18,665 eligible voters in Nunavut, five per cent of which voted in advancepolls, a drop of around 130 voters from the advancevoter turnout in the 2015 election.

Nearly 1,000 voters took advantage of the advancepolls, which were open over Thanksgiving weekend from Oct. 1114.

Some voters expressed concerns that the ballots for the federal election were not in Inuktitut but only in English and French, though promotional materials were in Inuktitut.

With files from Nick Murray