Urgent Update: Nunavut’s Aggu Riding to Hold New Election Dec. 15

URGENT UPDATE: Residents of Igloolik in Nunavut are set to return to the polls on December 15 to determine their next Member of the Legislative Assembly (MLA) after a judicial recount revealed a tie between candidates. Both incumbent Joanna Quassa and challenger Erasmus Ivvalu received 105 votes each, prompting the need for a decisive new election.

This election in the Aggu riding is critical, as it follows a tight race that was one of three ridings to undergo recounts after close results on election day. The other two ridings, Pangnirtung and Quttiktuq, confirmed their candidates, with Johnny Mike and Steven Taqtu declared as MLA-elects after their recounts.

The implications of this new election are significant. The leadership forum, where MLAs will decide on the assembly’s Speaker, premier, and Cabinet, is scheduled for November 18. A one-day sitting of the new legislative assembly will occur shortly after, on November 20. Questions remain about whether the forum will proceed without Aggu’s representative or if it will be postponed until the election results are finalized.

CBC News has reached out to the Legislative Assembly of Nunavut for clarification on how this situation will affect the upcoming forum. The return to the polls signals an urgent call for residents to engage in their democratic process once more, ensuring that their voice is represented in crucial legislative decisions.

As the situation develops, residents and observers alike are keenly awaiting the outcome of this pivotal election, which not only impacts local governance but also highlights the importance of every vote in shaping the future of the Aggu riding.

Stay tuned for further updates as we continue to monitor this breaking story.