2004 Nunavut general election


The 2004 Nunavut general election was the second general election held in the Canadian territory. It was held on February 16, 2004, to elect the 19 members of the 2nd Legislative Assembly of Nunavut.
Premier Paul Okalik asked for the five-year-old territory's first parliament to be dissolved on January 16.
The territory operates on a consensus government system with no political parties; the premier is subsequently chosen by and from the MLAs. There were 11,285 registered voters at the time of the election call.

Issues

Issues at the election included:
Elections were held in 18 of the 19 electoral districts. Rankin Inlet North acclaimed its MLA. The following is a list of the districts with their candidates.
DistrictIncumbentElectedPercentageDefeated candidates
AkulliqOvide AlakannuarkSteve Mapsalak34.86%George Bohlender, Joani Kringayark, John Ningark, Roland Tungilik
AmittuqEnoki IrqittuqLouis Tapardjuk39.63%Solomon Allurut, Enoki Irqittuq
ArviatKevin O'BrienDavid Alagalak36.53%Peter Alareak, Peter Two Aulatjut, Kevin O'Brien, Jay Saint, Kono Tattuinee
Baker LakeGlenn McLeanDavid Simailak48.22%David Aksawnee, Becky Kudloo, David Toolooktook Sr.
Cambridge BayKelvin NgKeith Peterson54.09%Harry Ambrose M. Aknavigak, David Kaosoni, Harry Maksagak
Hudson BayPeter KattukPeter Kattuk42.76%Moses Appaqaq, Joe Arragutainaq, Kupapik Ningeocheak, Johnny Tookalook
Iqaluit CentreHunter TootooHunter Tootoo44.8%Natsiq Alainga-Kango, Mike Courtney, Kevin MacCormack, Pauloosie Paniloo, Mary Ellen Thomas
Iqaluit EastEd PiccoEd Picco70.68%John Amagoalik, Norman Ishulutak
Iqaluit WestPaul OkalikPaul Okalik76.99%Doug Workman
KugluktukDonald HavioyakJoe Allen Evyagotailak40.41%Donald Havioyak, Millie Kuliktana
NanulikPatterk NetserPatterk Netser34.92%Emily Beardsall, Willy Nakoolak, Bernard Putulik Sr.
NattilikUriash PuqiqnakLeona Aglukkaq42.84%Tom Akoak, Anthony Anguttitauruq, David Irqiut, Simon Qingnaqtuq, Sonny Porter, Ruediger H.J. Rasch
PangnirtungPeter KilabukPeter Kilabuk61.87%Simeonie Keenainak
QuttiktuqRebekah WilliamsLevi Barnabas43.94%Lucas Amagoalik, Pauloosie Attagootak, Larry Audlaluk, Anthony Ullikatar, Rebekah Williams
Rankin Inlet NorthJack AnawakTagak Curleyacclaimednone
Rankin Inlet South/Whale CoveManitok ThompsonLevinia Brown38.87%Jerry Ell, Percy Kabloona, Ishmael Naulalik, Solomon Voisey
South BaffinOlayuk AkesukOlayuk Akesuk58.94%Malicktoo Lyta, Martha Lyta
TununiqJobie NutarakJobie Nutarak31.84%Appitaq Enuaraq, Sam Omik, David Qajaakuttuk Qamaniq
UqqummiutDavid IqaqrialuJames Arreak27.06%Stevie Audlakiak, Phoebe Palluq Hainnu, Peter Iqalukjuak, David Iqaqrialu, Samuel Nuqingaq, Lootie Toomasie

Source:
In the main, Nunavummiut decided to stay with their present legislature. The premier, four cabinet ministers, and three other MLAs were re-elected; five incumbents were defeated, including former speaker of the house Kevin O'Brien. Only two women were elected to the 19-seat legislature.
Premier Paul Okalik was given a firm endorsement by the voters in his riding. He faced a strong challenge for the premier's job from Tagak Curley, who was acclaimed to his seat. However, Okalik was returned to the premiership on March 5, 2004, by the new legislature.

Miscellaneous

For the first time, residents of several tiny, isolated communities were able to vote by satellite phone.
Voter turnout was nearly 90%; in 8 of the 18 ridings it was higher than 100% since there was no door-to-door enumeration and voter registration is permitted at the polling station.