2013 Nunavut general election

The 2013 Nunavut general election was held October 28, 2013, to elect 22 members to the 4th Legislative Assembly of Nunavut. In November 2012 the assembly passed the Nunavut Elections Act 2012, stating that the writs for election drop September 23, 2013, and an election be held October 28, 2013, the proclamation was registered November 9, 2012.^[2] At the 2013 forum, held on November 15, 2013, Peter Taptuna was selected as the new Premier of Nunavut.^[3]

2013 Nunavut general election

← 2008 October 28, 2013 2017 →
← outgoing members elected members →
22 seats in the Legislative Assembly of Nunavut
Turnout	70.3%[1] (1.7pp)
Popular vote by riding. As Nunavut elections are on a non-partisan basis, all candidate run as independents. The Kugluktuk and Netsilik ridings (black) were elected by acclamation.
Premier before election Eva Aariak Premier after election Peter Taptuna

Election summary

Election summary	# of candidates
	Incumbent	New
Elected candidates	4	15
Acclaimed candidates	2	-
Tied candidates	1	1
Defeated candidates	5	45
Total	73

Redistribution

The number of electoral districts were increased to 22 from 19. This is the first redistribution of boundaries since the territory was created in 1999.

New premier and MLAs

On September 5, 2013, Premier Eva Aariak announced that she would stand for reelection but would not run for the position of premier after the election, paving the way for the 3rd Premier of Nunavut to be chosen.^[4] Despite wanting to seek a new position in the Legislature she was defeated in the general election marking the fourth provincial / territorial election in a row that an incumbent Premier has been defeated in his or her riding. (She was preceded by Darrell Dexter in Nova Scotia, Christy Clark in B.C. and Jean Charest in Quebec). A total of seven incumbents did not run for re-election.

In total 73 people registered with Elections Nunavut as candidates.^[5] Of these 73 candidates, 12 were incumbents hoping for reelection, and five have been elected in previous territorial elections, four to Nunavut and one to the Legislative Assembly of the Northwest Territories and 56 have not been elected in a territorial election before.

Two ridings were won by acclamation and both of these were returning MLAs.^[5] A total of eight ridings were contested solely by candidates who have not been elected in a previous territorial election.

Of the seven incumbent cabinet ministers, two chose not to re-offer, two were defeated (one in a by-election following a tie), and three were reelected (one by acclamation).

Candidates

Turnout by riding

Following is a list of candidates that had filed with Elections Nunavut by 2:00 pm (local time), September 27, 2013.^[6] Bold represents winning candidate. All results from Elections Nunavut.

There were ties in two districts. In Rankin Inlet South, incumbent MLA Lorne Kusugak and challenger Alexander Sammurtok were tied with 172 votes.^[7] An official recount was held November 5 and was still found to be a tie. A by-election was scheduled for February 10, 2014,^[8] which was won by Sammurtok. In Uqqummiut, Niore Iqalukjuak and Samuel Nuqingaq were tied with 197 votes.^[9] After the official recount held November 5 Nuqingaq was found to have two more votes than Iqalukjuak.^[10]

Candidates by district
District	Communities	Winner	Second	Third	Fourth	Fifth	Sixth	Changes	Incumbent
Aggu[11]	Igloolik (north part)	Paul Quassa 96	John Illupalik 83	Daniel Uyarak 42				New district	n/a(A)
Aivilik[12]	Repulse Bay, Coral Harbour	Steve Mapsalak 263	Johnny Ningeongan 187					New district	n/a(B)(C)
Amittuq[13]	Igloolik (south part), Hall Beach	George Qulaut 244	Paul Haulli 103					Boundaries redrawn	Louis Tapardjuk(L)
Arviat North-Whale Cove[14]	Arviat (north part), Whale Cove	George Kuksuk 160	Elizabeth Copland 146	David Kritterdlik 71	Amauyak Netser 66	Joseph Ivitaaruq Kaviok 19		New district	n/a(D)(E)
Arviat South[15]	Arviat (south part)	Joe Savikataaq 181	Airo Pameolik 147	Peter Alareak 125				New district	n/a(D)
Baker Lake[16]	Baker Lake	Simeon Mikkungwak 392	Karen Yip 269					Unchanged	Moses Aupaluktuq(L)
Cambridge Bay[17]	Cambridge Bay	Keith Peterson 443	Fred Pedersen 120	Clara Hokayak Evalik 82				Unchanged	Keith Peterson
Gjoa Haven[18]	Gjoa Haven	Tony Akoak 210	Linda Hunter 161	George Sonny Porter 46	Andrew Porter 17			New district	n/a(F)
Hudson Bay[19]	Sanikiluaq	Allan Rumbolt 139	Moses Appaqaq 97	Frank Audla 63	Lucy Uppik 15			Unchanged	Allan Rumbolt
Iqaluit-Manirajak[20]	Iqaluit (west part)	Monica Ell-Kanayuk 330	Mikidjuk Akavak 72	Lewis Lehman 57	Paulie Sammurtok 19			New district	n/a(G)
Iqaluit-Niaqunnguu[21]	Iqaluit (east part)	Pat Angnakak 151	Anne Crawford 131	Methusalah Kunuk 81	Jack Anawak 66	Duncan Cunningham 41	Sytukie Joamie 6	New district	n/a(G)
Iqaluit-Sinaa[22]	Iqaluit (south part)	Paul Okalik 180	Leesee Papatsie 97	Solomon Awa 69	Natsiq Kango 42			New district	n/a(G)
Iqaluit-Tasiluk[23]	Iqaluit (north part)	George Hickes 237	Eva Aariak 194	Patterk Netser 85	Travis Cooper 69	Gideonie Joamie 28		New district	n/a(G)
Kugluktuk[24]	Kugluktuk	Peter Taptuna Acclaimed						Unchanged	Peter Taptuna
Netsilik[24]	Taloyoak, Kugaaruk	Jeannie Ugyuk Acclaimed						New district	n/a(H)(I)
Pangnirtung[25]	Pangnirtung	Johnny Mike 198	Harry J Dialla 183	Sakiasie Sowdlooapik 82	Hezakiah Oshutapik 67			Unchanged	Hezakiah Oshutapik
Quttiktuq[26]	Arctic Bay, Grise Fiord, Resolute	Isaac Shooyook 232	Ron Elliott 152					Unchanged	Ron Elliott
Rankin Inlet North-Chesterfield Inlet[27]	Rankin Inlet (north part), Chesterfield Inlet	Tom Sammurtok 212	Donna Adams 94	Qilak Kusugak 89	Harry Niakrok 68			New district	n/a(J)(K)
Rankin Inlet South[7] See also #By-election below	Rankin Inlet (south part)	Lorne Kusugak 172 Alexander Sammurtok 172						New district	n/a(J)
South Baffin[28]	Cape Dorset, Kimmirut	David Joanasie 409	Tommy Akavak 160	Mathew Saveakjuk Jaw 51	Fred Schell 43	Joannie Ikkidluak 40		Unchanged	Fred Schell
Tununiq[29]	Pond Inlet	Joe Enook 359	David Qajaakuttuk Qamaniq 132					Unchanged	Joe Enook
Uqqummiut[9][10]	Clyde River, Qikiqtarjuaq	Samuel Nuqingaq 187	Niore Iqalukjuak 185	Loseosie Paneak 62	Apiusie Apak 49	Charlie Kalluk 26		Unchanged	James Arreak(L)

Notes

^(A) Igloolik was represented by Louis Tapardjuk (Amittuq)

^(B) Repulse Bay was represented by John Ningark (Akulliq)

^(C) Coral Harbour was represented by Johnny Ningeongan (Nanulik)

^(D) Arviat was represented by Daniel Shewchuk (Arviat)

^(E) Whale Cove was represented by Lorne Kusugak (Rankin Inlet South/Whale Cove)

^(F) Gjoa Haven was represented by Jeannie Ugyuk (Nattilik)

^(G) Iqaluit was represented by Eva Aariak (Iqaluit East), Monica Ell (Iqaluit West) and Hunter Tootoo (Iqaluit Centre)

^(H) Taloyoak was represented by Jeannie Ugyuk (Nattilik)

^(I) Kugaaruk was represented by John Ningark (Akulliq)

^(J) Rankin Inlet was represented by Tagak Curley (Rankin Inlet North) and Lorne Kusugak (Rankin Inlet South/Whale Cove)

^(K) Chesterfield Inlet was represented by Johnny Ningeongan (Nanulik)

^(L) Not running in 2013^[30]

Fate of incumbents

Bold indicates a cabinet member.

Incumbent	Riding at dissolution	New riding	Result
Eva Aariak	Iqaluit East	Iqaluit-Tasiluk	Defeated
James Arreak	Uqqummiut	n/a	Did not run again
Moses Aupaluktuq	Baker Lake	n/a	Did not run again
Tagak Curley	Rankin Inlet North	n/a	Did not run again
Monica Ell-Kanayuk	Iqaluit West	Iqaluit-Manirajak	Reelected
Ron Elliott	Quttiktuq	Quttiktuq	Defeated
Joe Enook	Tununiq	Tununiq	Reelected
Lorne Kusugak	Rankin Inlet South/Whale Cove	Rankin Inlet South	Tied; defeated in subsequent by-election
John Ningark	Akulliq	n/a	Did not run again
Johnny Ningeongan	Nanulik	Aivilik	Defeated
Hezakiah Oshutapik	Pangnirtung	Pangnirtung	Defeated
Keith Peterson	Cambridge Bay	Cambridge Bay	Reelected
Allan Rumbolt	Hudson Bay	Hudson Bay	Reelected
Fred Schell	South Baffin	South Baffin	Defeated
Daniel Shewchuk	Arviat	n/a	Did not run again
Louis Tapardjuk	Amittuq	n/a	Did not run again
Peter Taptuna	Kugluktuk	Kugluktuk	Reelected (acclaimed)
Hunter Tootoo	Iqaluit Centre	n/a	Did not run again
Jeannie Ugyuk	Nattilik	Netsilik	Reelected (acclaimed)

Retiring incumbents

The following incumbents have announced that they will not be running in the 2013 election.^[5][30]

Incumbent	District	Role	Reason
James Arreak	Uqqummiut	Cabinet minister	Undisclosed reasons
Moses Aupaluktuq	Baker Lake	Regular member	Spend more time with family
Tagak Curley	Rankin Inlet North	Regular member	Spend more time with family
John Ningark	Akulliq	Regular member	Undisclosed reasons
Daniel Shewchuk	Arviat	Cabinet minister	Undisclosed reasons
Louis Tapardjuk	Amittuq	Regular member	Undisclosed reasons
Hunter Tootoo	Iqaluit Centre	Speaker	Undisclosed reasons

By-election

With the tie in Rankin Inlet South confirmed by a judicial recount, a new by-election was scheduled on February 10, 2014.

Rankin Inlet South by-election on February 10, 2014
	Name	Vote	%
	Alexander Sammurtok	268	54.3%
	Lorne Kusugak	225	45.7%
Total Valid Ballots		493	100%
Voter Turnout		Rejected Ballots