Ten communities held elections last Monday for either mayors and council or just council, and Tuktoyaktuk also voted to free up its liquor regulations.
Besides Tuk, Aklavik, Enterprise, Fort Liard, Fort McPherson, Fort Resolution, Paulatuk, Sachs Harbour, Tulita and Ulukhaktok all went to the polls.
Enterprise’s new mayor, Winnifred Cadieux, says she’s pleased by the community’s 51 per cent voter turnout, and excited to be in the role.
“I feel privileged to be able to act as mayor in the community and thank the people that came out and voted,” says Cadieux.
“A major goal is to adopt and engage in our strategic plan as soon as possible,” she says of her motivations, “so that we have a working document, a living document that we can move forward with reaching some goals with regard to governance, water, development of tourism and economic development strategies.”
Enterprise’s council will be comprised of Chaal Richard Cadieux and Joe Lalonde.
Merven Gruben is back as mayor of Tuktoyaktuk. He’d served previously for three terms – until Darrel Nasogaluak took the seat in 2013 to hold it for two terms – and played a large role in lobbying for the highway extension to the community that opened this fall. Close to 42 per cent of eligible voters went to the polls in Tuktoyaktuk. Noella Cockney, Erwin Elias, Jocelyn Noksana, Joe Nasogaluak and Deborah Raddi will make up council.
Tuk also voted overwhelmingly, 168 to 76, to lift restrictions on possessing and transporting beer and wine within the community’s boundaries. Restrictions on spirits, that no more than 2280 millilitres can be held, will remain in place.
The rest of the results, community by community and provided by Wanda Norwegian at the Department of Municipal and Community Affairs, are as follows:
In Aklavik, Andrew Charlie beat Charles Furlong for mayor, 175 votes to 89. The council is made up of Dave McLeod, Greg Wilson, Edwin Greenland and Bill Storr, though Billie Archie only lost a seat by two votes so there will be a recount. The voter turnout was 64 per cent.
In Fort Liard, Genevieve McLeod beat Steven Steeve and Mike Gonet with 54, 41 and 32 votes respectively. Council, all acclaimed, is made up of Herbert Berreault, Julie Capot-Blanc, Mike Gonet, Cathy Kotchea, Irene McLeod and Morris McLeod. Voter turnout was 39.8 per cent.
In Fort Resolution, Louis Balsillie is back as mayor with 98 votes, beating Gary Baily who had 60 votes, Elizabeth Ann McKay who had 27 and Patrick Simon who got 24. Council is comprised of Frank Fabian, Greg Villeneuve Sr. and Patrick Simon but as Tommy Unka lost a seat by two votes, an automatic turnout has been triggered. Voter turnout was 63.5 per cent.
In Paulatuk, a council was elected comprised of Albert Ruben, Jason Reidford, Gilbert Thrasher Sr. and Tony Green, but as Jermaine Green and Nelson Ruben each only lost by one vote, there will be a recount. Voter turnout was 35 per cent.
In Sachs Harbour, Betty Haogak got 26 votes to beat out Manny Kudlak’s 14 and Earl Esau’s eight. Norman Anikina, Sharon Green, donna Keogak and Angela Keogak will make up council. Voter turnout was 61.5 per cent.
In Tulita, Rocky Norwegian was elected mayor with 66 votes. His competitors were Edward MacCauley with 46, Danny Yakeleya with 34 and Wilfred Lennie Sr. with 21. Council will be made up of Terrence Kunkel, Shelly Widow, Douglas Yallee, Sally Ann Horassi, Janet Bayha-MacCauley, Roderick Clement, Bill Chapple and Dyanne Doctor. There will, however, also be a recount here as Wilfred Lennie Sr. lost by just one vote, and Henry Doctor by two. Voter turnout was 67 per cent.
In Ulukhaktok, four councilors were all acclaimed: Tracey Kanayok, Agnes Kuptana, Sarah Kuptana and Mollie Oliktoak.
In Fort McPherson, the election was for just one councilor, Lawrence A. Firth, who was also acclaimed.