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Members of the Nunavut Legislative Assembly have selected John Main as the next premier of Nunavut.
Main, 45, is a third-term Arviat MLA, speaks fluent Inuktitut and served as Nunavut’s health minister in the previous assembly. He beat David Akeeagok for the position in a secret ballot on Tuesday.
It is the first time Nunavut will have a non-Inuk leader.
Main and Akeeagok spent about four hours responding to their colleagues.ues questions, laying out the experience that would inform his work as prime minister and what priorities they hope to see fulfilled in his four-year term.
Main said he would prioritize partnerships and seek to work closely with governments, Indigenous organizations, Inuit regional associations and private businesses.
He said forming those relationships is something he’s most proud of from his time in politics.
Main said his goal would be to work with those partners to develop more revenue streams for the territory, including natural gas. He said he would look to develop a virtual approach to healthcare, create a senior van program and a ground treatment program in each community.
He spoke about what he called a “crisis” of unemployment and said he wants to work to educate Nunavummuit and create jobs in the communities.
Main represents Arviat North-Whale Cove. He was first elected in 2017 and has served as Minister of Health, Minister Responsible for Suicide Prevention and Minister Responsible for Qulliq Energy Corporation.
Eight MLAs were also voted into the cabinet:
- Iqaluit-Sinaa MLA Janet Pitsiulaaq Brewster
- Iqaluit-Manirajak MLA Gwen Healey Akearok
- Iqaluit-Tasiluk MLA George Hickes
- Rankin Inlet South MLA Annie Tattuinee
- Netsilik MLA Cecile Nelvana Lyall
- Baker Lake MLA Craig Simailak
- Tununiq MLA Brian Koonoo
- Iqaluit Niaqunnguu MLA David Akeeagok
Members also elected David Joanasie, MLA for South Baffin, as president.
Main will choose and distribute cabinet portfolios among the other eight cabinet members in the coming days.
This is a practice unique to Nunavut and the Northwest Territories, which operate as consensus governments.
Only 21 of the 22 electors were represented in the Nunavut Legislative Assembly on Tuesday.
Voters in Aggu, which includes the northern part of Igloolik, return to the polls on December 15 after a tie between the two candidates.
The new premier and cabinet ministers will be sworn in Thursday at the Nunavut Legislative Assembly.
