Iqaluit-Niagunnguu — Nunavut Election 2017 candidate profiles

Incumbent Pat Angnakak and Anne Crawford face off in a second territorial election, while newcomer Franco Buscemi comes in to challenge both

Pat Angnakak

Reason for running:

I am running in this election because I feel I am the best choice due to my experience over the last four years as an MLA.

I have advocated for a number of issues, such as homelessness, the need for affordable housing and the need for more home-ownership support.

I have also addressed the need to have proper elder care in place, such as the Sailivik Long Term Care Elder facility, and for support services for families caring for their elders at home.

I have voiced my concerns regarding food security, or the lack of, and the need for assistance for the working poor who may not qualify under the current Government of Nunavut's subsidy programs.

I have also raised issues related to workplace harassment and, although some positive steps have been taken, a lot more needs to be done to work towards a more respectful public service workplace.

I believe we need to work on the challenges Nunavummiut face when it comes to ensuring that our children receive the education they need. Parents should be able to have their children receive a quality education in the language of their choice. We require additional trained Inuktitut teachers and curriculum resources using local and outside expertise when necessary to reach this goal.

I have always believed that we must not be afraid to speak honestly and sometimes forcefully regardless of how difficult or uncomfortable an issue might be. This belief has been the foundation of my work as an MLA and will continue to be so.

Franco Buscemi

Reason for running:

I am running because I am committed to making Nunavut a better place by addressing the housing crisis head on. Too often we only see social housing and home ownership; the gap separating them is wide. We need to create transitional homes for working families. We need to help the homeless to get out of shacks and tents. Building affordable homes to create housing for working families who cannot afford to take on half million dollar mortgages.

As a father of young children, lack of childcare is something I understand first-hand. There is a need for more daycares and in Iqaluit there is a need to help unlicensed home daycares get licensed. This will provide them with more resources and improve their ability to deliver childcare. I will work to remove the lack of childcare as a barrier to education and employment for parents.

In schools, we need to introduce a universal breakfast program funded by the Government of Nunavut. Presently these programs rely entirely on the private individuals or faculty to deliver these programs. Teachers are applying for funding and delivering the programs. We need to allow our educators to focus on teaching our children. I will always advocate for the Inuktut language and work to improve the programming that exists in our schools.

You will see me after I’m elected. I am a firm believer in keeping the lines of communication open. I will hold an annual town hall meeting and I will go door-to-door again, to catch up with constituents. I will also attend city council meetings every year, to sit in and keep in touch with municipal issues and the mayor and council.

As a senior manager with 17 years of experience in Inuit organizations, corporate business and management – I have what it takes to serve Nunavut and Nunavummiut best.

Anne Crawford

Reason for running:

My decision to run is motivated by commitment to community. The whole range of resources that we have here in Nunavut – from people to finances to land and language – need to be valued and developed here in Nunavut for the benefit of Nunavummiut. The money we spend needs to have traction on the ground here and we need to be able to see its impacts for our children, elders and communities.

The Nunavut government needs to step up and begin to use the many tools available as a government – whether through effective contracting, or better aligned taxation, or using our buying power to ensure access to essentials – to shape and support the values we share.

More than simply running better programs, we need to focus all the potential of government to delivering supports for people to earn, learn and live in healthy Nunavut communities. Some of the specific issues raised by constituents include: cost of travel, need for a co-op in Iqaluit, the relationship between territorial funds and municipal infrastructure (roads, water, and dumps). Our educational standards, the need for child-care options and for elder care which does not involve indefinitely isolating unilingual elders away from their language and family. Being committed to community in all of our work as a government.