# 2017 Nunavut general election

The 2017 Nunavut general election was held on October 30, 2017 to return the members of the 5th Nunavut Legislature. The fifth general election held since the creation of the territory in 1999, it was the first election held under Nunavut's new fixed election dates law, which requires elections to be held no more than four years after the prior election.
Unlike most federal or provincial elections in Canada, elections to the Legislative Assembly of Nunavut are conducted on a non-partisan consensus government model, in which all candidates run as independents rather than being nominated by political parties. The premier and executive council are then selected internally by the MLAs at the first special sitting of the legislature.

## Candidates

As of the close of nominations on September 29, 2017, three MLAs, Steve Mapsalak, Keith Peterson and Premier Peter Taptuna were the only incumbents not running again. One district, Kugluktuk, saw only one candidate register by the close of nominations; that candidate, Mila Adjukak Kamingoak, was immediately declared as acclaimed to office.
In one district, Cambridge Bay, formal declaration of the winner was not made until November 5, with the initial results undergoing an automatic recount due to a margin of less than two per cent between the top two finishers. The recount confirmed that the original count was correct.

## Followup

A record number of women were elected to the legislature; in addition to Kamingoak's acclamation, four more women were declared elected on election night, and a woman won the recount in Cambridge Bay. These six women, representing 27 per cent of the legislature, represent the first time in the territory's history that it has ranked higher than last or second-last among Canada's provinces and territories for female membership in the legislature.
Following the election, only three of the eight incumbent cabinet ministers had been reelected: three were defeated and two, including Premier Peter Taptuna, chose not to run again. Overall, half of the legislature's 22 incumbents were reelected.
On November 17, 2017, the Nunavut Leadership Forum convened in Iqaluit to choose the next premier. MLAs Joe Savikataaq, Cathy Towtongie, Patterk Netser, and Paul Quassa put their names forward; ultimately, Quassa was elected premier, and Joe Enook was chosen as Speaker. The Executive Council was to consist of David Akeeagok, Pat Angnakak, Jeannie Ehaloak, David Joanasie, Lorne Kusugak, Savikataaq, and Elisapee Sheutiapik.
In 2018, however, Quassa lost a confidence vote in the legislature, and was succeeded as premier by Savikataaq.

## Results

The Legislative Assembly is run on a consensus government system, in which all MLAs sit as independents and are not organized into political parties. Note, accordingly, that colours in the following charts are used solely to indicate candidate status, not political party affiliations.

### Statistics

Reelection statistics :
| | Seats | Did not run again | Defeated | Reelected |
| All MLAs | 22 | 3 (13.6%) | 8 (36.3%) | 11 (50.0%) |
| Cabinet ministers | 8 | 2 (25.0%) | 3 (37.5%) | 3 (37.5%) |

### Candidates

Candidates by district :
| District | Communities | Winner | Second | Third | Fourth | Others | Incumbent Bold denotes cabinet ministers |
| Aggu | Igloolik (north part) | Paul Quassa 106 | Matt Teed 96 | Richard Amarualik 79 | Jerome Sheaves 14 | | Paul Quassa Reelected |
| Aivilik | Coral Harbour, Naujaat | Patterk Netser 318 | Jack Anawak 218 | | | | Steve Mapsalak Did not run again |
| Amittuq | Igloolik (south part), Hall Beach | Joelie Kaernerk 115 | Paul Haulli 84 | George Qulaut 69 | Reena Akumalik Irqittuq 46 | Jason Ikeperiar: 41 Solomon Angugasak Allurut: 39 Erasmus Ivvalu: 22 | George Qulaut Defeated |
| Arviat North-Whale Cove | Arviat (north part), Whale Cove | John Main 408 | George Kuksuk 115 | | | | George Kuksuk Defeated |
| Arviat South | Arviat (south part) | Joe Savikataaq 280 | Jason Gibbons 234 | | | | Joe Savikataaq Reelected |
| Baker Lake | Baker Lake | Simeon Mikkungwak 389 | Karen Kabloona 280 | | | | Simeon Mikkungwak Reelected |
| Cambridge Bay | Cambridge Bay | Jeannie Ehaloak 259 | Pamela Gross 250 | Harry Maksagak 126 | | | Keith Peterson Did not run again |
| Gjoa Haven | Gjoa Haven | Tony Akoak 171 | James Taqaugaq Qitsualik 133 | Paul Puqiqnak 79 | Joseph Aglukkaq 53 | | Tony Akoak Reelected |
| Hudson Bay | Sanikiluaq | Allan Rumbolt 131 | Peter Qavvik 112 | Peter Kattuk 105 | | | Allan Rumbolt Reelected |
| Iqaluit-Manirajak | Iqaluit (west part) | Adam Lightstone 253 | Monica Ell-Kanayuk 227 | Jude Lewis 81 | Okalik Eegeesiak 64 | | Monica Ell-Kanayuk Defeated |
| Iqaluit-Niaqunnguu | Iqaluit (east part) | Pat Angnakak 231 | Franco Buscemi 196 | Anne Crawford 134 | | | Pat Angnakak Reelected |
| Iqaluit-Sinaa | Iqaluit (south part) | Elisapee Sheutiapik 237 | Paul Okalik 150 | Cindy Rennie 86 | Adamee Itorcheak 56 | | Paul Okalik Defeated |
| Iqaluit-Tasiluk | Iqaluit (north part) | George Hickes 449 | Jacopoosie Peter 121 | | | | George Hickes Reelected |
| Kugluktuk | Kugluktuk | Mila Adjukak Kamingoak acclaimed | | | | | Peter Taptuna Did not run again |
| Netsilik | Taloyoak, Kugaaruk | Emiliano Qirngnuq 310 | Joe Tulurialik 141 | | | | Emiliano Qirngnuq Reelected |
| Pangnirtung | Pangnirtung | Margaret Nakashuk 266 | Harry John Dialla 129 | Johnny Mike 93 | Hezakiah Oshutapik 31 | | Johnny Mike Defeated |
| Quttiktuq | Arctic Bay, Grise Fiord, Resolute | David Akeeagok 189 | Mishak Allurut 78 | Isaac Shooyook 45 | Kataisee Attagutsiak 44 | Leo Eecherk: 34 Andrew Taqtu: 9 Mavis Manik: 6 Gary Kalluk: 2 Rachel Qitsualik-Tinsley: 0 | Isaac Shooyook Defeated |
| Rankin Inlet North-Chesterfield Inlet | Rankin Inlet (north part), Chesterfield Inlet | Cathy Towtongie 171 | Cedric Autut 147 | Tom Sammurtok 93 | Douglas Aggark 58 | | Tom Sammurtok Defeated |
| Rankin Inlet South | Rankin Inlet (south part) | Lorne Kusugak 309 | Alexander Sammurtok 136 | | | | Alexander Sammurtok Defeated |
| South Baffin | Cape Dorset, Kimmirut | David Joanasie 318 | Michael Salomonie 201 | | | | David Joanasie Reelected |
| Tununiq | Pond Inlet | Joe Enook 258 | David Qamaniq 146 | Jeannie Mills 102 | | | Joe Enook Reelected |
| Uqqummiut | Clyde River, Qikiqtarjuaq | Pauloosie Keyootak 235 | Jerry Natanine 191 | Johnathan Palluq 118 | | | Pauloosie Keyootak Reelected |
As of November 1, all results are unofficial.