Latest news with #Nunavimmiut
Toronto Star
30-04-2025
- Politics
- Toronto Star
Elections Canada to investigate voting barriers in Nunavik
MONTREAL - Elections Canada says it will investigate 'shortcomings' that prevented some people in Nunavik from casting their vote in Monday's federal election. In a statement Wednesday, chief electoral officer Stéphane Perrault apologized to residents of the northern region of Quebec, which is the homeland of Inuit in the province. 'I deeply regret that some electors in Nunavik were not able to cast their vote,' he said. 'Over the last three years, Elections Canada has engaged with Indigenous communities across the country and made it a priority to remove barriers and improve voting services for Indigenous electors. ARTICLE CONTINUES BELOW 'Nevertheless, the shortcomings of our services in Nunavik during the general election underscore the importance of the work that remains.' Perrault said the agency will 'review the circumstances that led to this situation,' and will publish its findings. The apology comes after news reports said polling stations in some Nunavik communities closed hours early, apparently because weather conditions were affecting flights for election workers. In some cases, polling stations reportedly didn't open at all. On Tuesday, Makivvik, the organization representing Quebec Inuit, said it was 'deeply disappointed' by how the vote was handled in Nunavik, and called on Elections Canada to investigate. 'This is unacceptable in 2025,' the organization said in a statement. 'In many cases, Nunavimmiut were effectively denied their right to participate in this election.' The federal agency should 'take immediate steps to ensure that every Inuk in Nunavik has equal access to voting in future elections,' the statement said. ARTICLE CONTINUES BELOW ARTICLE CONTINUES BELOW Mandy Gull-Masty, former grand chief of the Cree Nation Government in Quebec, won the riding of Abitibi—Baie-James—Nunavik—Eeyou for the Liberals on Monday, flipping it from Bloc Québécois incumbent Sylvie Bérubé. Makivvik president Pita Aatami said he was pleased to see an Indigenous woman elected to represent the region. 'Mandy Gull-Masty understands the realities of our communities, and we are thankful that she took the time to visit Nunavik during the campaign,' he said. 'Her election marks a significant step forward for our riding, and we look forward to working closely with her.' This report by The Canadian Press was first published April 30, 2025.
CBC
30-04-2025
- Politics
- CBC
Calls for investigation after some in Nunavik left out of vote due to polling station issues
Tiivi Tulaugak was looking forward to voting in his first election in Ivujivik, Nunavik's northernmost community located in Quebec. But the 18-year-old's excitement quickly turned into frustration on Monday afternoon when he found out he was among the residents who wouldn't be able to cast a ballot. CBC News has heard from residents in five Nunavik communities who reported issues at polling stations, including some that closed early — or didn't open at all. "In my opinion, it's illegal," said Tulaugak, who called the situation "unacceptable." "They should plan and organize before the election." Now, the Makivvik Corporation, the organization representing Inuit in Nunavik, is calling on Elections Canada to investigate. It says it learned polling hours were inconsistent and some communities couldn't vote altogether. "This is unacceptable in 2025. In many cases, Nunavimmiut were effectively denied their right to participate in this election," read a statement. Makivvik is demanding Elections Canada take immediate steps to ensure that every Inuk in Nunavik has equal access to voting in future elections. In a statement on Monday, Elections Canada said weather issues were affecting flights for workers but did not confirm how many villages were affected, or whether polling booths did close down. "In several cases, it was not possible to recruit local teams. In other cases, harsh weather conditions have prevented access to communities," read the statement on Monday. On Tuesday, Elections Canada told CBC it was still gathering more information. Mandy Gull-Masty, former grand chief of the Cree Nation Government in Quebec, won the seat in the region, flipping the Abitibi–Baie-James–Nunavik–Eeyou riding Liberal by just a couple thousand votes over the Bloc. Lawyer weighs in on what can be done Julius Grey, a constitutional and human rights lawyer in Montreal, says the right to vote is fundamental, and the Elections Act is subject to the Charter. "Accessibility is one part of the right to vote, so a court could intervene on it," said Grey. "Now whether what could be done, I don't know." He says recourse for individuals affected by this could manifest as a declaration for future safeguards or a symbolic monetary compensation for breach of a Charter right, for example. But he says being excluded from voting can happen — whether that be due to a mistake, a polling station closing early or a voter not being able to enter the voting area, for example. Now, to go as far as overturning or annulling the results of a riding, Grey says that would require demonstrating a real possibility that the outcome could have been different. "If a riding was won by 30 votes and it appears that 2,000 people were deprived of the vote, then the solution would be to annul the vote in that area and hold a byelection," he said. "But that is not so just because a few people didn't vote. Because you can imagine how difficult it would be to have claims after every election." Another possibility is a declaratory relief — a kind of legal remedy to declare that "those communities should be served and that an error was made in not serving them," said Grey. 'It may leave a bad taste in their mouth' Veldon Coburn, associate professor and faculty chair of Indigenous Relations Initiative at McGill University, says there's an opportunity for a post-mortem and to use this riding as a type of case study to prevent similar situations in the next election. "Indigenous peoples have a long history of standing up for their rights," said Coburn, who is Anishinaabe from Pikwàkanagàn. "Fighting for the right to participate in electoral politics has been something that's been dear to them. So Elections Canada may have awakened a bit of a sleeping giant here." Due to the riding's unique makeup and a significant Indigenous population, he says residents may be feeling "rightly aggrieved and wronged." Part of the problem, he says, stems from more than a century of political disenfranchisement faced by Indigenous people. "There's a number of barriers for all sorts of matters of participating in politics and informal electoral politics. So it would be disheartening … in this era of reconciliation," said Coburn. "I'm kind of a little bit bewildered that this could happen." Coburn says Elections Canada should be able to anticipate some of these issues — especially considering the potential harms to Indigenous voters. "It may leave a bad taste in their mouth," he said.
Montreal Gazette
29-04-2025
- Politics
- Montreal Gazette
Call for Elections Canada probe after some Nunavik voters were unable to cast ballots
Canadian Politics By An investigation is being demanded after some voters in Quebec's sprawling Nunavik region reportedly couldn't cast their votes at the ballot box Monday in the federal election. Makivvik, the legal representative of Inuit in the province, said Tuesday it was 'deeply disappointed by the handling of the voting process in Nunavik by Elections Canada.' Nunatsiaq News reported limited polling hours at some stations, while others failed to open at all in the Abitibi—Baie-James—Nunavik—Eeyou riding in northern Quebec. 'We have learned that polling hours were inconsistent across many communities, and, alarmingly, that some communities were unable to vote altogether. This is unacceptable in 2025. In many cases, Nunavimmiut were effectively denied their right to participate in this election,' a statement from Makivvik reads. Makivvik urged Elections Canada to investigate and 'take immediate steps to ensure that every Inuk in Nunavik has equal access to voting in future elections.' 'Nunavik Inuit, like all Canadians, deserve the right to have their voices heard, and it is the duty of Elections Canada and those who conduct elections in our region to ensure that voting access is equitable — regardless of geography,' Makivvik said. When asked about the issues, Elections Canada pointed to difficulties hiring local staff and weather conditions, but didn't comment on the calls for an investigation. 'The returning officer attempted to implement several different strategies to provide voting services to communities,' spokesperson Serge Fleyfel wrote in an email. 'In several cases, it was not possible to recruit local teams. In other cases, harsh weather conditions have prevented access to communities.' Liberal candidate Mandy Gull-Masty, the first woman to be elected Quebec Cree Grand Chief, beat incumbent Bloc Québécois MP Sylvie Bérubé in the riding.
CBC
11-04-2025
- Politics
- CBC
Meet the federal candidates running in Nunavik
Social Sharing Canadians will head to the polls on April 28, and Nunavimmiut and other Quebec voters will cast their ballot to decide who will represent them in Ottawa. Nunavik is part of Abitibi-Baie-James-Nunavik-Eeyou, the third-largest riding by area in the country. The riding encompasses many different cultures, including Naskapi, Anishinaabe, Cree, Inuit and francophone, and each community has its own unique stories and challenges. Four people are running in Abitibi-Baie-James-Nunavik-Eeyou, for the Bloc Québécois, Conservatives, Liberals, and NDP. The Green Party previously named a candidate but the party has since confirmed that Simon Paradis didn't secure enough signatures to be on the ballot. No replacement has been named. CBC spoke to three of the four candidates who are running in Nunavik. Sylvie Bérubé, Bloc Québécois Bloc Québécois candidate Sylvie Bérubé is seeking reelection for a third term as MP for the northern Quebec riding. She declined a request for interview in English with CBC North. The riding has been a Bloc Québécois stronghold. The party has held the seat for more than half of the last 25 years. In 2019, Bérubé was the first woman to be elected in the riding. Before entering politics, she worked for 32 years in the health-care system, where she was the former director of the social committee at the Val-d'Or Hospital and administrator of the Taxibus Corporation for public transportation. As MP, she was the Bloc Québécois critic for family, children and social development until very recently. Speaking to Radio-Canada, Bérubé said she believes the Bloc has been a defender of Quebec's interests in Parliament amidst increasing aggression from the U.S. She also sees herself as an involved person who has worked with several organizations across the region. Steve Corriveau, Conservative Conservative candidate Steve Corriveau is running in the riding for a second time. Originally from Val-d'Or, Corriveau is quick to say he has no priorities for Nunavik, because he says there are already local organizations, like Makivvik and the Kativik Regional Government, who've outlined issues affecting their communities. "Who am I to arrive here and decide that this priority would be better than another one already set by those already elected?" Corriveau said. "So me, once elected, I will take the phone. I will call all those people and say, 'what can I do on the federal matters that I could help you with,' and I will bring that to Ottawa." He said he recognizes the challenges with building housing in the North – with higher costs and more logistics involved – and he wants to work on that. "Down here [in southern Quebec], we would not accept the conditions that you guys up north are living," he said. If elected, Corriveau said he plans to travel to all of Nunavik's communities, so he can meet the people he represents, and said he'll enter those conversations with an open mind and respect. "When I was a young boy, my parents told me that whenever you want respect in life, you must first show respect," he said. Mandy Gull-Masty, Liberal Liberal candidate Mandy Gull-Masty was the first female grand chief of the Cree Nation Government in Quebec. She resigned as grand chief on March 27 to run in this federal campaign. Her asset, she said, is her ability to build relationships with different communities and leaders, which she has done in her previous role. She said those meetings will be the first step for her in her campaign. "Doing that legwork is really the first step – speaking to people who live in the different communities, asking them where are the gaps not only in representation, but where are the gaps in service," she said. From the conversations she's had so far, she said she's heard about a desire for action on climate change, economic development, and hunting rights for Inuit. That also leads to food insecurity, which she said she noticed having once lived in northern Quebec. Her husband is from Whapmagoostui, which is adjacent to the Inuit community of Kuujjuarapik. "Immediately [I had] concerns with access to food, ensuring that they're able to have, you know, some kind of subsidy to bring down the cost of living," she said. "And now more so than ever, seeing the potential of what new tariffs can cause for us … we have a lot of natural resources, but the expense of living here is quite high." Thai Dillon Higashihara, NDP Entering the race late was the NDP's Thai Dillon Higashihara. The party had previously named Catherine Louie Leblanc Oweetaluktuk, who then dropped out for personal reasons. Since January, Higashihara has been working as the NDP's digital organizer based in Ottawa, but he has personal connections to the region. He said his grandfather had a role in the creation of Oujé-Bougoumou, a Cree settlement in northern Quebec. Higashihara said he's having conversations with people across the region to better understand their needs, and he's starting with his grandfather's community. Infrastructure, fulfilling the Truth and Reconciliation Commission recommendations, and protecting Indigenous languages are some of his priorities. "I think there needs to be a better push for Indigenous languages actually being protected, codified and legally," he said. "There should be a legal space to protect Indigenous languages, much like [how] the French and English languages have been done across Canada." He believes the diversity of the region – and the many different perspectives – will be beneficial in finding a solution to common problems like housing and the cost of living.
CBC
09-04-2025
- Politics
- CBC
Housing, mental health, addictions among the issues Nunavimmiut care most about this election
Voters in northern Quebec say federal support is needed to address the region's challenges Image | Nunavimmiut election issues Caption: Voters in Nunavik spoke to CBC News about some of the issues they're most concerned about in this federal election campaign. From left to right: Lupin Daignault, Mary-Jane Qinuajuak, Charlie Okpik, and Trina Qumaluk. (Submitted by KMHB, Mary-Jane Qinuajuak, NIIA, Saturviit) Open Image in New Tab Carbon taxes, military bases, fighting against tariffs – these are some of the big-ticket policy announcements heard from the major parties so far in this federal election campaign. But in Nunavik, many residents say they just want action to address the basics, like food insecurity, mental health and addictions treatment. Nunavik is part of Abitibi-Baie-James-Nunavik-Eeyou, the third-largest riding by area in the country. The riding encompasses many different cultures, including Naskapi, Anishinaabe, Cree, Inuit and Francophone, and each community has its own unique stories and challenges. CBC has asked several Nunavimmiut about the issues they care about. Voice for youth 20-year-old Mary-Jane Qinuajuak wants youth to have a voice, and for federal politicians to actually listen to them. "I just want a place, or even something online, where youth can freely talk without any judgment," she said. Image | Mary-Jane Qinuajuak Caption: Mary-Jane Qinuajuak said she was bullied growing up, and she doesn't want anybody else to experience what she went through. That's why she decided to be a youth house coordinator in Inukjuak. (Submitted by Mary-Jane Qinuajuak) Open Image in New Tab As Inukjuak's youth house coordinator, she sees several issues youth struggle with in her community, including food insecurity, education, bullying, and mental health. She said she was bullied growing up, and she doesn't want anybody else to experience what she went through. She doesn't believe there are enough resources, such as therapists, to address those issues, and she doesn't believe Nunavimmiut are being given the opportunities to have new experiences. "They should involve youth [to help them] … see new changes in their environment, in their region," she said. Struggles with mental health and addictions Rates of suicide are estimated to be five to 25 times higher in Inuit Nunangat, compared to the Canadian average. That's according to a 2021 report from the Canadian Centre on Substance Use and Addiction, which drew data from the 2012 and 2017 Aboriginal Peoples Surveys. Across Inuit Nunangat, the lifetime prevalence of having suicidal thoughts was the highest in Nunavik, according to the report, which also details the intersections between mental health and addictions. Quaqtaq's Charlie Okpik is the president of Nunalituqait Ikajuqatigiittut Inuit Association (NIIA), which is funded by Health Canada to help Nunavimmiut struggling with substance use. He believes intergenerational trauma is often a driver of addictions. He went through that himself after he was sexually assaulted. "It's something that's not easy to talk about… children being left alone, having no mom, being neglected by your mom or dad. … there is no one in the world who is perfect," he said in Inuktitut. Okpik said he has tried every avenue to reach people who may need help, including through local radio. He said there are people who tell him they don't want to get better, but he still believes it's worth persevering with them. "Even if someone won't be getting better, listening to them can lessen the situation," he said. He said it's vital for the federal government to continue funding local organizations, like NIIA, that are trusted in the community. Fighting violence Issues with mental health and addictions can also contribute to violence, often against women and children. Ending that is a mission of the Saturviit Inuit Women's Association. The rates of crime in Nunavik in 2023 were 12 times the provincial average in Quebec, according to data from Statistics Canada. Image | Trina Qumaluk Caption: Trina Qumaluk of the Saturviit Inuit Women's Association said her organization needs more resources to help Nunavimmiut heal from intergenerational trauma, which she believes is a main driver of violence in Nunavik. (Submitted by Trina Qumaluk) Open Image in New Tab Trina Qumaluk, a board member with Saturviit who lives in Puvirnituq, said there wasn't much violence in Nunavik prior to the federal government's colonial policies in the last century. "[In] past years, our ancestors were still peaceful … [mostly] on the land. They were working hard, mostly to survive," she said. Saturviit has many proposals for healing and mental health programs, but she said "not enough" of them are being acted on. "We would like the government to listen to Indigenous people in order for them to be well [with] mental and physical health," she said. Money for long-term housing In Nunavik, the Kativik Municipal Housing Board (KMHB) is the biggest landlord, owning more than 90 per cent of the region's housing. A housing needs study completed by the consulting firm Raymond Chabot Grant Thornton in February details the struggles Nunavik faces with keeping up with population growth. Between 2021 and 2041, the population is expected to grow up by 23 per cent across the region. That's double the rate of the Quebec provincial average. Currently, there are just over 4,000 KMHB units, serving a population of over 14,000. The housing needs report estimates there's a shortfall of more than 1,000 units. Overcrowding is also a concern, with more than a quarter of Nunavik households having at least five people living in one unit. Lupin Daignault, KMHB's director general, said there are many other challenges with building houses that are particular to the North. "Everybody wants us to be really performant. I understand that. But in many communities we don't have warehouses, for example. But we have a huge inventory of different types of material. It's hard for us to be performant if we don't have the infrastructure to follow," he said. Training of staff is also an issue. Daignault wants to see more training available in the region, instead of seeing Nunavimmiut head down south for it. The KMHB has a tripartite funding agreement through Makivvik, with the provincial and federal government. They're currently in the process of renewing a one-year agreement, which includes $35 million to cover the cost of social housing, and they're working on a new, longer agreement. Daignault said it's imperative that funding continues with whoever forms the next government in Ottawa. "I hope the new government will keep in mind that the housing crisis in Nunavik … is different than in other parts of Canada because of how fast the region is growing," he said. "So if this funding doesn't follow, I don't know, we're going to hit the wall."
