Two ministers in the running to be Nunavut’s next premier today

OTTAWA — Two former cabinet ministers are vying to be Nunavut’s next premier, as the territory’s leadership forum got underway Tuesday morning.

David Akeeagok and John Main made their pitches to fellow MLAs earlier Tuesday in opening speeches. Their colleagues will elect the premier in a secret ballot later in the day.

Nunavut functions in a consensus style government, in which there are no political parties. After electing their premier, MLAs will then choose up to eight cabinet ministers among themselves, with the remaining MLAs effectively serving as an opposition group to the government.

Akeeagok was first elected in 2017 and has held nearly every major cabinet role at different times in the years since. His nephew P.J. is Nunavut’s outgoing premier, who did not seek re-election after only one term in Nunavut’s legislature.

Before entering politics, Akeeagok served in various civil servant roles, including as deputy minister of several departments and as cabinet secretary.

Main, also on his third term as MLA, most recently served as Nunavut’s health minister in the previous assembly. If elected, he would be the first non-Inuk premier in Nunavut’s history — though he speaks fluent Inuktitut.

Former cabinet minister David Joanasie was elected Speaker earlier Tuesday.

Nunavummiut went to the polls on Oct. 27 in an election that saw the lowest voter turnout in the territory’s history.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Nov. 18, 2025.