Iqaluit (Jan 30/06) - Nancy Karetak-Lindell says her role in Ottawa will be to put the North on the Conservatives radar.

"I won't be surprised (by what the Conservatives do in power). I sit across from those guys and aboriginal issues aren't on their radar.

Nancy Karetak-Lindell: North isn't on the Conservatives' radar so she "won't be surprised" by what they do in power.

Karetak-Lindell was re-elected to parliament for her fourth term last Monday.

For the first time, shel finds herself as a member of the opposition after the Conservatives won a minority government with 124 of 308 seats

"It will be different, but a win is a win," said Karetak-Lindell.

She isn't holding out much hope for Nunavut in the next parliament. The Conservatives want to reopen the Kelowna accord, which was signed before the election. That deal promised $5 billion for aboriginals all over Canada.

"In that package we had housing for the North and housing has been the number one issue for all of us, the government of Nunavut, NTI," said Karetak-Lindell.

Conservative candidate David Aglukark finished in second place, 991 votes behind the incumbent. "I liked it, it was exciting. A victory would have been best, but I'm quite happy with the 30 per cent," said Aglukark about his election experience.

Aglukark wishes karetak-Lindell the best.

RESULTS: Liberal Nancy Karetak-Lindell: 3,683 votes Conservative David Aglukark: 2,692 votes NDP Bill Riddell: 1,576 votes Marijuana Party Ed DeVries: 724 votes Green Party Feliks Kappi: 545 Source: Elections Canada

"I'm thinking that sitting in opposition will make her into sharp metal, and I hope that is what is going to happen. I hope it gives her a reason to shout louder," said Aglukark.

Conservatives were accused of ordering candidates to keep quiet about equal marriage and other social issues during the campaign. If there was a plot, Aglukark says he didn't get the memo.

"No one told me not to talk about it. It was me and my own heart. On the same sex issue, everyone knows where I stand. I didn't want to pump it up and get excited about it," said Aglukark.

NDP candidate Bill Riddell was pleased with the result as well. "We increased our numbers from last time," he said.

Riddell was responsible for one of the biggest moments in the campaign, revealing a Customs and Revenue Agency mistake that could have ended up costing taxpayers in Iqaluit thousands of dollars.

He was happy with the response from his question.

"I thought it would have played a larger part, but in the settlements, I don't think they understood the issue. Revenue Canada itself proved to be a mature government agency, they were capable of responding quickly. We have agencies that do nothing but hide from their mistakes," said Riddell.

As for the next election, Riddell and Aglukark haven't rule out running again.

"I've always been the fallback position, but the time is ripe for somebody energetic. We have a few ideas," said Riddell, who is also the NDP party president for Nunavut.

"At this moment, I'm not thinking about it, but a year later, I might have a change of heart," said Aglukark.

Poll by poll results were not made available to News/North by press time.

"We are still getting the papers in from the communities. They should arrive soon," said Ranbir Hundal, the chief returning officer for the territory.

"They won't be available for some time, it is the same across Canada," said Elections Canada spokesperson Becky Rynor.

"There is a whole validation process that takes place after an election.