IQALUIT
Nunavut Liberal Party of Canada members are set to host Leader Justin Trudeau, who is scheduled to arrive in the capital today following Northern stops in Inuvik and Yellowknife.

Michel Potvin, left, Nunavut riding president for the Liberal Party of Canada , and Ranbir Hundal, riding secretary, are looking forward to giving Leader Justin Trudeau his first taste of Nunavut pre-election. Trudeau is scheduled to be in Iqaluit Jan. 12 and 13. - Michele LeTourneau/NNSL photo

"We're excited about Justin's two-day visit," said Michel Potvin, Nunavut riding president for the Liberal Party of Canada, and Ranbir Hundal, riding secretary.

"It's a big deal for us," adds Hundal. "This is one of 325 ridings. If he is coming all the way here it means it's really important to him, more than any other riding. And it's important for us, as Nunavummiut, that the leader is taking pains to reach this place."

Hundal stresses that Trudeau is the "kind of guy who wants to see things first hand rather than me feeding him."

Issues Trudeau encounters on this trip, via the public engagements - a feast and a meet-and-greet - can then be incorporated in his platform.

"So it's a big thing for us to show him the reality of Nunavut," said Hundal.

Some of those issues are economic development, cost of living and food security.

But Trudeau wants to hear first-hand from Nunavummiut, which is why the feast and meet-and-greet are being held. Everyone is invited to the public events to "meet him, and share their thoughts and feeling about Nunavut."

Since the Nunatsiaq riding was carved out of the Northwest Territories in 1979, Nunavummiut mainly voted Liberal - 25 years to the Conservative's 15 - although Peter Ittinuar was voted in that first year as an NDP candidate. He later crossed the floor to join the Liberals.

Potvin and Hundal hope to see a strong Liberal candidate win the next election, scheduled for Oct. 19.

"We do have a candidate search committee. We're looking at good quality people," said Potvin.

Nominations are open and a candidate will ultimately be selected by the green light committee at the national level.

"If the green light committee selects two or three candidates, there will be nomination voting by the membership, but if the green light committee finds only one suitable candidate, that's the candidate," said Hundal.

Potvin says the problem in Nunavut is that a lot of good candidates are gainfully employed, in the public service, for example. Once a candidate announces, they can no longer be employed in that capacity.

"Nobody wants to be unemployed for 10 months," he adds. "You can't take an unpaid leave of absence for 10 months in Nunavut. That's why we might only announce a few weeks before (the election)."

Potvin and Hundal say it's much easier to run in the election if your candidate is an incumbent, as was Nancy Karetak Lindell in 2000, 2004 and 2006.

In the 2008 election, businessman Kirt Ejesiak ran and was able to put his name forward far in advance of the election, whereas, in 2011, Paul Okalik was a standing member of the Nunavut Legislative Assembly and had to resign from his territorial government position.

"Here, we have our challenges, and that's one of them," said Potvin.

MP to run again

Meanwhile, Conservative Nunavut MP and cabinet minister Leona Aglukkaq, who has held the seat for eight years, announced last week that she is running for re-election.

Aglukkaq is the first Inuk in the federal cabinet, first as minister of Health and now minister of the Environment. She is also minister responsible for the Canadian Northern Economic Development Agency and minister responsible for the Arctic Council.

As a cabinet member, she is considered to have the "the prime minister's ear" and there's no guarantee a Liberal MP would enjoy the same privilege.

However Hundal believes Aglukkaq's personality has changed over the years and that may be to the Liberal advantage.

"People don't view her the same as in 2008 and 2011. (Prime Minister Stephen) Harper and Leona have had a rough year," he said.

The two men would not disclose how many Nunavummiut are card-carrying members of the Liberal Party of Canada.

"Every week we pick up new members," said Potvin.