IQALUIT
Hunter Tootoo rode the red wave to victory on election night Oct. 19, trouncing incumbent and three-time winner Leona Aglukkaq.

Liberal candidate Hunter Tootoo, left, rode the red wave to victory on election night, unseating Conservative incumbent Leona Aglukkaq. Nunavut Health and Justice Minister Paul Okalik translated Tootoo's victory speech for Inuktitut speakers in Iqaluit Oct. 19. - Michele LeTourneau/NNSL photo

"I'm confident that the Liberal party will honour your choice," Tootoo told jubilant supporters once he was declared the new member of Parliament for Nunavut. "We have a strong leader, a great team committed to a new kind of politics. One that governs for all Canadians and dismisses hyper-partisanship and the politics of divide and conquer."

Elections Canada's final numbers saw Tootoo take 47.2 per cent of the territorial vote, with NDP's Jack Anawak hanging on to a narrow second-place margin with 26.5 per cent over Aglukkaq's 24.8 per cent. The Green's Spencer Rocchi received 1.5 per cent of the vote.

As results trickled in at Tootoo headquarters at the Elks Lodge in Iqaluit, filled with Liberals who braved a glacial wind to witness their man rise to triumph, there were sometimes uncertain moments. The Canadian map on the big-screen television painted Nunavut NDP orange for some time. The decisive moment came when Cambridge Bay was announced a win for Tootoo, with 361 votes to 170 for Anawak and 164 for Aglukkaq. Iqaluit numbers also helped push Tootoo conclusively to the top spot, as did larger Kivalliq communities. But with a riding like Nunavut, touted as the largest on Earth, every community counts, as demonstrated when numbers for Resolute Bay arrived and the cheers that rose in the crowd. Voters gave Tootoo 60 votes to Anawak's 18 and Aglukkaq's 15.

The Liberal party has made several promises to Nunavummiut -- it will repair Nutrition North by increasing funding by $40 million over four years, $10 million each year, and it will increase the Northern residents deductions by 33 per cent to a maximum of $22 a day, indexed to inflation.

However, the Liberal commitment to funding infrastructure, to the tune of $20 billion nationally over the next 10 years with stable, long-term funding to community and territorial priorities, could mean the GN can steam steadily ahead over the next few years to correct a $1-billion, 3,500 to 4,000-unit shortage in housing.

"We all want Nunavut to be successful in a stronger Canada," said Tootoo.

The new MP thanked his team, his family, and all Nunavummiut - mentioning community after community, naming supporters and helpers.

Finally, he thanked Aglukkaq for her seven years of service and Anawak for running and offering Nunavummiut another choice.

Anawak called Tootoo after his win, Tootoo told Nunavut News/North the morning after the election.

"I did talk with Jack," said Tootoo. "He congratulated me and said, 'I know you'll do a good job.'"

Aglukkaq did not call Tootoo, although she sent out a written statement, which Nunavut News/North received at 1 a.m.

"I want to congratulate Hunter on becoming the new member of Parliament for Nunavut and congratulate Jack for running in this election," stated Aglukkaq.

"It has truly been an honour to serve Nunavummiut over the past seven years. Being the first Inuk in Canadian history to be appointed to cabinet presented incredible opportunities. I am proud of what I have delivered."

Anawak told Nunavut News/North he's not surprised that Tootoo won the election.

"I think he was riding part of the Liberal wave all across Canada," said Anawak by phone from Rankin Inlet.

"The Liberals have formed a majority government and I guess people in Nunavut saw that coming and voted accordingly."

He thanks his family, volunteers and campaign workers for their time.

"I think it was a job well done by Hunter, but also our campaign team," said Anawak. "I congratulate the people for coming out in droves in Nunavut and congratulate Hunter for the hard work he did to become the new member of Parliament for Nunavut."

He said he wasn't surprised Aglukkaq lost her position, but said it is always special to take the step to run for any election.

"I think she was a victim of circumstances," said Anawak.

For now, Anawak says he's going to keep doing what he's always been doing -- speaking out about mental health, housing, suicide prevention and Nutrition North.

Voter turnout, according to Elections Canada, was 61.9 per cent in the territory, as compared to the dismal 39 per cent in 2011 (lowest in the country), down 2.6 per cent from 2008.

Nationally, Trudeau's Liberals will form a majority government with184 seat to the Conservative's 99 and the NDP's 44.

Early on election night, Tootoo said he hoped the red wave would sweep the North and it did, with the Northwest Territories and Yukon also electing Liberal members of Parliament.

The morning after the election, tired but ready to get down to work, Tootoo said he thinks the results of the election will be good for the North.

"Because it's not only the three of us," he said. "But it's also Trudeau's commitment to the North. I think we're going to see some positive changes for the North in the next four years."

-- with files from Stewart Burnett

We welcome your opinions. Click here to e-mail a letter to the editor.