by Jeff Colbourne
Northern News Services

RANKIN INLET (June 04 /97) - Nancy Karetak-Lindell replaced Jack Anawak as Liberal Member of Parliament for Nunavut, while her party formed a majority government in Ottawa, Monday night.

Early Tuesday morning, the ballots had shown Karetak-Lindell with a total of 2,250 votes; New Democratic candidate Hunter Tootoo with 1,284 votes; Progressive Conservative candidate Okalik Eegeesiak, 1,014 votes; leaving Reform candidate John Turner with 316 ballots.

Karetak-Lindell was at her home in Arviat Monday night where she was joined by a number of friends and family, helping her celebrate the victory.

"I feel very good," she said. "It's a great that people are showing their confidence in me."

Karetak-Lindell, former secretary-treasurer for Kivalliq Inuit Association, talked to her predecessor, Jack Anawak as the results came in Monday night and plans to talk with him again about her new post.

Looking forward to her new job, Karetak-Lindell said it may be a little difficult fitting in at first, but once she learns the ropes she'll be ready to stand up for Nunavut.

"I've never been one to keep quiet when I feel I have a cause to push," she said.

As the Liberal party slid into the winner's seat, the NDP's candidate, Hunter Tootoo, was not far behind.

In a phone interview from the NDP's Western Arctic office in Yellowknife, Tootoo was pleased with his showing but felt he would have done better if he had more time and money to contribute to his campaign.

"I had no riding association, no big backing," said Tootoo adding that he had only $2,200 from the NDP to run his campaign, compared to the $35,000 the Liberal's had access to.

Despite the shortfalls, Tootoo said he would like to congratulate Karetak-Lindell on her victory.

"I wish Nancy the best. I hope she does a heck of a for us. We need someone over there for us."

The P.C.'s Eegeesiak also wanted to congratulate Karetak-Lindell on her victory as the final results and Karetak-Lindell was pronounced the winner.

"We put up in good effort to put up this campaign," said Eegeesiak from her headquarters in Iqaluit. "It was a very good learning experience for all of us."

John Turner, Nunavut's Reform candidate, was disappointed with the results Monday night and said it would have been better if he could have visited more communities and talked to more people during his campaign.

"We did as much as we could. I know the inability to travel frequently was a big factor against us," she said.

Though the Whale Cove plumber placed last in this riding, he was pleased with his party's overall standing to form the official opposition.

"After the election the people will see how the Reform will fight to keep the Liberals honest and on their toes," he concluded.