A bitter battle over gender parity at the Cambridge Bay leaders' summit, held last February, relegated selection of a leader to a side issue.

Nevertheless, and in spite of a reversal by one of the major participants, consensus on the issue was reached in a matter of minutes. The discussion began after Nunavut Tunngavik Inc. and the Nunavut MLAs' caucus decided to put debate of gender parity on hold until the next day.

Going into the conference, both NTI and the Nunavut caucus had agreed with a Nunavut Implementation Commission (NIC) recommendation that the procedure now employed in the NWT legislature, a vote by elected MLAs, be used for the first election of a premier.

When the issue came up, however, NTI president Jose Kusugak followed the lead of then minister of Indian affairs and Northern development Ron Irwin.

"I know Jose has said I have no position on this issue," said Irwin. "I made my position known a year and a half ago ... a premier is a leader of the people, not the caucus," said Irwin in support of direct election.

Kusugak then suggested, "If we can do it now, let's do it and change the system."

The Nunavut caucus, composed of Eastern MLAs, expressed surprise at the proposal.

"We supported NIC and NTI on this issue, this was pretty straightforward," said Keewatin Central MLA John Todd.

He later added, "That must have been an interesting plane ride, referring to Irwin and Kusugak's shared flight to the conference.

"Mr. Kusugak has stated his position as contrary to what NTI's position is, so we're getting mixed signals," said Kitikmeot MLA Kelvin Ng.

Irwin reasoned, however, that the status quo is not the best option, using Parliament's upper house as an example. "We're stuck with an unelected senate, the most undemocratic thing in the world. Once you have these things, you're stuck with them," he said.

Shortly after, Goo Arlooktoo, MLA for Baffin South, announced the Nunavut caucus had decided to go along with direct election.