Late flight costs Whale woman candidacy
Darrell Greer
Northern News Services
Whale Cove (Nov 15/00) - The Alliance party will likely not be on the ballot when Nunavummiut cast their vote Nov. 27.
Agnes Turner, who was selected by the Alliance Party as its Nunavut candidate, missed the deadline to declare her candidacy by 34 minutes, when her flight arrived late in Whale Cove to take her to the Elections Canada office in Rankin Inlet. The deadline to file was Nov. 6 at 2 p.m. (CST).
"We didn't have a returning officer or a justice of the peace in Whale, so I had to come to Rankin to sign the papers," says Turner.
"I felt so bad, like I let the people down by being late, but it wasn't my fault."
She says Elections Canada not accommodating her is an example of how Ottawa doesn't understand life in the North.
Turner, a certified teacher and former government liaison officer and social worker, says people in the south have no idea how difficult it is to just hop in a vehicle and go to the nearest community to sign some papers.
"I want to speak nationally for Nunavummiut. We're supposed to be Canadians, but whatever problems arise up here don't seem to be put forward to Ottawa.
"There have been times through this I've asked myself what I'm doing, but I care so much about the people in the North. It's been my life to try and help the little people who are neglected because their voices are not being heard."
Turner says there are numerous issues affecting life in Kivalliq and across Nunavut -- gun control, restrictions on guaranteed income supplements and rising gas prices. Many hunters are going to have a very difficult time trying to meet family needs, she adds.
"If we don't stand up and be heard, they'll just keeping ignoring us. We need a voice that will make our concerns heard in Ottawa and I want to be that voice."
As of press time, the Alliance Party was appealing Elections Canada's decision and still trying to have Turner named as the party's Nunavut candidate.
Turner said if she is unable to run in this election she will focus on the next federal election.
"I'm not going to give up. I'll run again in the next election for the Alliance party. I'll start off early. Next time I'll know better."
