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KIVALLIQ - The need for improved community infrastructure will influence which box many voters tick on their ballots in the federal election next month.

"That's the biggest thing. The government in power needs to have a real understanding into the needs of the North. We fall behind every other province and territory in terms of infrastructure," said Ryan St. John of Arviat. "We have no roads, our airports are in bad shape and zero marine infrastructure - the essential things in the North that are needed by everyone."

St. John said while the $200 million for affordable housing donated by the federal housing trust was a good step forward, he'd like to hear "more of those announcements in the future."

Harry Aggark of Chesterfield Inlet agreed. He said he will be paying close attention to which candidates are in support of road connections to Kivalliq region.

"This could really cut the costs for expensive food that is coming in," he said. "The other one is job creation and training programs."

Kivallirmiut will head to the polls on Oct. 14 to elect a new member of Parliament for Nunavut.

The race is wide open since Nancy Karetak-Lindell announced she would not be seeking re-election earlier this year.

Karetak-Lindell, who was born and raised in Arviat, has represented Nunavut in Parliament since 1997. The riding has been held by the Liberals since 1988.

No one has stepped forward from the Kivalliq region to enter the 2008 race.

Former Nattilik MLA Leona Aglukkaq announced last week she was stepping down from her territorial duties to pursue a candidacy for the Conservatives.

Environment Minister Olayuk Akesuk took over as health minister for the rest of this session of the legislative assembly.

Paul Irngaut, a former wildlife communications officer for Nunavut Tunngavik Inc., is running for the NDP. Irngaut is originally from Iglulik. Iqaluit resident and Harvard University graduate Kirt Ejesiak will represent the Liberals.

The Green Party had yet to announce a candidate as of Kivalliq News' deadline.

Federal elections generally draw a small turnout in Nunavut, and campaigners will have to compete with the territorial election campaign which will be decided on Oct. 27.

In 2004, the territorial election drew 93 per cent of eligible voters.

Meanwhile, the 2006 federal election only drew 54 per cent of eligible voters, or 9,251 of 17,088.

"People are more interested in the local end - territorial elections that are coming up this fall and other local elections like the hamlet council and HTOs. That's what's being talked about on the local radio," St. John said.

Regardless of which party is elected, Rankin Inlet's Amanda McLarty said she hopes the new representative will take time to pay attention to the needs of the Kivalliq region.

While the war in Afghanistan and environmental issues also factor high in her decision-making, she said the new representative will also have to be someone who will have a strong presence in Parliament.

"Whoever is running in our region needs to have a real understanding of the uniqueness of our region and able to speak for us," she said.