IQALUIT - The territory's newest minister is Uqqummiut MLA James Arreak.

He was chosen to fill a vacant cabinet seat during the Nunavut Leadership Forum at the Nunavut legislative assembly on Nov. 4.

"I don't see it as stepping down ... I see it as a step up from the position I was in," said Arreak, who was the former speaker of the house.

He was nominated by Minister of Health and Social Services Minister Tagak Curley.

A cabinet position became vacant after Louis Tapardjuk resigned as minister of Culture, Language, Elders and Youth (CLEY) on Oct. 28.

Premier Eva Aariak will keep the CLEY portfolio and has until the winter sitting which starts on Feb. 22, to decide what department Arreak will be in charge of.

Other nominees for the position were Nattilik MLA Jeannie Ugyuk and South Baffin MLA Fred Schell.

Former Nunavut premier and current MLA for Iqaluit West, Paul Okalik, was selected as the new speaker for the assembly.

"I will do (the job to) the best of my abilities," he said of the position.

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