IQALUIT - Conservative MP Leona Aglukkaq will return to Ottawa, this time as part of a majority government, with the NDP forming the official opposition.

Newly re-elected Nunavut MP Leona Aglukkaq gives two thumbs up in Iqaluit on May 2.

"I feel absolutely wonderful," she told reporters and supporters in Iqaluit following her win. "I am very proud of the results today. I think Nunavummiut recognize the contribution the Conservative government has delivered in the North. I want to get back to work, as soon as I can."

A Conservative majority is "fantastic," she added. With 56 of 56 polls reporting as of 1:51 ET May 3, Aglukkaq obtained 4,111 votes while Liberal candidate Paul Okalik got 2,360 and NDP candidate Jack Hicks obtained 1,603. Green Party candidate Scott MacCallum finished fourth with 173 votes.

Aglukkaq acknowledged Okalik, Hicks and MacCallum for getting into the race, recognizing the challenges of campaigning in the North in Canada's largest riding, covering three time zones.

she said ultimately, voters saw a government and member of parliament willing to work through issues in the North, the most important part of the job, she added.

"At the end of the day, I think people saw in the two short years what I was able to deliver to the North and my commitment to working with Northerners as a Northerner and pushing through some of those files. The job's not over," she said.

"From the very beginning of this campaign, I said I would run on my record and communicate to Nunavummiut what I have been able to deliver for the last two years."

Aglukkaq was the federal health minister in the previous Stephen Harper government but would not speculate on a possible return to cabinet.

"Whether I'm assigned a portfolio or not, I know I will be part of a great team. I am looking forward to going back to work," she said.

Watching the election results on television at Aglukkaq's after-campaign party in Iqaluit were Maria West and Pat Netser.

West said a Conservative majority is good for Nunavut.

"Now all the people, the whole nation has spoken," she said. "PC is the majority. I am so happy. I am so happy for them. I am so happy for Nunavut."

"Shocking," is the work West used to describe the NDP being the official opposition.

"It's a good change, I suppose, maybe to see a different opposition in the government," she said. "It's a shocking event for the Liberals to be now the third."

All was quiet at The Navigator, the election night headquarters for Liberal party candidate Paul Okalik.

In a large conference room one lone supporter sat nibbling on barely touched cheese and crackers. Several of his staffers were watching the results roll in.

Okalik came in second place with 2,360 votes.

“I did my best and that’s what the people want,” he said.

When asked what contributed to his loss, he wagered it was the fact he got a late start in the game.

In Iqaluit, the difference in the number of votes between Okalik and Aglukkaq was tight according to his staffers.

Okalik said he tried to spend as much time as he could visiting other communities so perhaps that was why the capital city voted blue.

And what does Okalik think about the Conservative majority nationwide?

“As an aboriginal person, I’m a little scared ... we need some help in Nunavut to try and get caught up to the rest of the country.”

To run in the campaign, Okalik stepped down from his seat at the legislative assembly as MLA for Iqaluit West.

He said he is going to take some time to rest and reflect on his campaign and that he will not be running for the seat.

“No thank you. I’ve been there, done that.”

About a 30 second drive away at Yummy Shawarma, the mood was a little more festive as Jack Hicks and his NDP supporters were watching a wave of orange sweep the country.

Hicks finished in third place with a solid 1,603 votes.

“I’m really happy with the campaign that we ran. We raised issues; we resonate with a large section of the voters,” he said.

Hicks, who has lived in the territory for most of the last 27 years, said while it was hard to run against an incumbent who has a lot of money for travel and to run their campaign, earning more votes and raising the profile of the party in Nunavut was enough for him.

“I think we helped make it a real race, it wasn’t a coronation.”

He said he is interested in seeing how Aglukkaq will deliver on her campaign promises such as building houses, funding for social programs, building a deep water port and a power dam for Iqaluit and getting a road from the Kivalliq to western Canada.

While the increase in NDP across the country is positive, Hicks said the bad news is still that Harper is still the Conservative party leader.

Hicks and his supporters certainly had the best munchies to nibble on while watching the national totals add up.

“By far we have the best smelling campaign headquarters and campaign rally in town,” he said.

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