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NUNAVUT
There will be a recount early next week to see if Okalik Eegeesiak will retain the presidency of the Qikiqtani Inuit Association.

Okalik Eegeesiak: Incumbent and possible president-elect of the Qikiqtani Inuit Association will have to wait for a recount to see if she will retain his position. - NNSL file photo

Strong showings in Cape Dorset and Iqaluit gave the Iqaluit resident 1043 votes, or 36 per cent of the total vote count, to slip past George Qulaut, who had 987 votes, and Paul Quassa, who finished third with 869.

Without the overwhelming support of either Cape Dorset or Iqaluit – where vote spreads between him and Qulaut were 132 and 151 votes respectively – Eegeesiak would not have won the position. Qulaut took the polls in his home community of Iglulik with almost double the votes of second-place Quassa, who is the community's mayor. Eegeesiak placed a distant third in that community.

The small spread between the leading candidates was enough to warrant the recount, chief returning officer Bob St. Eloi said Dec. 14.

The following community directors were elected Dec. 12: Jerry Natanine in Clyde River, Abraham Qammaniq in Hall Beach, John Illupalik in Iglulik, Simon Nattaq in Iqaluit, Mikidjuk Lyta in Kimmirut, Philip Paneak in Pond Inlet, and Peter Kattuk in Sanikiluaq.

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