NUNAVUT
Hopeful Parliamentarians are lining up to face off against incumbent Conservative MP Leona Aglukkaq, who has confirmed that she will run for a third term in the October federal election.

Jerry Natanine: Clyde River mayor hopes to represent NDP in fall election. Spencer Rocchi: Former Nunavut teacher is Green Party candidate.

With the federal New Democrats steadily gaining support - according to poll trend reporting on threehundredeight.com as of July 6, the NDP are favoured to win - the party will want a high-profile and supportable candidate in Nunavut to face off against the first Inuk to sit in federal cabinet.

Clyde River Mayor Jerry Natanine believes he's the right fit.

"Our current MP, she hasn't been listening to the people and what people wanted," Natanine said. "As voters, we've been feeling left out, not involved with the current government.

"The unused $1 billion in the AANDC office, we got lots of use for that up here. I could probably represent the people of Nunavut at Parliament to try to get the government to realize the kinds of infrastructure needs we have and the kind of assistance we need to get."

Natanine has been in the national spotlight this year for leading the fight against seismic testing off the shore of Clyde River in Baffin Bay and Davis Strait. He believes the NDP is the party to help Nunavut move forward.

"I'm hoping that the people of Nunavut will see the kind of leadership I want to put forward where I involve the people and listen to the people," he said, describing the ruling Conservatives as unfriendly to the environment and aboriginal peoples.

Natanine is expecting to hear in the coming week whether he will be the NDP candidate.

Compared to Natanine, who believes he has a chance at winning, Green candidate Spencer Rocchi is running with the awareness his odds are slim.

"It's going to be a long road, but it's obviously possible," said Rocchi, a teacher who worked in Kugluktuk, Naujaat and Arctic Bay but is now in Hamilton, Ont., and is moving to another province in the fall.

"All you can do is start somewhere. The Green Party isn't necessarily favoured to win in a lot of places, but obviously they have an important message that needs to come forward."

And he said his party gives an option for people who want to see government move away from lobbyist influence.

"Green is the only party running in Nunavut that doesn't have significant corporate ties," he said.

Liberal riding association president Michel Potvin, reached by e-mail, stated the party remains without a candidate.

"Not yet," Potvin stated. "We hope to make an announcement very soon. We will send out a media advisory."

Aglukkaq did not respond to a request for comment about her candidacy, but her office did confirm that she is seeking reelection.

We welcome your opinions. Click here to e-mail a letter to the editor.