The candidates: Cambridge Bay

Sitting on the west end of the Northwest Passage, Cambridge Bay, population 2,137, is the administrative and transport hub for the Kitikmeot region.

Three quarters of residents are Inuit, but there is a large, long-term non-Inuit population in the community, and English is commonly spoken there.

The $142-million Canadian High Arctic Research Station (CHARS) opened officially therein August of 2019.

But COVID-19 closed CHARS to researchers and suspended all cruise and leisure craft traffic through the Northwest Passage in 2020 and 2021.

In this constituency, Peter Ohokak, an administrative manager with NunavutTunngavik Incorporated, and former mayor Pamela Hakongak Grossare challenging the incumbent Jeannie Hakongak Ehaloak.

CBC has reached out to all candidates with a list of questions in Inuktut and English, as well as consulted candidates' own online campaign messages. The available information has been edited for length and clarity.

Pamela Hakongak Gross

Born in Cambridge Bay, and raised there and in Hay River, N.W.T., Pamela Hakongak Gross attended Nunavut Sivuniksavut in Ottawa and graduated from Carleton University.

Gross also studied in the Indigenous Governance program at the University of Winnipeg.

In Cambridge Bay, she has worked at the Nunavut Impact Review Board and headed the Pitquhirnikkut Ilihautiniq/Kitikmeot Heritage Society.

Gross ran against incumbent Jeannie Hakongak Ehaloak in 2017 and lost in a recount. Gross, who is Cambridge Bay'smayor, took aleave of absence to run again for MLA.

Gross lists as her priorities food security, and addressing access to the communityby air, roads and water.

She also wants to reinstate the community care centre in Cambridge Bay.

"Improving the state of housing is a vital step for all Nunavummiut," she said in a social media campaign message. "My journey to date has been for the sole purpose of empowering and improving the lives of Nunavummiut."

Jeannie Hakongak Ehaloak (incumbent)

Born on Jenny Lind Island at the CAM-1 site (Distant Early Warning Line, or DEW Line,) Jeannie Hakongak Ehaloak has lived in Cambridge Bay most of her life.

She holds a certificate in management studies from St. Mary's University and has worked for the government, hamlet and several public agencies.

Ehaloak was mayor of Cambridge Bay for six years and served as president of the Nunavut Association of Municipalities for five years, as well as on other boards.

In her campaign material,Ehaloak said she is experienced, committed, dedicated and reliable: "together we can make our ideas a reality."

Ehaloak said she would continue to lobby for a 24-hour care facility and boost training and employment in the community.

Peter Ohokak

Peter Ohokak studied at the University of Alberta and is a certified administrative manager.

"Most recently I worked with Nunavut Tunngavik Inc. as the manager of mineral agreements and promotions where I actively promoted Nunavut across the country as a place where the private sector and Inuit can forge together a prosperous future," he said in his campaign material.

"I am not afraid to ask the hard questions and demand action," said Ohokak, who said hewouldfocus on housing, education and infrastructure, including airport repairs and a beer and wine store.

Ohokak would also push for better internet rates and speeds for Cambridge Bay.

He said he would work to adjust the home ownership program requirements to encourage home ownership and ease reliance on government-subsidized housing.