Iqaluit rejects big-ticket projects in plebiscite

Iqaluit residentselected eight new city councillorson Monday and rejected plans to borrow $18 million for new municipal buildings.

Mayor Elisapee Sheutiapik had already been acclaimed to a second term.

Incumbent candidate Simon Nattaq received the most votes with 530. He was followed by Jimmy Kilabuk and David Alexander.

Also elected were incumbents Glenn Williams and Claude Martel in addition to newcomers Jim Little, Allen Hayward andMark Boudreau.

The only unsuccessful candidate was Grant Hipfner.

Twoballot questions,which asked ratepayers if the city could borrow $6 million to build a new city hall and up to $12 million to build a new recreation centre, were defeated.

Sheutiapikwas disappointed the projects were turned down, saying council will have to go back to the drawing board.

The new council will serve a three-year term. The Nunavut capital is home to about 6,000 residents.

Five people werealso elected to the Commission scolaire francophone du Nunavut. Members for the Iqaluit and Apex District Education Authorities were acclaimed earlier.