Megan Pizzo-Lyall announced as Liberal candidate for Nunavut in upcoming election

Megan Pizzo-Lyallwill run in the 2019 federal election under the Liberal party banner, she announced Thursday night in Iqaluit alongsidePrime Minister Justin Trudeau.

Pizzo-Lyallis a former Iqaluit city councillor. She was elected to a three-year term in October 2015 but resigned for a job opportunity. She now works as manager of operationsfor Atuqtuarvik Corporation, a financing and investment company for Inuit-owned businesses.

Pizzo-Lyall made the announcement Thursday at the Black Heart Caf, with Trudeau in attendance. The prime minister is in Nunavut toannounceplans to create a new protected area off the coast, and also visited the community of Arctic Bay.

During the announcement, Pizzo-Lyall said that she had several priorities for the upcoming campaign.

"Housing, increasing housing," she said."Eliminating poverty, that's a huge one.

"I'm from a community where the majority of the residents rely on social assistance from the government and it's hard. And I want people to know that I am going to fight for them."

Hunter Tootoo, the currentMP for Nunavut, announced earlier this week that he would not seek re-election. When he was elected he was the Liberal candidate, but he is currently serving as an Independent.

According to a bio of Pizzo-Lyall, she lives in Rankin Inlet, and grew up inTaloyoak. She lived in Iqaluit for 10 years. She attendedNunavut Sivuniksavut and graduated from Nunavut Arctic College in the Environmental Technology Program. She's worked for the territorial Department of Environment and theQikiqtani Inuit Association.

Leona Aglukkaq running for Conservatives

Gjoa Haven'sLeonaAglukkaqannounced her plan to run for the Conservativesin April.

She's a former territorial MLAand was elected as theConservative member of Parliament for Nunavut for two terms in 2008 and 2011in Stephen Harper's government.

Aglukkaqwas also in cabinet, serving terms as the minister of health, environment, and the Canadian Northern Economic Development Agency.

She lost toTootoo in the 2015 election.

"There's a lot of work to be done, I'm very excited about getting back to politics again," she told CBC in April.

"You know I served eightyears as a cabinet minister in the federal government. I represented Nunavut for eightyears and with my experience and background I feel that I can make a difference again."

The NDPand Green Party candidates for Nunavut have not yet been named.

The federal election is scheduled to take place on or before Oct. 21.