Former MLA Jeannie Ehaloak, observing the challenges in her community of Cambridge Bay, Nunavut, highlights the loss of essential facilities like the arena and youth center, leading to increased vandalism and mischief. Ehaloak emphasizes the urgent need to address these issues, especially for the benefit of the youth in the community, making it a key concern for the upcoming territorial election.

Darlene Agitak, the program coordinator at Cambridge Bay’s youth center, stresses the lack of platforms for youth to engage with civic issues and communicate their needs to politicians. Agitak suggests establishing a youth committee as a starting point to empower young people to understand the workings of government and the impact of their voices on society.

Agitak also emphasizes the importance of enhanced communication between politicians and their constituents, advocating for more transparency on community matters such as education and culture through accessible public platforms like websites for inquiries and feedback.

Highlighting the importance of political engagement, Ehaloak, drawing from her legislative assembly experience, underscores the need for politicians to improve communication with the public, especially on pressing issues like food security and Arctic sovereignty. She stresses the significance of disseminating information effectively to ensure public awareness and participation.

Addressing the declining voter turnout in Nunavut since its establishment in 1999, Iqaluit residents like Tiina Kakkik express a desire to make voting more appealing and accessible. Kakkik emphasizes the need to overcome barriers like transportation and apathy among voters by making voting “cool” and promoting a culture where voting is seen as trendy and empowering.

Maggie Amarualik, reflecting on her past indifference towards voting, now recognizes the importance of voting, particularly in addressing critical issues such as healthcare and housing in Nunavut. Encouraging young people to participate in the electoral process, Amarualik stresses the significance of voting to shape a better future for the territory.

With election day scheduled for Oct. 27, the call for increased youth engagement, improved communication, and efforts to enhance voter participation resonates as essential aspects of promoting a more informed and involved community.