The president of the Yellowknife Firefighters Association wants to know whether the city has acted on any recommendations included in a 2022 public safety report, saying he still hasn't even seen the full document.  

Nominations for an upcoming mayoral byelection in Haines Junction, Yukon, opened on Thursday, following the abrupt resignation last month of Micheal Riseborough, who had been elected mayor just weeks earlier.

There's more frustration about rural Yukoners being discharged from the Whitehorse hospital with nowhere to go — while Yukon's health minister acknowledges there are "gaps" in health care that need to be fixed. 

The N.W.T. government and the federal government will contribute $1 million each over two years to create more shelter spaces and eventually more transitional housing for people facing homeless in Yellowknife. 

The Ross River Dena Council in the Yukon is accommodating the territorial and federal governments to potentially create its Indigenous protected area, not the other way around, says a conservationist. 

Two men have been arrested in connection with a series of break-and-enters that occurred in Iqaluit over the past two months.

In a news release Thursday, RCMP said assistance from the public led to officers identifying and arresting the pair.

Junior Kakkee, 27, was charged in connection to break-ins at Inuksuk High School on Oct. 31, the Frobisher Inn central storage on Nov. 6, and the Arctic Winter Games arena on Nov. 12.

He is charged with three counts of break and enter, three counts of failing to comply with a release order, two counts of possessing a break-and-enter instrument, separate counts of theft and mischief each over $5,000, and using a mask to disguise his identity while committing an offence.

Akavak Mangitak, 39, was arrested in connection with three break-ins at the Iqaluit post office, and a Dec. 1 break-in at Canadian North Cargo.

Mangitak is charged with four counts of break and enter, two counts of failing to comply with a probation order, and theft of mail.

Both men were held in custody, the release said.

Kakkee was scheduled to appear in court Dec. 10, while Mangitak’s next court appearance is Jan. 7.

The release comes more than two weeks after RCMP detachment commander Sgt. Darrell Gill informed Iqaluit city council that the majority of suspects in a recent series of break-ins had been arrested.

Gill gave the update while presenting the RCMP’s monthly reports for September and October on Nov. 26.

Properties targeted in recent break-ins include First Steps Daycare, Nunatta Sunakkutaangit Museum, Qajuqturvik Community Food Centre, Canada Post, Arctic Ventures and the Royal Canadian Legion.

Nunavik entrepreneur and aviator Johnny Adams was invested as an Officer of the Order of Canada during a ceremony Thursday at Rideau Hall in Ottawa.

Adams, who is from Kuujjuaq, was one of 12 appointees named to the second-highest level of the Order, which recognizes achievement and merit of a high degree for service to Canada.

“Entrepreneur and pilot Johnny Adams has helped transform Nunavik’s economic and social development as co-founder of several regional air services,” said Ken MacKillop, secretary to the governor general, while addressing the roomful of appointees and guests.

“His dedication to Indigenous-owned organizations is reflected in his many endeavours.”

Gov. Gen. Mary Simon, who is also from Nunavik, placed the red and white snowflake-shaped insignia of the Order on Adams.

Adams served in the merger between First Air and Canadian North and is currently executive chairman of Canadian North.

He is co-founder of several regional air services, including Atai Air Charters, Helicopters-Ungava, Nunavik Rotors Inc., and InnuKoptéres Inc. He also held several elected positions in Kuujjuaq, serving as a hamlet councillor in 1987 and mayor between 1991 and 1997.

In 2006, Adams was appointed a knight of the National Order of Quebec, bestowed by the province’s lieutenant-governor.

Other Indigenous people appointed as members to the Order of Canada on Thursday included Savage Bear from Montreal Lake Cree Nation, John William Beaucage from Wasauksing First Nation, Harley Crowshoe from Piikani Nation, and Patricia Ningewance Waabi-bizhikiikwe from Lac Seul First Nation.

In seeking regulatory help to avoid shutting down its Norman Wells facility, Imperial Oil set out what the company says is its economic impact on the region.

It’s the year 2050. Civilization has collapsed amid war and plague. Inuksugalingmiut — residents of a fictional 26th Nunavut community — are thriving by relying on Inuit Qaujimajatuqangit, or Inuit traditional knowledge.

This is the post-apocalyptic Arctic described in an award-winning short story by Megan Ungalak, 30, of Igloolik. Her work earned her the second-place $10,000 prize in the third annual Inuktuuqta! Inuktut Writing Prize competition.

The awards, sponsored by Nunavut Tunngavik Foundation, recognize emerging Inuit writers who create original works in Inuktut. Ungalak accepted her prize at a gala in Iqaluit on Dec. 4, where Rankin Inlet writer Donna Adams was named first-place finisher.

“It’s an end-of-the-world story where Inuit have to live the traditional life again because there’s so much pollution and bad things happening around the world,” Ungalak said in an interview, describing her story, which runs just over 11 pages.

“The world is breaking up, but they end up living a peaceful life using Inuit Qaujimajatuqangit.”

Happily ever after does not come that easily, however.

In Ungalak’s story, the narrative arc follows some antagonists who make a break for the south in search of supplies at abandoned retail stores.

“But then they end up having to be saved by the main characters in my story, and brought back on dogsleds,” she said.

The story is set in the fictional community of Inuksugalik, not so loosely based on Igloolik. The made-up hamlet borrows the name of her favourite real-life fishing spot in the Lailor Lakes, just outside Igloolik.

Ungalak’s drama unfolds like a Hollywood screenplay.

“Or a play,” she said.

Whichever medium she eventually chooses for publication, it will be part of a franchise.

“I want to write a part two for it, maybe in the summer,” Ungalak said.

“When an idea comes to me, that’s when I start. But I also like being organized and plan, so sometimes whatever I’m doing takes a while.”

A mother of four who works as a teacher at Ataguttaaluk High School in Igloolik, Ungalak makes parkas and creates other handmade winter gear for her family and for sale.

She said she has enjoyed writing since childhood but so far none of her work has been published.

Writing takes a lot of time and effort, similar to sewing, she said.

“Reading, erasing, adding, changing, editing — lots of things,” she said. “But it’s so fun.”

The federal government confirmed it is sending the NWT an extra $1 million over two years to help "those facing unsheltered homelessness in Yellowknife."

Police say a car with Alberta plates stopped in Behchokǫ̀ last month turned out to have some $76,000 stashed inside a hidden compartment.

Whitehorse city council will hold a rare Thursday meeting to look at alternative ways to deliver mandatory public notices as the Canada Post strike drags on.

U.S. president-elect Donald Trump’s threat to impose a 25 per cent tariff on Canadian exports to the United States will affect the North, says Nunavut Premier P.J. Akeeagok.

In a phone interview after meeting with Prime Minister Trudeau on the matter, Akeeagok said premiers are taking it “very seriously.”

“It’s really the top of the agenda because we know it’s going to have a huge impact right across [Canada],” Akeeagok said.

Wednesday’s virtual meeting with Trudeau, Deputy Prime Minister Chrystia Freeland and Public Safety Minister Dominic LeBlanc was the second held between the premiers and prime minister since Trump threatened to impose a tariff on all products entering the country from Canada and Mexico on “Day 1” of his administration.

“This tariff will remain in effect until such time as drugs, in particular fentanyl, and all illegal aliens stop this invasion of our country!” Trump wrote on his social media platform Truth Social on Nov. 25.

Trump’s inauguration day is set for Jan. 20.

During the meeting, Trudeau and the premiers discussed the importance of taking a “Team Canada approach” toward the U.S. and considered actions to mitigate the “hardship” that would come from tariffs, according to the meeting recap from the Prime Minister’s office.

Akeeagok said his key concern, apart from illegal substances and immigration, was the importance of meeting and potentially exceeding the two per cent NATO spending commitment.

Trump has been critical of NATO members, including Canada, that have not lived up to their commitment to spend two per cent of their GDP on defence.

Akeeagok said that could help Canada’s North play “a key role” in a partnership with the U.S.

Wednesday’s meeting came shortly after Trump suggested Canada could become the 51st state and referred to Trudeau as the “governor of Canada.”

“He probably has a good sense of humour,” Akeeagok said, adding that for him it was a chance to reflect on his own Canadian identity.

He said that he feels lucky to be Inuk, Nunavummiut and a “proud Canadian.”

Akeeagok is scheduled to head to Toronto Dec. 15 for the 2024 Fall Meeting of Canada’s Premiers, where the discussions on the Canada-U.S. relationship are likely to continue, he said.

A House of Commons committee has recommended Canada’s chief electoral officer move ahead with a pilot project to test the use of Inuit languages on federal election ballots in Nunavut.

It’s not clear yet, though, whether that could be in place in time for the next federal election, which must be held on or before Oct. 25, 2025.

The procedure and house affairs committee presented its recommendation last week after chief electoral officer Stéphane Perrault asked for committee approval of the pilot project in September.

“The committee is of the opinion that this proposal may allow a greater number of electors in Nunavut to exercise their constitutional right to vote, while offering sufficient guarantees to preserve the integrity of the vote,” the committee report said.

Proposed temporary variations to the Canada Elections Act for Nunavut include:

• allowing Inuktitut or Inuinnaqtun to be used for candidates’ names on nomination papers and ballots;
• allowing voters to write the name of their chosen candidate in an Inuit language;
• and allowing political parties to add an Inuktitut or Inuinnaqtun name for their party.

“Certain factors make the possibility of such a pilot project possible for Elections Canada,” said Matthew McKenna, a spokesperson for Elections Canada, in an email to Nunatsiaq News.

“That includes the facts that Inuktut has an official status in Nunavut, that a majority of the population speaks Inuktut languages, and that the territory is represented by just one federal election district.”

In a 2022 report, the committee recommended Elections Canada undertake the pilot project in Nunavut.

Nunavut NDP MP Lori Idlout introduced a bill after that report was released, calling for ballots to be available in Indigenous languages.

The committee also asked Perrault to consider the third recommendation from its 2022 report in the pilot project, which asks Elections Canada to present copies of the official ballot in Indigenous languages as a guide for voters at polling stations and voting booths.

Idlout said she welcomes the recommendation of the committee and called it a “long overdue decision.”

“During both my numerous appearances at committee and as a witness, I stressed the importance of reflecting the languages we speak on our land and improving access for Inuit,” she said.

“I will keep fighting for the government to accept this recommendation and to take a step further to include Indigenous languages in all areas of the country where Indigenous languages are spoken.”

McKenna said the pilot project needs to be approved by the Senate before Elections Canada can proceed.

Whether it can be implemented for the next federal election depends on the timing of the election.

“Given the minority parliament context, an election could take place at any time,” McKenna said.

“In such circumstances, Elections Canada delivers the services that are ready at the time the writs are issued.”

In the 2021 federal election, 34 per cent of eligible voters in Nunavut cast their ballot compared to 62 per cent across the country, according to Elections Canada.

Yellowknife has had consistent snowfall and it may feel like quite a lot of snow is on the ground. But will that help the drought and what's the bigger picture?

"We're here to prove it could be done." The Łı́ı́dlı̨ı̨ Kų́ę́ First Nation hopes its new cultural tourism centre can be a model for other communities.

Two residents hoping to establish a gas station outside Behchokǫ̀ say they will try a new approach after the project was rejected by the community government.

Are you an "outdoor lover, go-getter, professional or financially motivated?" The City of Yellowknife's new recruitment campaign wants you.

A private developer recently said there aren't enough supports to build affordable housing in the NWT. Here's a summary of what's currently available.

Premier R.J. Simpson says he's simply working to raise the Northwest Territories' profile, with columns for national media outlets, public-policy podcasts, and a new personal Instagram account. 

For decades, the Yellowknife A&W restaurant has been a popular hang-out spot for people young and old. Todd Stewart, one of the co-owners, said he's going to miss those 'friendly faces.'

A Yellowknife hotel celebrating its 50th anniversary made a $50,000 donation to a new fund hoping to raise $3 million to help local good causes.

Two suspects face charges after RCMP officers found $3,700 in cash, powder cocaine and crack cocaine at an Iqaluit home after carrying out a search warrant Friday.

Ahmed Ghouili, a 40-year-old man, is charged with trafficking cocaine, a violation of the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act, as well as criminal offences of possession of property obtained by crime and failure to comply with probation.

Cheri Rheaume, a 37-year-old woman, is charged with possessing cocaine for trafficking under the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act, the RCMP said in a news release Wednesday.

Both were arrested at a residence near the Road to Nowhere and taken into custody. Their next scheduled court appearance is on Jan. 23.

Liard First Nation in the Yukon will soon vote on a motion that, if successful, could see Chief Stephen Charlie step down from his role. The announcement of the vote comes after months of tensions within the First Nation. 

A boil water advisory put in place in July in Igloolik, Nunavut, was lifted on Wednesday, says Nunavut's Department of Health. 

Eight people were handed temporary driver’s licence suspensions Friday and Saturday as the City of Iqaluit’s municipal enforcement department and RCMP kicked off a month-long campaign to combat impaired driving.

One driver was issued a 90-day roadside suspension for drug impairment, according to a city news release issued Wednesday. Two other drivers lost their licences for 24 hours, three were given 30-day suspensions and two more had their licences suspended for 90 days, all due to alcohol impairment.

In Nunavut, it’s illegal to drive with a blood-alcohol concentration of more than .05 milligrams.

Over the Christmas holidays, the city’s enforcement officers are working in co-ordination with RCMP on the campaign, which officially began Saturday.

Officers will be looking for impaired drivers at traffic stops and there will be roving patrols throughout the city, Nunavut RCMP posted on their Facebook page Tuesday.

It said more than 55 per cent of fatal car crashes in Canada are caused by impaired driving.

“Impaired driving accidents are completely preventable. We can all do our part to prevent tragedies on our roads this holiday season,” said Const. Peter Lodge of the Iqaluit RCMP in the Facebook post.

The Na-Cho Nyäk Dun First Nation in the Yukon is asking Canada's auditor general to look into how "failures in governmental oversight" may have contributed to the major failure last summer at Victoria Gold's Eagle gold mine. 

Hay River's draft 2025 budget freezes residential property taxes while introducing a waste processing levy that'll cost most people $18 a month.

YWCA Canada formally apologized for its role in the operation of residential schools and Indian hospitals, releasing a report on its connection to them.

The Dene Nation expressed "grave concerns" over replacement of a healthcare leadership council with an administrator. The NWT health minister defended the move.

Millions of dollars will continue to flow into Iqaluit’s long-term water upgrades following passage of the city’s 2025 budgets.

Iqaluit councillors approved the city’s capital and operations plans for next year at their final meeting of 2024 Tuesday night.

The capital budget — which covers equipment purchases and major projects — totals $73.9 million.

Within that, $29.1 million is allocated for water infrastructure improvements around the city.

The money comes from $214 million the city received in 2022 from the federal government for these upgrades. Next year, that spending will include $8.3 million on a new water intake valve and $6 million on infrastructure upgrades to Astro Hill. Money will be spent on other utilidor and pipe upgrades as well.

Another $21.7 million is planned to be spent on sewer work.

The city is also planning several vehicle and equipment purchases at a total cost of around $4.9 million. That includes new water and sewer trucks, four new garbage trucks and two new ambulances.

“It’s not as much of a fun and shiny capital budget or plan as we’ve had in past years, but I do think it is a necessary step for our city to take for a while to deal with some of the critical infrastructure shortages that we’ve had,” said deputy Mayor Kim Smith.

That comment was directed to Peter Tumilty, the city’s director of corporate and financial services, who presented both budgets at Tuesday’s meeting.

“I think anything to do with water and sewer is fun and shiny, and I’m excited to see this much being allocated to that this year,” Coun. Kyle Sheppard said.

“That’s the backbone that’s going to allow us to build more housing in years to come.”

Sheppard said he hopes the city will spend “every cent of this plan.”

The city’s 2024 capital plan was set to total $82.4 million, but that amount was reduced to $65.2 million following a review.

The 2025 operations budget — which covers salaries and day-to-day costs — is again running on a surplus, this time at $5.3 million.

The expenses on this spending plan total $74.7 million, which is an increase from $58.7 million approved for 2024.

Water and sewer costs take the biggest chunk at $14.9 million. Approximately $4.2 million goes to salaries and benefits and close to $6 million goes to running the city’s utilidor system.

Iqaluit’s sanitation, recreation, emergency services and community development departments will all see an increase in spending.

The city is expected to take in $80 million in revenue next year, up from $60.7 million in 2024.

Water bill revenue is one of the biggest changes, with the city projected to take in $25.4 million, up from $11.5 million in 2024.

Earlier this year, city council voted to cut residential water rates in half and increase the rates businesses and government are charged. That rate change explains the new expected revenue, Tumilty said.

The Dene Nation says it has "grave concerns" over the N.W.T. government's decision to turf a leadership council responsible for managing the territory's health authority and appoint a public administrator instead. The leadership council says it wasn't consulted on the decision.

Taylor Duke pleaded guilty to four of the 35 charges laid against him after a police raid of his residence last year uncovered 11 firearms and more than two kilograms of illicit drugs. 

Originally expected to open in January, the city confirmed to CBC Tuesday that the new opening date is "early into the second quarter of 2025."

The dining room was abuzz Tuesday morning at Royal Canadian Legion branch 168 in Iqaluit as the organization hosted its second annual elders feast alongside members of the Canadian Rangers and RCMP V Division.

“We couldn’t have done that two years ago,” said John Graham, legion president. “The last four or five years have been pretty desperate around these parts. We were totally against the wall.”

Last year, the legion owed more than $1 million in property tax arrears to the City of Iqaluit.

John Graham was re-acclaimed this week for another two-year term as president of Royal Canadian Legion branch 168 in Iqaluit. (Photo by Daron Letts)

“That’s resolved. That’s cleared,” said Graham. “The tax bill was wiped out.”

The legion settled the bill in August by selling off its three properties to the Molloy Group, from which the organization now leases its space.

This year also saw a successful membership drive.

The COVID-19 pandemic shutdown “decimated” membership, Graham said, with numbers plummeting from 1,800 to barely 200.

That was closely followed by a spike in food and freight expenses that put the legion into a financial tailspin as debts piled up.

Today the legion’s membership is back up to nearly 800, though membership fees dropped from $80 to $50 for the year. Online membership applications and renewals through the legion website made a difference too, Graham said.

“I mean, we’re not totally out of the woods yet, from a financial standpoint, but it’s encouraging to see the amount of membership,” he said.

“It jumped really substantially in the last 12 months. So that’s a success story there.”

The legion has increased its dining room food prices while lowering drink prices at the bar. More events are planned to draw people in, Graham said.

The legion dedicated $68,550 to eight charitable and social initiatives in the community this past year, ranging from Rotary Club food hampers to Iqaluit Bombers softball.

“Things are encouraging,” he said. “We’ve still got a long way to go, financially, but the legion is being slowly revitalized. Everything looks positive.”

A barrage of break-ins has not helped with the recovery, he said, estimating the legion has seen about $96,000 in damage and loss incurred by thieves.

The legion operates with 28 full-time staff and five regular volunteers.

Whitehorse's new mayor says the first capital budget of his term is about "fiscal responsibility," as the city grapples with aging infrastructure, the threat of climate change, and a steadily growing population.

Iqaluit Coun. Sam Tilley says he will be stepping away from council for two months in the new year to seek alcohol treatment.

Tilley made the announcement at Tuesday’s city council meeting, the last one of the year.

“I recognize that this is an important step toward improving my health and well-being and I’m committed to this journey,” he said.

“It’s not an easy step, but I’m confident that it is one that will make a positive impact on my life.”

Tilley said he’s grateful for the support he has received from colleagues.

“I will be focusing on my treatment for a while and I may be not as available as usual, but please know that your encouragement means the world to me,” he said.

“I look forward to [serving] my community upon my return.”

Councillors shared some encouragement for Tilley.

“We support you all the way,” said deputy Mayor Kim Smith, who sits directly to Tilley’s right in council.

Tilley has been a city councillor he since he was appointed in 2022 to fill a vacancy. He was then elected in the 2023 municipal election.

Tilley said he will be participating in a 64-day treatment program. During that time, he won’t have internet access.

“I’ll be disconnected to the outside world,” he said.

Tilley didn’t say much else about his decision to seek recovery or the program.

“This is my journey,” he said.

“I feel like it’s something that I needed to do for a long time, and that’s why I’m doing it.”

Mayor Solomon Awa, who thanked Tilley for being open about his situation in council, said it’s important that people who are struggling know they are not alone.

“We all do need help in one way or another,” Awa said.

“Getting help is stepping forward to a better future.”

Thawing permafrost poses a threat to northern runways, says a new Senate report looking at how climate change is impacting critical infrastructure across the country.

The report was released in November by the Standing Senate Committee on Transport and Communications.

It includes four case studies examining infrastructure in the North, the Isthmus of Chignecto between New Brunswick and Nova Scotia, the Vancouver Airport and Marine Port, and the Great Lakes-St. Lawrence Seaway.

“Most northern airports have gravel runways that were built on permafrost during the Cold War and have received few upgrades since then,” reads the report.

“The thawing permafrost destabilizes runways, which compromises the safety of northern aviation.”

On top of that, severe weather can impact availability of flights in and out of Nunavut communities that rely heavily on air transport to move people and goods, the report said.

Extreme weather events, which come with “strong, violent winds,” are becoming more common. Canadian North airline, for example, averages 175 weather-related flight cancellations per month, according to the report.

“These communities do not have access to essential goods in a continual, sustainable way,” the report said.

The committee also heard from Paul Irngaut, vice-president of Nunavut Tunngavik Inc., on challenges with marine infrastructure in the territory.

He noted some piers have “no infrastructure for sealift operations or for protecting vessels or the community.”

These problems are exacerbated by the fact that Arctic communities are seeing more marine traffic due to melting sea ice.

Alberta Sen. Paula Simons said she was “shocked” by how many different fronts transportation in the North is under threat.

“It’s not just a question of permafrost, it’s a question of rivers that run dry enough that you can’t bring barges of materials up the river, it’s about rising sea levels on northern coasts that change the way ships can come into port,” she said in an interview.

Simons said that going into the report, the committee had a “southern mindset” of what infrastructure looks like.

“We weren’t thinking of infrastructure as the literal snow on the ground, but of course in Nunavut, whether that’s dog sleds or Ski-Doos, if you don’t have snow you can’t travel,” said Simons.

“The infrastructure is also the snow and the river water levels and permafrost itself.”

Simons said the committee “relied heavily” on former Nunavut senator Dennis Patterson’s knowledge of northern communities. Even though he was not a member of the committee, he helped line up witnesses to ensure northern voices were heard.

The report concludes with recommendations for the federal government, such as “developing a detailed plan to meet the specific needs of the North.”

It recommended further investments into construction of all-weather roads, port facilities, and airport runways and permafrost research in the North.

Simons says the report hasn’t been presented to the chamber yet for discussion but the committee will be expecting a response from Transport Minister Anita Anand.

“We have to be preparing for the consequences right now,” said Simon.

"The consequences of not acting are going to be catastrophic." One senator described their shock as a report lay bare the North's transportation challenges.

Northstar Taxi is on the road with two cabs in Hay River, providing a service that had been missing for months. The company phone is ringing off the hook.

"Everybody used to come here, talk and find out the news." Inside a doomed Yellowknife fast food restaurant, customers explained why it became an institution.

Yellowknife's $70M aquatic centre was originally due to have opened by now. We asked City Hall for an updated rough estimate of when the centre will open.

This weekend, Yellowknife's firefighters' association will host an ice fishing tournament in memory of colleague Greg Pratt, who passed away last year.

De Beers Group and some of its Gahcho Kué mine business partners collectively donated $30,000 to the Yellowknife Salvation Army's Christmas food program.

Property taxes are going up, and tourists will also be paying new fees in Yellowknife after city council passed this year's budget and also approved a new accomodation tax on Monday.

Mike Dobson of Pelly Crossing, Yukon, wants the Whitehorse General Hospital to do better when discharging rural patients who arrive by medevac.

Baker Lake Mayor Kevin Iksiktaaryuk gave notice Tuesday that he has resigned from the hamlet’s leadership role.

In a letter addressed to the municipal council and the community, Iksiktaaryuk cited “ongoing responsibilities, high expectations, and stress” as reasons for stepping down.

Iksiktaaryuk won a two-person race for mayor in 2023 after former mayor Richard Aksawnee announced he would not seek re-election. Iksiktaaryuk also ran for mayor in the 2019 election and previously served as a council member from December 2017 to October 2019.

In his letter, he said he did not expect the mayor’s position to become a “full-time commitment” and found it difficult to balance the part-time role with his career and family.

Iksiktaaryuk listed ongoing and future projects to be undertaken by the community’s leadership, including construction of a new community library, men’s shelter, emergency services garage and police detachment.

The need to reform bylaws, such as council procedures and indemnities, as well as lands administration, was also mentioned in his letter.

Under Nunavut law, when a municipality faces a vacancy in the mayor’s office, councillors can vote to either appoint a new mayor or hold a byelection.

Nunatsiaq News could not reach Iksiktaaryuk and the hamlet office Tuesday about the mayor’s resignation and how the hamlet will fill the vacancy.

The health leadership council being replaced by a public administrator said the change was made without its input. Multiple MLAs, meanwhile, backed the move.