Olayuk Akesuk
Encyclopedia
Olayuk Akesuk is a politician from Cape Dorset
, Nunavut
, Canada
. Akesuk was the Member of the Legislative Assembly
(MLA) for the electoral district
of South Baffin
from 1999 to 2008, having won the seat in the 1999 Nunavut election
. He served as the minister of the environment, the minister responsible for the Workers Compensation Board, and the minister responsible for Nunavut housing.
In the first elections held in the newly created territory of Nunavut in 1999, Akesuk defeated Goo Arlooktoo
, who had been deputy premier of the Northwest Territories
, from which Nunavut had been split off. This was considered one of the biggest upsets of the election, as many people had expected Arlooktoo to become premier of Nunavut.
On 10 September 2008, Akesuk was appointed Health Minister after Leona Aglukkaq
stepped down to run in the 2008 Canadian federal election
for the Conservative Party
.
Akesuk did not stand for re-election in the 2008 territorial election
.
Cape Dorset, Nunavut
Cape Dorset is an Inuit hamlet located on Dorset Island near Foxe Peninsula at the southern tip of Baffin Island in the Qikiqtaaluk Region of Nunavut, Canada...
, Nunavut
Nunavut
Nunavut is the largest and newest federal territory of Canada; it was separated officially from the Northwest Territories on April 1, 1999, via the Nunavut Act and the Nunavut Land Claims Agreement Act, though the actual boundaries had been established in 1993...
, Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
. Akesuk was the Member of the Legislative Assembly
Member of the Legislative Assembly
A Member of the Legislative Assembly or a Member of the Legislature , is a representative elected by the voters of a constituency to the legislature or legislative assembly of a sub-national jurisdiction....
(MLA) for the electoral district
Electoral district (Canada)
An electoral district in Canada, also known as a constituency or a riding, is a geographical constituency upon which Canada's representative democracy is based...
of South Baffin
South Baffin
South Baffin is a territorial electoral district for the Legislative Assembly of Nunavut, Canada.The riding consists of the communities of Cape Dorset and Kimmirut.The current Member of the Legislative Assembly is Fred Schell.-1999 election:...
from 1999 to 2008, having won the seat in the 1999 Nunavut election
Nunavut general election, 1999
Nunavut, Canada conducted its first general election on 15 February 1999, to elect the members of the Legislative Assembly of Nunavut.Although Nunavut did not become a territory until 1 April 1999 the election was held early to enable the members to assume their duties on that date.The territory...
. He served as the minister of the environment, the minister responsible for the Workers Compensation Board, and the minister responsible for Nunavut housing.
In the first elections held in the newly created territory of Nunavut in 1999, Akesuk defeated Goo Arlooktoo
Goo Arlooktoo
Goo "Mosa" Arlooktoo was a politician and former cabinet minister from Northwest Territories, Canada...
, who had been deputy premier of the Northwest Territories
Northwest Territories
The Northwest Territories is a federal territory of Canada.Located in northern Canada, the territory borders Canada's two other territories, Yukon to the west and Nunavut to the east, and three provinces: British Columbia to the southwest, and Alberta and Saskatchewan to the south...
, from which Nunavut had been split off. This was considered one of the biggest upsets of the election, as many people had expected Arlooktoo to become premier of Nunavut.
On 10 September 2008, Akesuk was appointed Health Minister after Leona Aglukkaq
Leona Aglukkaq
Leona Aglukkaq, PC, MP is a Canadian politician, who was elected to the Canadian House of Commons as a Conservative in the 2008 Canadian federal election for the riding of Nunavut....
stepped down to run in the 2008 Canadian federal election
Canadian federal election, 2008
The 2008 Canadian federal election was held on Tuesday, October 14, 2008 to elect members to the Canadian House of Commons of the 40th Canadian Parliament after the previous parliament had been dissolved by the Governor General on September 7, 2008...
for the Conservative Party
Conservative Party of Canada
The Conservative Party of Canada , is a political party in Canada which was formed by the merger of the Canadian Alliance and the Progressive Conservative Party of Canada in 2003. It is positioned on the right of the Canadian political spectrum...
.
Akesuk did not stand for re-election in the 2008 territorial election
Nunavut general election, 2008
The Third Nunavut General Election took place on October 27, 2008 to return members to the 3rd Legislative Assembly of Nunavut. The election was contested across 15 of Nunavut's 19 electoral districts under the first past the post system of voting...
.