There’s a three-way contest shaping up in the Kitikmeot region, where a cabinet minister is being challenged by two opponents
Cambridge Chronicle is sharing profiles of candidates ahead of the territorial election on Oct. 27. Check back on our website to find out more about who’s running in your community.
The race for Cambridge Bay’s seat in Nunavut’s legislative assembly includes three contenders: current MLA Pamela Hakongak Gross, Kitikmeot Inuit Association executive director Fred Pedersen, and Peter Ohokak.
Gross and Pedersen spoke with Cambridge Chronicle about what matters most to them. Ohokak didn’t take part in an interview, saying he’d rather focus on local issues.
Gross has been representing the riding since 2021 and wants to keep her seat after serving as Nunavut’s deputy premier and minister responsible for education, culture and heritage, languages, and seniors.
She mentioned wanting to build on what she started – pointing out advances in child care, education, and infrastructure as some key wins during her time in office.
“We’re the first jurisdiction in Canada to offer $10-a-day child care and we’ve also enhanced the wages and included northern residency into the salaries for child-care workers,” Gross said during an interview.
Pedersen took a leave from KIA, where he worked for 30 years, so he could run in this election.
He believes his background negotiating policies gives him what it takes to “speak loudly to bring about change” here in Cambridge Bay.
Education is also important to him. He highlighted programs at Nunavut Arctic College that could grow if Cambridge Bay was picked as a spot for Inuit Tapiriit Kanatami’s Inuit Nunangat University.
“Providing a variety of good education programs becomes part of a community’s economy,” Pedersen said.
Both Gross and Pedersen agree public safety is a big concern right now. That comes after four men were arrested this summer tied to a violent attack linked with alleged drug dealing.
Gross said she pushed for better coordination between Nunavut and Northwest Territories officials to tackle worries about drugs coming into Kitikmeot through Yellowknife airport.
“Enhanced security screening [at the airport] is what we’re asking for and hopefully we’ll know more with the coming federal budget,” she said.
Pedersen added that he wants to team up with RCMP officers to set up a permanent drug-sniffing dog unit right here in town.
This past summer Gross joined Mayor Wayne Gregory and RCMP Supt. Kent Pike at a town hall meeting where locals voiced their fears after that assault happened. She plans another meeting like that if she wins again – focusing on youth activities and parenting help.
“We need to have the youth at the table to work on solutions,” she said.
Pedersen agreed there needs to be better recreation spots and programs so young people can burn off energy or deal with stress – especially since the baseball diamond doesn’t even have fencing or fake turf yet.
A few other things they want done include finishing up construction on the new arena, building a new youth centre, plus fixing up the community pool, according to Gross.
Both candidates also put airport improvements near the top of their list – including paving runway areas since Cambridge Bay acts as an important hub for travel and medical flights around here.
The Cambridge Bay Housing Association will hold a forum where all candidates can speak at the community hall before election day arrives; they haven’t set an exact date yet though.
