May 24, 1979

On May 22 1979, Peter Ittinuar of Rankin Inlet became the first Inuk to hold a seat in the House of Commons after he took the Nunatsiaq riding for the New Democratic Party.

Ittinuar beats Curley to win Nunatsiaq seat

Nunatsiaq News

IQALUIT — Peter Ittinuar edged Liberal candidate Tagak Curley by 77 votes on May 22 to claim the newly formed federal riding of Nunatsiaq for the New Democratic Party.

"It was touch and go all the way," a happy and elated Ittinuar said from his parents' home in Rankin Inlet after his victory.

"Perhaps that's the way it should be."

Of the 71 polls reported, Ittinuar picked up a total of 1,963 votes for the NDP compared with Curley's 1,886, for the Liberals.

Progressive Conservative party candidate Abe Okpik trailed in third place with 1,363 votes.

Nationally, the Conservatives took just 136 of the 282 seats in the House of Commons — less than half — and must now form a minority government under PC leader Joe Clark. Prime Minister Pierre Trudeau has announced he will resign from office.

Meanwhile, Indian Affairs and Northern Development Minister Hugh Faulkner was defeated in his own Peterborough, Ont. riding.

The presence of a minority government in Parliament will be good for the NDP, Ittinuar predicted. In such a situation, "the voice of the NDP has to be heard," he said.

Curley speculated that his campaign may have been hurt by NDP advertising that linked the Liberal party to Baker Lake's current court case against the federal government.

He added that, given the narrow gap between himself and Ittinuar, the Liberal party may call for a recount.

Okpik congratulated the NDP on the party's victory, but noted that many of his own supporters were out on the land on election day and did not cast votes.

As a young man, Okpik said, Ittinuar appeals to younger voters, many of whom are unemployed in the communities.