Latest news with #LoriIdlout
CBC
12-06-2025
- Business
- CBC
A new federal bill aims to approve projects faster. What would that mean for consultation in Nunavut?
A new federal bill aims to fast-track major infrastructure projects, but some in Nunavut worry it could mean more development with less consultation. The One Canadian Economy Act, introduced last Friday, will speed up the approval process of major infrastructure projects — reducing approval times from five years to two. It also introduces a "one-project, one-review" approach instead of having federal and provincial approval processes happen sequentially. Nunavut has its own process to assess major projects through the Nunavut Impact Review Board, which is protected under the Nunavut Agreement. "They cannot fast-track anything without a robust system that ensures that First Nations, Inuit and Métis do give our free, prior and informed consent," said Lori Idlout, the NDP MP for Nunavut. Idlout said she's concerned about how the federal government will speed up the process to approve major projects while still fulfilling the duty to consult. "I don't think there's a possibility for them to go hand in hand," she said. Idlout also said Indigenous people still need to be at the forefront of any conversations about development, especially in Nunavut. "We need to ensure that they are heard. They are the ones who know the land, they know the migration," she said. "It's the hunters and trappers organizations whose voices need to be amplified at this time." No changes expected, review board says Dionne Filiatrault, executive director of the Nunavut Impact Review Board, told CBC in an email that she doesn't expect much to change if the legislation passes. "The Nunavut Agreement already establishes what we call a 'one window approach' but in essence is in line with a one project, one assessment approach," Filiatrault wrote. She also said current proponents of major Nunavut projects spend a lot of time working with the review board and other bodies "to optimize the process prior to submission of application." "At this time I am not foreseeing any changes to the NIRB processes," she wrote. Land use plan needed Former Nunavut premier and current lead Arctic specialist for the World Wildlife Fund Paul Okalik said Nunavut's environmental review legislation is robust. "The agreement is constitutionally protected and our rights are hard-earned and it was a hard bargain," Okalik said. "It took a long time and it can't just be overwritten by any one person in this country." Okalik also said having a land use plan for Nunavut in place will help. A draft plan was submitted in 2023 and still hasn't been approved. The plan sets out which areas of the territory are open for development and which are protected. It also tells developers where projects, like mines, will be allowed and under what conditions. "That would clearly identify the issues in play, like areas that are important to the communities, in particular being protected, and other areas being open for development," Okalik said. In the absence of a plan, the review board process acts as a stopgap measure, but it's not always effective, Okalik said. "It has been touch and go. So depending on any given day, it can work in favour of the communities and Inuit. On another day it could be going the other way. So it's really uncertain at this time given the absence of any land use plan." Nunavut Premier P.J. Akeeagok said he's pushed for support on several major infrastructure projects, including the Grays Bay Road and Port and the Kivalliq Hydro Fibre Link. Even so, Akeeagok said, those projects need to involve people on the ground. "All the projects that we put in was really from the lens of making sure that these are being led by Inuit, for Inuit. That really will have a huge benefit not only for the territory but for the country," Akeeagok said. For its part, the federal government said it will uphold the duty to consult and involve Indigenous communities through a new federal projects office, it said in a news release about the bill. That office will include an advisory council with Inuit, First Nations and Métis.
Hamilton Spectator
05-06-2025
- Politics
- Hamilton Spectator
Arctic sovereignty, security the focus as Idlout returns to Parliament
With a second term in office secured and Parliament sitting once again, Nunavut MP Lori Idlout is prepared to focus heavily on Arctic sovereignty and security, and how those issues tie into the daily lives of Nunavummiut. 'It's hard for Nunavummiut to participate in protecting the Arctic when they live in overcrowded houses or go to school in poor conditions. I want to make sure we're removing those barriers so more people can get involved,' she said. 'I'm here to work for all Nunavummiut, even those who didn't vote for me,' she added. 'I've overcome a lot of challenges and I will keep working hard to ensure better health, wellness and opportunities for our people.' Idlout's status as MP was subject to a validation process under Elections Canada. Although Idlout, representing the NDP, was ahead by 77 votes on election night, that lead dropped to 41 over Liberal Kilikvak Kabloona after a review corrected a double-entry error in one of the communities. Even with the tighter result, Elections Canada confirmed Idlout's victory, confirming her role as the territory's voice in Ottawa. Idlout said getting official confirmation came as a relief, even though it took a week longer than expected. Comparing this election to her first successful campaign in 2021, she noticed some positive changes. One of the biggest was better access to election information in Inuktitut, which hadn't been widely available before. Providing materials in Inuktitut helped voters who prefer to communicate in their language better understand the election, Idlout told Nunavut News. She also worked on boosting her social media presence this time around — including joining TikTok live — to better connect with younger voters across Nunavut's many remote communities. Reflecting on her first term, Idlout spoke of the challenges faced by Nunavummiut, including overcrowded housing, poor infrastructure and barriers to education and economic opportunity. 'People here really care about each other, but they need more support,' she said. 'We've been neglected for too long, and I want to keep fighting to get Nunavut the investments it deserves.' Error! Sorry, there was an error processing your request. There was a problem with the recaptcha. Please try again. You may unsubscribe at any time. By signing up, you agree to our terms of use and privacy policy . This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google privacy policy and terms of service apply. Want more of the latest from us? Sign up for more at our newsletter page .
Yahoo
18-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
NDP holds Nunavut after Elections Canada validates results
After a delay due to a blizzard, Elections Canada has validated the results in Nunavut and confirmed NDP incumbent Lori Idlout has prevailed over Liberal challenger Kilikvak Kabloona. The results were posted on Elections Canada's website Friday evening. Validation is a procedure in which Elections Canada double-checks and verifies the numbers reported on election night. It took more than two weeks for Elections Canada to validate the results because the final ballot box from the community of Naujaat was delayed. It was sent to Iqaluit but got stuck at the airline cargo facility in Rankin Inlet when a rare late-spring blizzard hit Iqaluit on Thursday. Because of the delay, Idlout could not be sworn in as the Nunavut MP — something she told The Canadian Press was frustrating because constituents were reaching out to her for assistance but she could not officially act as an MP. The validated results show Idlout beat Kabloona by 41 votes. That's a thinner margin of victory than the preliminary results Elections Canada posted shortly after election night, which showed Idlout beat Kabloona by 77 votes. The 41-vote difference is not enough to automatically trigger a judicial recount, which occurs when the number of votes separating a winner and a runner-up is less than 0.1 per cent of the total votes cast, according to Elections Canada's rules. There were a total of 7,868 valid votes in Nunavut, according to Elections Canada's website. That means the difference would have needed to be seven votes or less to automatically trigger a judicial recount. The current standings have the Liberals two seats shy of a majority government, with 170 MPs. The Conservatives have 143 seats, the Bloc Québécois 22, the NDP seven and the Green Party one. There are still two outstanding judicial recounts, but the Liberals need to hold one riding and flip another, meaning the most seats they could have is 171. The Liberals need to hold onto the seat they have in the Newfoundland and Labrador riding of Terra Nova-The Peninsulas. A judicial recount there is still in progress. Before the recount, Liberal Anthony Germain led Conservative Jonathan Rowe by 12 votes. WATCH | Here's how an automatic recount works: A recount in the Ontario riding Windsor-Tecumseh-Lakeshore is scheduled to begin on May 20. The current result shows Conservative Kathy Borrelli beating incumbent Liberal Irek Kusmierczyk by 77 votes. On Friday, a judicial recount in the southern Ontario riding of Milton East-Halton Hills South confirmed that Liberal Kristina Tesser Derksen won the seat by a margin of 21 votes over Conservative Parm Gill. Meanwhile, the The Bloc Québécois is calling on the Superior Court of Quebec to order a byelection in the riding of Terrebonne, where the party lost by one vote, as Elections Canada revealed issues with five more mail-in ballots. The House of Commons is set to resume on May 26.
CTV News
17-05-2025
- Politics
- CTV News
Elections Canada confirms win for NDP incumbent Lori Idlout in Nunavut
Member of Parliament Lori Idlout is shown in Iqaluit, Sunday, Jan. 21, 2024. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Dustin Patar IQALUIT — Elections Canada has confirmed NDP incumbent Lori Idlout has won the riding of Nunavut over Liberal challenger Kilikvak Kabloona. The results were posted on Elections Canada's website Friday evening after a vote validation process. In that process, the federal agency double checks the numbers reported on the night of the April 28 federal election. The original result had the incumbent win the unofficial result by 77 votes, but the validation shows that margin shrank to 41 votes. The agency has said it required two weeks to complete the procedure because the final ballot box from the community of Naujaat was delayed and held at an airport due to a blizzard. The current standings, as of Saturday, have the Liberals two seats shy of a majority government, with 170 MPs. The Conservatives have 143 seats, the Bloc Québécois 22, the NDP seven and the Green Party one. This report by The Canadian Press was first published May 17, 2025.
Vancouver Sun
17-05-2025
- Politics
- Vancouver Sun
Elections Canada confirms win for NDP incumbent Lori Idlout in Nunavut
Elections Canada has confirmed NDP incumbent Lori Idlout has won the riding of Nunavut over Liberal challenger Kilikvak Kabloona. The results were posted on Elections Canada's website Friday evening after a vote validation process. Did you know? The contested election process is a way to address concerns about the result of an election in a specific riding. During this process, a judge decides if there are grounds to annul the result for that riding. Learn more: In that process, the federal agency double checks the numbers reported on the night of the April 28 federal election. Start your day with a roundup of B.C.-focused news and opinion. By signing up you consent to receive the above newsletter from Postmedia Network Inc. A welcome email is on its way. If you don't see it, please check your junk folder. The next issue of Sunrise will soon be in your inbox. Please try again Interested in more newsletters? Browse here. The original result had the incumbent win the unofficial result by 77 votes, but the validation shows that margin shrank to 41 votes. The agency has said it required two weeks to complete the procedure because the final ballot box from the community of Naujaat was delayed and held at an airport due to a blizzard. The current standings, as of Saturday, have the Liberals two seats shy of a majority government, with 170 MPs. The Conservatives have 143 seats, the Bloc Quebecois 22, the NDP seven and the Green Party one. Our website is the place for the latest breaking news, exclusive scoops, longreads and provocative commentary. Please bookmark and sign up for our daily newsletter, Posted, here .
