John Main is Nunavut’s next premier

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Members of Nunavut’s Legislative Assembly have selected John Main as Nunavut’s next premier.

Main, 45, is a third-term MLA from Arviat who speaks fluent Inuktitut and served as Nunavut's health minister in the previous assembly. He beat out David Akeeagok for the position in a secret ballot vote on Tuesday.

It's the first time Nunavut will have a non-Inuk leader.

Main and Akeeagok spent about four hours answering colleagues' questions, laying out experience that would inform their work as premier and what priorities they hope to see accomplished in their four-year term. 

Main said he would prioritize partnerships and look to work closely with governments, Indigenous organizations, regional Inuit associations and private companies. 

He said forming those relationships is something he’s most proud of from his time in politics. 

Main said he would aim to work with those partners to develop more sources of revenue for the territory, including in natural gas. He said he would look to develop a virtual-first approach to health care, create an elder van program and an on-the-land treatment program in every community. 

He spoke to what he called a “crisis” of unemployment and said he wants to work to educate Nunavummuit and create jobs in communities. 

Members of Nunavut's Legislative Assembly gathered Tuesday to vote in a new premier, Speaker, and cabinet ministers. (Anais Elboujdaini/Radio-Canada)

Main represents Arviat North-Whale Cove. He was first elected in 2017 and has served as the minister of health, minister responsible for suicide prevention and minister responsible for the Qulliq Energy Corporation.

Eight MLAs were also voted into cabinet:

Iqaluit-Sinaa MLA Janet Pitsiulaaq BrewsterIqaluit-Manirajak MLA Gwen Healey AkearokIqaluit-Tasiluk MLA George Hickes Rankin Inlet South MLA Annie TattuineeNetsilik MLA Cecile Nelvana Lyall Baker Lake MLA Craig Simailak Tununiq MLA Brian KoonooIqaluit Niaqunnguu MLA David Akeeagok 

Members also elected David Joanasie, MLA for South Baffin, as Speaker.

Main will choose and distribute the cabinet portfolios among the eight other cabinet members in the coming days.

David Joanasie was voted in as Speaker during Nunavut's leadership forum on Tuesday. (Anais Elboujdaini/Radio-Canada)

This is a practice unique to Nunavut and the N.W.T., which operates as consensus governments.

Only 21 of the 22 electorates were represented at the Nunavut Legislative Assembly Tuesday.

Voters in the Aggu riding, which includes the northern part of Igloolik, return to the polls on Dec. 15 following a tie between the two candidates.

The new premier and cabinet ministers will be sworn in Thursday at Nunavut’s Legislative Assembly.