Veteran politician Quassa chosen new Nunavut premier

IQALUIT, Nunavut — A longtime Inuit politician has been chosen as the fourth premier of Nunavut.

“I am out of words,” was Paul Quassa’s first statement after spending Friday answering questions from his fellow members of the legislature as to why they should vote for him. Quassa then said thank-you in Inuktitut. “I am honoured to lead Nunavut and guide our shared vision for the territory,” Quassa said.

“I am humbled by my fellow members’ belief in me, eager to begin the work ahead and meet my counterparts across the country.”

Under Nunavut’s consensus-style government, the premier is chosen by members of the legislature following the Oct. 30 general election.

The legislators also choose members of cabinet, who are assigned their portfolios by the new premier. There are no political parties and the members not in cabinet serve as a kind of opposition to scrutinize legislation.

Quassa has been a member of Nunavut’s legislative assembly since 2013 and most recently served as education minister.

But he has a long career in Inuit politics behind him. He was one of the negotiators of the 1993 Nunavut Land Claim and was elected in 1999 as head of the group that oversees that claim.

His term with Nunavut Tunngavik Inc. was interrupted over concerns over more than $20,000 in credit card expenses. He was reinstated after he repaid the money.