Hunter Tootoo

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The Honourable
Hunter Tootoo
ᕼᐊᓐᑕ ᑐᑐ

PC MP
Hunter Tootoo 2015.jpg
Minister of Fisheries, Oceans and the Canadian Coast Guard
Assumed office
November 4, 2015
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau
Preceded by Gail Shea
Member of the Canadian Parliament
for Nunavut
Assumed office
October 19, 2015
Preceded by Leona Aglukkaq
7th Speaker of the Nunavut Legislative Assembly[1]
In office
May 31, 2011 – November 15, 2013
Preceded by Paul Okalik
Succeeded by George Qulaut
Member of the Legislative Assembly of Nunavut for Iqaluit Centre
In office
February 15, 1999 – October 28, 2013
Preceded by first member
Succeeded by Riding dissolved
Personal details
Born (1963-08-18) August 18, 1963 (age 60)
Rankin Inlet, Northwest Territories (now Nunavut)[2]
Political party Liberal
Other political
affiliations
New Democratic Party

Hunter Tootoo, PC MP (Inuktitut: ᕼᐊᓐᑕ ᑐᑐ;[3] born August 18, 1963) is a politician in Nunavut, Canada.[4] He represents the electoral district of Nunavut in the House of Commons of Canada, and was appointed the Minister of Fisheries, Oceans and the Canadian Coast Guard in the federal Cabinet, headed by Justin Trudeau, on November 4, 2015.[5] Before federal politics, Tootoo served as the former speaker of the Legislative Assembly of Nunavut. He also represented the riding of Iqaluit Centre from 1999 to 2013.

Early life and career

Tootoo was born in Rankin Inlet, the son of Batiste Tootoo, an Inuk, and Sally Luttmer (née Wolfe).[6] He is a businessman in northern Canada, and was the co-founder of the Iqaluit branch of Arctic Insurance Brokers Ltd. Tootoo is a former member of the Northwest Territories Co-op Business Development Board, the Sport North Board of Directors, and Arctic Co-operatives Ltd.[4]

Tootoo has long been involved in government administration. He served as regional coordinator for the town of Arviat in 1993. He became the administration officer for the NWT Department of Recreation and Tourism in 1995, and was named as the corporate control officer of the NWT Department of Finance later in the same year. In 1997, he became assistant director of the NWT Housing Corporation in Iqaluit. Tootoo was a member of the Public Service Alliance of Canada in this period.[4]

Political career

He began his political career as a member of the Hamlet Council of Rankin Inlet.[4] In the federal election of 1997, he ran for the Canadian House of Commons as a candidate of the New Democratic Party in the riding of Nunavut. He finished third, behind Liberal Nancy Karetak-Lindell. Tootoo spoke out against the Liberal government's gun registration program during this campaign.

Nunavut became a separate jurisdiction in 1999, and Tootoo declared himself a candidate for the territory's first general election. He was easily elected in Iqaluit Centre, defeating three opponents. He was returned again in the 2004 election, although by a narrower margin, and again in the 2008 election. During his time in the legislature, he served as Minister Responsible for the Nunavut Housing Corporation, Minister Responsible for Homelessness and Minister Responsible for the Qulliq Energy Corporation[4]

The government of Nunavut is structured along non-partisan lines, and all members are elected and serve as independents. Tootoo was often described as the unofficial leader of the legislative opposition. In 2003, he successfully tabled a motion to remove Jack Anawak from the Nunavut cabinet.

Tootoo was selected on July 27, 2015 as the Liberal candidate for the Nunavut federal electoral riding in the Canadian federal election, 2015.[7] Tootoo stepped down as the chair of the Nunavut Planning Commission shortly afterwards.[8] On October 19, 2015, Tootoo won the election, defeating Conservative incumbent and cabinet minister Leona Aglukkaq.[9]

Minister of Fisheries, Oceans and the Canadian Coast Guard

On November 4, 2015, Tootoo was appointed as Minister of Fisheries, Oceans and the Canadian Coast Guard in the 29th Canadian Ministry; Tootoo became the first Fisheries Minister to be from Northern Canada.[10]

Personal life

Tootoo is the cousin of hockey player Jordin Tootoo and the nephew of Manitoba NDP MLA George Hickes. Tootoo's mother is Jewish from Montreal. Tootoo is also an avid curler. He played for the Nunavut team at the 2013 The Dominion Curling Club Championship.[11]

Electoral record

Federal

Canadian federal election, 2015: Nunavut
Party Candidate Votes % ∆% Expenditures
Liberal Hunter Tootoo 5,619 47.11% +18.49
New Democratic Jack Iyerak Anawak 3,171 26.58% +7.14
Conservative Leona Aglukkaq 2,956 24.78% -25.07
Green Spencer Rocchi 182 1.53% -0.55
Total valid votes/Expense limit 11,928 100.0     $202,334.18
Total rejected ballots 95
Turnout 12,203 62.54%
Eligible voters 19,223
Source: Elections Canada[12][13]
Canadian federal election, 1997: Nunavut
Party Candidate Votes % ∆% Expenditures
Liberal Nancy Karetak-Lindell 3,302 45.88 −23.87 $30,212
Progressive Conservative Okalik Eegeesiak 1,737 24.13 +3.54 $11,251
New Democratic Hunter Tootoo 1,710 23.76 +14.10 $11,918
Reform John Turner 447 6.21
Total valid votes 7,196 100.0  
Total rejected ballots 48 0.66
Turnout 7,244 59.80
Liberal notional hold Swing −13.70


Territorial

2008 Nunavut general election: Iqaluit Centre
Name Vote %
     Hunter Tootoo 317 61.7%
     Madeleine Redfern 146 28.4%
     Joe Sageaktook 51 9.9%
Total Valid Ballots 514 100%
Voter Turnout Rejected Ballots
2004 Nunavut general election: Iqaluit Centre
[14] Name Vote %
     Hunter Tootoo 263 44.80%
     Mike Courtney 167 28.45%
     Natsiq Alainga-Kango 78 13.29%
     Mary Ellen Thomas 37 6.30%
     Kevin MacCormack 29 4.94%
     Pauloosie Paniloo 13 2.22%
Total Valid Ballots 587 100%
Voter Turnout 101.73% Rejected Ballots 2
1999 Nunavut general election: Iqaluit Centre
  Name Vote %
     Hunter Tootoo 261 54.95%
     Lynda Gunn 95 20.00%
     Johnny Nowdlak 64 13.47%
     Bill Strickland 55 11.58%
Total Valid Ballots 475 100%
Voter Turnout % Rejected Ballots

References

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  6. Devils winger Jordin Tootoo's 'in' with the Canadian Prime Minister NJ.com
  7. As election campaign heats up in Nunavut, Liberals anoint Hunter Tootoo
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  11. http://www.curling.ca/thedominioncurls/teams/men/
  12. Elections Canada – Confirmed candidates for Nunavut, 30 September 2015
  13. Elections Canada – Preliminary Election Expenses Limits for Candidates
  14. Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
29th Ministry – Cabinet of Justin Trudeau
Cabinet Post (1)
Predecessor Office Successor
Gail Shea Minister of Fisheries, Oceans and the Canadian Coast Guard
November 4, 2015-present
Incumbent
Parliament of Canada
Preceded by Member of Parliament
for Nunavut

October 19, 2015–present
Incumbent