Eva Aariak, the only women to be voted into Nunavut’s 3rd legislative assembly was selected by her peers on Friday to succeed Paul Okalik (Nunavut’s premier from 1999-2008) to become Nunavut’s second-ever premier. Due to the “consensus government” model adopted in the territory, elected-MLAs from the recent October 27/08 election casted a secret ballot to choose the Speaker of the House (James Arreak), premier and six cabinet members.
A first-time MLA, the newly-elected Premier Eva Aariak has achieved Canadian political history for becoming the first women told this position in Nunavut and is the only current female premier among the Canadian provinces/territories. Additionally, Premier Aariak joins recently appointed federal Health Minister Leona Aglukkaq (MP for the riding of Nunavut) for achieving new Canadian political ground in terms of their respected positions, the latter being the first Inuit federal cabinet minister.
For further information on the political structure of Nunavut, please visit the following link:
http://www.polarwarming.ca/canadian_arctic.html
For further information on the selection of Nunavut’s newest premier, please visit the following link:
Eva Aariak topples incumbent to become Nunavut’s 2nd premier – CBC News