Beneficiaries of the Labrador Inuit Land Claims Agreement (LILCA) will head to the polls on May 3 to elect Ordinary Members to the Nunatsiavut Assembly. Polls will be open from 8 a.m. and 8 p.m. Atlantic Standard Time (AST). The close of nominations for candidates is March 26 at 2 p.m. AST. The current Nunatsiavut Assembly will be dissolved at 12 noon AST on April 4.
Ordinary Members are chosen from the constituencies of Nain, Hopedale, Postville, Makkovik, Rigolet, Upper Lake Melville and Canada. Two seats are available in Nain, Upper Lake Melville and Canada, while one seat is available in Hopedale, Postville, Makkovik and Rigolet.
Voting Rules and Regulations
• Every Beneficiary 16 years of age and older on polling day is qualified to vote.
• In order to vote in a polling station in a constituency, a Beneficiary must be an ordinary resident of that constituency.
To be eligible to seek nomination:
• Candidates must be a Beneficiary of the LILCA, and be at least 18 years of age on nomination day.
• Candidates must be ordinarily resident in the constituency for which they are nominated.
• Beneficiaries will be disqualified from seeking election as an Ordinary Member if, on nomination day, he or she is:
a) an AngajukKâk or the Chairperson of an Inuit Community Corporation;
b) appointed by or in the service of the Nunatsiavut Government and is paid for that appointment or service;
c) a member of Parliament or the House of Assembly or a Senator;
d) of unsound mind;
e) an undischarged bankrupt;
f) a person who has been convicted of an indictable offence and whose sentence was completed less than five years prior to nomination day or has been convicted of a summary offence and whose sentence is not yet completed; or
g) a person who is in arrears in payment of any taxes payable to the Nunatsiavut Government or an Inuit Community Government.