CP NewsAlert: John Main selected as Nunavut’s first non-Inuk leader

By Canadian Press on November 18, 2025.

OTTAWA — John Main has been selected as Nunavut’s next premier, marking the first time Nunavut will have a non-Inuk leader.

Main beat out David Akeeagok for the position in a secret ballot vote in Nunavut’s legislature this afternoon.

Main is a third-term MLA who speaks fluent Inuktitut and served as Nunavut’s health minister in the previous assembly.

Nunavut functions in a consensus style government, in which there are no political parties, and the premier is elected by MLAs.

Former cabinet minister David Joanasie was elected Speaker earlier Tuesday.

Nunavummiut went to the polls on Oct. 27 in an election that saw the lowest voter turnout in the territory’s history.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Nov. 18, 2025.

Nick Murray, The Canadian Press

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