Hunter Tootoo must resign.

Hunter has lost all political influence and is now completely incapable of fulfilling his role of representing, advocating, and lobbying on behalf of Nunavummiut. Only a strong, respected, well connected, politically aligned Federal Member of Parliament (MP) can help address Nunavut’s long list of critical needs. Simply put, only major Federal intervention will solve the result of years and years of underfunding and neglect from the Federal government. Nunavut can barely stay above the water as it gets pulled under by the housing shortage that will cost billions to address, mental health services that are chronically underfunded, a whole territory of infrastructure that is aging to the point of crisis.

The list goes on, but the solution remains the same: we need an MP who can force the governing party to pay attention. At the last election, Nunavut was provided a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to make significant change after years of Harper’s challenging conservative government. Canada was given a Prime Minister who has been more responsive to Indigenous issues than we have seen in years. A Majority government. A Ministerial position. The potential was massive. This opportunity is gone. It is worse than having an MP in opposition, it is worse than having a Conservative or an NDP MP. Now we have nothing.

Hunter’s ‘inappropriate relationship’ is not acceptable. Qulliit Status of Women has called Hunter's actions an "abuse of power." Nunavummiut are left questioning how leaders get away with abusing their positions of power, what consent means when it comes to sexual relationship with staff members, what role going to alcohol rehabilitation played and the vagueness as to why exactly Hunter left. Young men in Nunavut should not be shown that this is acceptable. If you work for the Government of Nunavut, or for an Inuit Org, or any organization working towards betterment of Nunavut, the abuse of power as has an immeasurable impact on your work.

Having an independent MP is the worse-case scenario for our political landscape. The only solution is for Hunter to step aside and allow for the important work to continue. Every conversation we hear is talking about the MP rather than all the actual critical issues we face in Nunavut that need our attention. The attention on Hunter will not stop and things will not change. Nunavummiut did not vote for an independent MP, they voted for a member of the Liberal party. Hunter is no longer associated with the Liberal party and Prime Minister doesn't want anything to do with him.

The implications of this story go far beyond one man and his job. This story is about the families who live in overcrowded houses with 15 other people and have to continue to wait for any substantial change. This is about all the young people in a Territory with severe mental health issues having to wait 3 years for the change to access properly funded services. This is a story about the Inuktut language that will have to wait for the potential millions and millions of dollars for proper and substantial language and culture preservation. This is the story of a beautiful, strong, resilient Territory which has some issues to deal with but will be challenged to do so because one shamed MP wants to collect his $150,000.00 salary.

Hunter, do it for the Territory. Resign now.