Peter Ittinuar

Peter F. K. Ittinuar (Inuktitut: ᐲᑎᕐ ᐃᑦᑎᓄᐊᕐ) born January 19, 1950) is a Canadian politician. He was the first Inuk to be elected as an MP, and represented the electoral district of Nunatsiaq in the Canadian House of Commons from 1979 to 1984.

Early life

Born in Chesterfield Inlet, Nunavut, then part of the Northwest Territories,

Political career

Peter Ittinuar was originally elected as a member of the New Democratic Party, but on November 26 1982, he crossed the floor to sit with the Liberal caucus shortly after Indian Affairs and Northern Development minister John Munro announced plans to improve Inuit self-government by dividing the Northwest Territories into two (see Nunavut). [ [http://www.nunatsiaq.com/archives/april0199/nvt90401_15.html "Nunatsiaq News" coverage of Ittinuar's party affiliation switch] ]

After joining the Liberal caucus in 1984 Ittinuar was charged with breach of trust, theft and forgery for allegedly using his parliamentary budget to purchase a boat motor. The court case made him loose the support of the Liberal party in his riding and he became an Independent. Ittinuar ran for re-election in the 1984 federal election but was badly defeated by Progressive Conservative candidate Thomas Suluk. Ittinuar finished the election last in fourth place.cite web|url=http://www.parl.gc.ca/information/about/process/house/hfer/hfer.asp?Language=E&Search=Cresdetail&Election=9548|title=1984 Nunatisaq Election|publisher=Parliament of Canada|accessdate=2008-10-07] After the election a jury found him not guilty on all charges.cite news|title=http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/RTGAM.20080925.wwelectioncandidates26/BNStory/politics/?page=rss&id=RTGAM.20080925.wwelectioncandidates26|title=Candidate Controversy Continues for Nearly Every Party|publisher=Globe and Mail|date=September 25, 2008|author=Steve Chase and Bill Curry]

On 25 July 2007, Elizabeth May, leader of the Green Party said that Ittinuar will be running for them in the Nunavut riding at the next federal election. [ [http://www.canada.com/topics/news/politics/story.html?id=4d032526-db35-4f20-9b81-30ab601e6755&k=57464 Green party’s growing support may be soft, polls say] from CanWest News Service] In a 1 August interview Ittinuar told CBC North that he would not make a decision on running until the fall. [ [http://www.cbc.ca/canada/north/story/2007/08/01/nu-ittinuar.html Ittinuar 'seriously considering' Green party run] ] On September 23, it was confirmed that he would be running for the Green Party. [ [http://thetyee.ca/News/2008/09/23/GreenTrain/ Harper Evolved? May Doubts It] . "The Tyee". September 23, 2008.]

References

External links

* [http://www.collectionscanada.ca/confederation/023001-2351-e.html Ittinuar at Collections Canada]