Although the full implications of a “yes” vote were unclear, in practical terms, it would likely not have been the cause of any extreme or immediate changes to life in Nunavut. It would, however, have been a philosophical divergence in political will, moving the territory further toward a ‘southern’ approach to land ownership.
This article was originally posted on Northern Public Affairs on May 25, 2016.
On May 9, Nunavummiut voted on the controversial issue of whether or not municipalities should have the ability to sell land. The results showed a resounding “no”. This decision means that things will be kept as they are – for now – and Nunavut lands can still only be leased, rather than bought or sold.