James Arvaluk Explained

James Arvaluk
Birth Place:near Fury and Hecla Strait, Qikiqtaaluk Region, Nunavut
Death Place:Winnipeg
Office1:Member of the Legislative Assembly of the Northwest Territories
Constituency1:Aivilik
Term Start1:1991
Term End1:1995
Predecessor1:Peter Irniq
Successor1:Manitok Thompson
Office2:Member of the Legislative Assembly of Nunavut
Constituency2:Nanulik
Term Start2:1999
Term End2:2003
Predecessor2:first member
Successor2:Patterk Netser
Constituency3:Tununiq
Term Start3:2006
Term End3:May 16, 2011
Predecessor3:Jobie Nutarak
Successor3:Joe Enook
Party:non-partisan
consensus government

James Arvaluk (April 1948 – April 27, 2016) was a Canadian politician from Coral Harbour, Nunavut.[1] He served as a member of the Legislative Assembly of Northwest Territories from 1991 to 1995 and a member of the Legislative Assembly of Nunavut from 1999 to 2003. He served as Nunavut's first Minister of Education.

Political career

In February 1995 Arvaluk resigned his seat in the NWT Legislative Assembly after being charged with sexual assault. He was convicted of two sexual assaults and sentenced to five years. However, after a successful appeal on one of the two counts he was required to serve only two and a half years.

On June 20, 2003 he resigned his seat after being convicted of assault causing bodily harm against his girlfriend in August 2000, for which he served nine months.[2] [3]

Had he not resigned, the Legislative Assembly was prepared to meet in an emergency session and pass a motion forcing him to leave.

At the October 16, 2006 by-election, Arvaluk was elected to the Legislative Assembly representing the Tununiq electoral district. After suffering both a heart attack and a stroke in 2010, he resigned his post on May 16, 2011, citing health reasons.[4] He died in Winnipeg on April 27, 2016.[5]

Notes and References

  1. Book: Inuit monthly. Inuit Tapirisat of Canada. 1977. 6. Inuit Tapirisat of Canada. 0318-5346. 2015-04-12.
  2. News: Bell. Jim. Lack of remorse gets Arvaluk nine months in jail. January 3, 2019. Nunatsiaq News. January 16, 2004.
  3. News: D'Souza. Patricia. Nanulik by-election could be held Sept. 2. May 1, 2016. Nunatsiaq Online. June 27, 2003.
  4. News: Nunavut MLA Arvaluk steps down. CBC News. May 16, 2011.
  5. News: Gregoire. Lisa. Long-time Nunavut leader James Arvaluk passes away. January 3, 2019. Nunatsiaq News. April 28, 2016.