TORONTO -- Newly elected NDP MP Mumilaaq Qaqqaq, who is one of the youngest candidates to win a seat in Monday鈥檚 federal election, is no stranger to the House of Commons in Ottawa.
The 25-year-old is an activist who has become a voice for young people, particularly about youth suicide rates in her riding of Nunavut. In 2017, Qaqqaq was part of Daughters of the Vote, a program which invited young women to the House of Commons to take the seats of MPs. She delivered an impassioned speech about the suicide crisis affecting Indigenous youth.
鈥淎ll we are asking for is our basic human rights,鈥 she said fighting back tears. 鈥淲here is the support from leaders with power and the ability to make change? Where are all the non-Indigenous allies?鈥
Qaqqaq doesn鈥檛 have to depend on other politicians to speak about important Indigenous issues. She plans to be a strong voice as Nunavut鈥檚 member of Parliament.
鈥淗ousing is my number one priority,鈥 she told 麻豆影视 on Tuesday. 鈥淒ecreasing food insecurity and having the rest of Canada acknowledge that our country鈥檚 food is just as nutritious and healthy as the foods that we get from down south.鈥
鈥淚ncreasing education opportunities, childcare spaces and increasing youth engagement鈥 are also important for Qaqqaq. 鈥淚t鈥檚 more of a question of what I don鈥檛 want to do first and that list is very short,鈥 she said.
The young MP, who is originally from Baker Lake, Nunavut, and lives in Iqaluit, felt touched by the outpouring of support she received during her campaign. 鈥淚t鈥檚 wonderful to see so many people believe in me and believe in change.鈥
Qaqqaq won with 3,717 votes, or 41.2 per cent of the vote, defeating Conservative Leona Aglukkaq and Liberal Megan Pizzo Lyall.
鈥淥ver the next four years, I want to see lots of change,鈥 she said. 鈥淭here is so much change that needs to be done in Nunavut and for the people in order for us to be able to succeed like we should be over the last few decades. I鈥檓 just super excited to be a strong and passionate vote in the House of Commons.鈥
Qaqqaq has said her experience is more relevant than her age. She has worked for the government of Nunavut, the Quilliq Energy Corporation, Inuit Tapiriit Kanatami and Nunavut Tunngavik Incorporated, focusing on suicide prevention and human resources.
