1. Leona Aglukkaq was a member of the non-partisan Legislative Assembly of Nunavut representing the riding of Nattilik from 2004 until stepping down in 2008; then was a Conservative Member of Parliament representing the riding of Nunavut after winning the seat in the 2008 federal election.
Leona Aglukkaq was the first Conservative to win the seat, and only the second centre-right candidate ever to win it.
Leona Aglukkaq is the first Inuk woman to serve in cabinet.
Leona Aglukkaq remained an MP until she was defeated in the 2015 federal election by Liberal candidate Hunter Tootoo.
Leona Aglukkaq is married to Robbie MacNeil and has a son, Cooper.
Leona Aglukkaq was a Government of Nunavut public servant, working for the Office of the Clerk of the Nunavut Legislature, and as the Deputy Minister of Culture, Language, Elders and Youth.
Leona Aglukkaq was the Minister of Health and Social Services and the Minister Responsible for the Status of Women in the Executive Council of Nunavut.
Leona Aglukkaq was named the Minister of Health on October 30,2008, and is the first Inuk in Canadian history to be appointed to the Cabinet of Canada.
The Liberal health critic said that Leona Aglukkaq was doing a "terrific job," and especially liked how the minister phoned all opposition critics to build consensus on the swine flu issue.
An investigation ordered by Leona Aglukkaq found "no evidence of ill will or deliberate calculation," though First Nations representatives in Manitoba criticized the inquiry's report for downplaying the incident.
Internal documents showed Health Canada prepared to finally announce a full ban on trans fats, drafting the regulations and a press release, until the office of health minister Leona Aglukkaq scrapped those plans.
Leona Aglukkaq later acknowledged the rules would be a burden on the food industry.
Leona Aglukkaq was reelected in 2011 with nearly 50 percent of the vote, defeating a field of challengers which included former Premier of Nunavut Paul Okalik, who ran as the Liberal nominee.
Leona Aglukkaq was the first centre-right MP in the history of the riding to win a second term.
On July 15,2013, Leona Aglukkaq was named Minister of the Environment, which includes responsibility for Parks Canada, the Canadian Environmental Assessment Agency and Environment Canada.
In December 2014, Leona Aglukkaq apologized for reading a newspaper while opposition parties asked the government about high food prices in the North during Question Period.
Leona Aglukkaq ran again for the Conservatives in the 2019 Canadian federal election, and again came in third.