28 Facts About Paul Okalik

Paul Okalik is the first Inuk to have been called to the Nunavut Bar.

Paul Okalik returned to the Legislative Assembly in 2013 until being defeated in the 2017 Nunavut general election.

Paul Okalik was born on May 26,1964, in Pangnirtung, Northwest Territories, the youngest of ten children born to Auyaluk and Annie Paul Okalik.

Paul Okalik was sent to residential school in Frobisher Bay, now Iqaluit, at 15, returning to Pangnirtung after one year.

Paul Okalik began a series of temporary jobs and pursuits including time as an apprentice underground at the Nanisivik Mine in northern Baffin Island.

Paul Okalik continued his claims work, and began University as a mature student, serving as a representative on the Nunavut Implementation Panel.

Paul Okalik has been overt in acknowledging the role alcohol played in his earlier years and his commitment during his university years to stop drinking altogether.

Paul Okalik's dream was to help his people in their dealings with the Canadian justice system.

However, Anawak was seen as Ottawa's choice, while Paul Okalik was a dark horse and perceived as his own man.

On March 5,1999 after an extensive Leadership Forum question and answer period in the Assembly, Paul Okalik was elected the first Premier of Nunavut.

Paul Okalik stood for reelection in the 2004 general election, and was returned to the Legislative Assembly.

On November 14,2008, Paul Okalik was defeated by Eva Aariak for the premiership.

Paul Okalik declined a nomination to cabinet and subsequently sat as a regular member in the Nunavut Assembly.

Paul Okalik cites resources such as diamonds, and Inuit art and tourism as potential sources of income for the territory.

On November 4,2010, Paul Okalik was elected the Speaker of the Nunavut Legislative Assembly, replacing James Arreak who had resigned to become a cabinet minister.

Paul Okalik announced on April 6,2011 that he would resign from the Legislative Assembly in order to run for the Liberal Party of Canada in the federal riding of Nunavut in the 2011 Canadian federal election.

Paul Okalik finished second in the election behind Conservative incumbent Leona Aglukkaq.

Paul Okalik returned to the legislature at the 2013 Nunavut general election as the member for Iqaluit-Sinaa, which includes much of his old riding.

However, in 2016, Paul Okalik resigned from cabinet because of his opposition to a proposed liquor store in Iqaluit and the lack of addictions support.

Paul Okalik told the Assembly that as a recovering alcoholic who had his last drink in 1991, he could not support a liquor store in the territorial capital without improved facilities for recovering alcoholics.

Paul Okalik introduced the first Nunavut Human Rights Act, which had never been done in the former NWT, and took a principled stand on its need to cover homosexuals.

The Paul Okalik terms were remarkable for a general lack of corruption.

Paul Okalik was a modest spender by most accounts, and financial and political decisions taken were largely policy driven.

Paul Okalik was perceived as strategic, intelligent, a very quick and thorough study in his work, while his adversaries characterized him as short-tempered and aggressive, especially in his second term.

Paul Okalik himself abstained from voting, but asked his fellow MLAs to censure him as a formal recognition of his mistake.

In November 2009, a report by the Integrity Commissioner declared that Paul Okalik violated the territory's Integrity Act by soliciting campaign donations from deputy ministers, whom premiers appoint, and that Paul Okalik should apologize.

On November 24,2008, Paul Okalik was the sole recipient at the 16th Annual National Aboriginal Achievement Awards, now the Indspire Awards, in the category of Politics.

Paul Okalik has three children, Shasta, Jordan and Beatrice, and at least one grandchild.