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Leona AglukkaqCanadian politician
Date of Birth: 28.06.1967
Country:  Canada |
Content:
- Early Life and Career
- Political Career in Nunavut
- Minister of Health (2008-2013)
- Chair of the Arctic Council (2013-2015)
- Minister of the Environment (2013-2015)
- Electoral Defeats
- Personal Life
Early Life and Career
Leona Aglukkaq was born on June 28, 1967 in Inuvik, Northwest Territories. She grew up in Thom Bay, Taloyoak, and Yellowknife, which are now part of Nunavut. Prior to her political career, Aglukkaq worked as a civil servant. She held positions in the Office of the Clerk of the Nunavut Legislative Assembly and as Deputy Minister of Culture, Language, Elders, and Youth. She also served as a councilor for the town of Cambridge Bay.
Political Career in Nunavut
In 2004, Aglukkaq was elected to the Nunavut Legislative Assembly as the Member of the Legislative Assembly (MLA) for Nattilik constituency. She served as the Minister of Health and Social Services and the Minister Responsible for Women in the Government of Nunavut. Aglukkaq left the Legislative Assembly in 2008 after winning the federal election.
Minister of Health (2008-2013)
In the 2008 federal election, Aglukkaq was elected as the Member of Parliament (MP) for the Nunavut riding as a Conservative. On October 30, 2008, she was appointed Minister of Health under Prime Minister Stephen Harper. Aglukkaq became the first Inuk to be appointed to the Cabinet of Canada.
As Minister of Health, Aglukkaq faced significant public attention during the 2009 swine flu pandemic when hundreds of Canadians were infected with the H1N1 virus. The Liberal Party's Health Critic praised Aglukkaq's handling of the situation, noting her outreach to opposition critics. Aglukkaq also faced controversy over the body bag incident, where Health Canada officials mistakenly shipped body bags to a First Nation in Manitoba instead of hospitals.
In 2010, Aglukkaq declined to sign the Vienna Declaration on Drug Policy Reform, which advocated for a decriminalization of drug use, drawing criticism from health officials. She instead called for a "scientific" approach to drug issues based on harm reduction strategies like needle exchange programs. Aglukkaq was re-elected in the 2011 federal election, receiving 49.85% of the vote.
Chair of the Arctic Council (2013-2015)
On August 23, 2012, Prime Minister Harper announced that Aglukkaq would become Chair of the Arctic Council when Canada took over the Chairmanship in May 2013. She held the position until 2015.
Minister of the Environment (2013-2015)
On July 15, 2013, Harper appointed Aglukkaq as Minister of the Environment. In 2014, Aglukkaq apologized for reading a newspaper during Question Period, missing a question about high food prices in the north. The incident was later used against her during the 2015 election by Liberal candidate Paul Okalik.
Electoral Defeats
In the 2015 federal election, Aglukkaq was defeated, placing third with only 24.78% of the vote. She left Parliament and retired from her ministerial position. In the 2019 federal election, Aglukkaq ran again as the Conservative candidate in Nunavut but was defeated by New Democrat Mumilaaq Qaqqaq.
