Background
Tootoo was born in Rankin Inlet, the son of Batiste Tootoo, an Inuk, and Sally Luttmer (née Wolfe).
Tootoo was born in Rankin Inlet, the son of Batiste Tootoo, an Inuk, and Sally Luttmer (née Wolfe).
He represents the electoral district of Nunavut in the House of Commons of Canada, and was appointed the Minister of Fisheries, Oceans and the Canadian Coast Guard in the federal Cabinet, headed by Justin Trudeau, on November 4, 2015. Before federal politics, Tootoo served as the former speaker of the Legislative Assembly of Nunavut. He also represented the riding of Iqaluit Centre from 1999 to 2013.
Tootoo has long been involved in government administration.
He served as regional coordinator for the town of Arviat in 1993. He became the administration officer for the NWT Department of Recreation and Tourism in 1995, and was named as the corporate control officer of the NWT Department of Finance later in the same year.
In 1997, he became assistant director of the NWT Housing Corporation in Iqaluit. In the federal election of 1997, he ran for the Canadian House of Commons as a candidate of the New Democratic Party in the riding of Nunavut.
He finished third, behind Liberal Nancy Karetak-Lindell.
Tootoo spoke out against the Liberal government"s gun registration program during this campaign. Nunavut became a separate jurisdiction in 1999, and Tootoo declared himself a candidate for the territory"s first general election. He was easily elected in Iqaluit Centre, defeating three opponents.
He was returned again in the 2004 election, although by a narrower margin, and again in the 2008 election.
During his time in the legislature, he served as Minister Responsible for the Nunavut Housing Corporation, Minister Responsible for Homelessness and Minister Responsible for the Qulliq Energy Corporation
The government of Nunavut is structured along non-partisan lines, and all members are elected and serve as independents. Tootoo was often described as the unofficial leader of the legislative opposition.
In 2003, he successfully tabled a motion to remove Jack Anawak from the Nunavut cabinet. Tootoo was selected on July 27, 2015 as the Liberal candidate for the Nunavut federal electoral riding in the Canadian federal election, 2015.
Tootoo stepped down as the chair of the Nunavut Planning Commission shortly afterwards.
Minister of Fisheries, Oceans and the Canadian Coast Guard
On November 4, 2015, Tootoo was appointed as Minister of Fisheries, Oceans and the Canadian Coast Guard in the 29th Canadian Ministry. Tootoo became the first Fisheries Minister to be from Northern Canada. Federal
Territorial.
He is a businessman in northern Canada, and was the co-founder of the Iqaluit branch of Arctic Insurance Brokers Limited. Tootoo is a former member of the Northwest Territories Company-op Business Development Board, the Sport North Board of Directors, and Arctic Company-operatives Limited. On October 19, 2015, Tootoo won the election, defeating Conservative incumbent and cabinet minister Leona Aglukkaq.
Tootoo was a member of the Public Service Alliance of Canada in this period. He began his political career as a member of the Hamlet Council of Rankin Inlet.
