[1] Previously, in October 2003, Premier Paul Okalik had announced that same-sex marriages performed in other jurisdictions would be legally recognized in Nunavut.
As well, Nancy Karetak-Lindell, Liberal MP for the riding of Nunavut, was re-elected in the 2006 election after having supported same-sex marriage;[1] a stance for which she faced criticism from some residents of Coral Harbour.
[3] After the February 2004 Nunavut general election, Okalik's only opponent for the premiership, Tagak Curley, ran on the basis that he would repeal the territory's human rights legislation on sexual orientation, and would not recognize same-sex marriages.
[3][4][5] During the same general election, several candidates, including Patterk Netser, Rebekah Williams, and Manitok Thompson, all spoke out against same-sex marriage.
[6] In 2005, a group of Inuit leaders called same-sex marriage "disruptive to traditional values" at a meeting of the Justice Committee of the House of Commons.
"[8] Anglican and Pentecostal religious leaders were adamantly opposed to the legalization of same-sex marriage in Nunavut, often referring to it as "contrary to Inuit culture".
A local in Iqaluit who was asked to comment for the Nunatsiaq News said "it's interesting to see religious leaders offering opinions on how Inuit should behave when Christianity itself is a southern import.