Uqqummiut MLA candidate Sandy Kautuq's eligibility questioned

Nunavut RCMP areinvestigating a complaintabout the eligibility of one of the candidates in the upcoming by-election to choose an MLAforUqqummiut.

Patrick Orr, legal counsel for Elections Nunavut, says two other candidates complained that SandyKautuqdid not resign his government jobbefore he ran for the position.

"Our preliminary facts show there is some evidenceto support the complaints," Orr said. "The RCMP is doing an official investigation. In the meantime, in order to preserve the integrity of the vote we've asked Mr.Kautuqnot to campaign."

Kautuqhas stopped campaigning and Elections Nunavut will decide whetheror not he will be able to run in the campaign once the investigation is completed on Thursday evening.

Orr says everyone involved has been co-operative so far. If Kautuq is removed from the campaign, the election will still be heldon Feb.9.

The other three candidates running for UqqummiutMLAare JamesArreak, NioreIqalukjuak,andPauloosieKeyootak.