Lori Idlout has pulled ahead by a significant margin with about half the Nunavut votes counted in Monday's federal election. 

Idlout, the NDP incumbent MP, pulled in 1,456 votes with 31 of 66 polls reporting. In comparison, Conservative James T. Arreak garnered 817 ballots while Liberal Kilikvak Kabloona was the choice on 708 ballots.

Answering questions from Nunavut News during the election campaign, Idlout, who was a practising lawyer prior to her foray into federal politics, said her focus is on working towards increasing resources and ensuring the skills, wisdom and knowledge Nunavummiut have are utilized to help make the territory secure and prosperous.

鈥淣unavummiut Inuit have lived in the North all these years. They've got generations of knowledge that they still use out on the land as hunters and trappers, as seamstresses,鈥� Idlout said.

鈥淲e really just need to help make sure that we're lifting them up to help them realize that they do have expertise, that they do have amazing skills, and that their wisdom can be used to help alleviate poverty, to help make sure that Nunavummiut are enjoying life as Canadians.鈥�

Idlout added that her top priority is to secure more investments in Nunavut, particularly in housing and infrastructure.