2008 Liberal candidate Kirt Ejesiak said he wants to devote his current efforts into starting an Arctic university in Iqaluit. (CBC)Two of Canada's political parties will have to find new candidates in Nunavut if a federal election is to be called anytime soon.

The men who ran against current Conservative MP Leona Aglukkaq in 2008 say they won't put their names on the ballot if there's another election, which could be called as early as this fall, some suggest.

Liberal Kirt Ejesiak and New Democrat Paul Irngaut, both first-time candidates during last year's campaign, told CBC News they are not ruling out a return to federal politics in the future but just not right now.

Aglukkaq, also a federal rookie, secured nearly 35 per cent of the popular vote in the Oct. 14, 2008, election. Ejesiak came in second place with 29.2 per cent, followed by Irngaut with 27.6 per cent.

Timing important for next candidate

Ejesiak said he wants to spend more time with his three children, as well as work with a group that is trying to start up an Arctic university in Iqaluit.

Ejesiak said he hopes stepping out of the political ring now will give the Liberals time to find a suitable candidate.

"We need to have adequate timing," he said.

"It takes money to run a campaign, so the earlier the prep work is done, and the earlier that people know, then I think that the chances are good for the next Liberal candidate."

Irngaut said running in federal politics was a good but demanding experience.

'Takes a lot out of you'

Paul Irngaut, seen setting up his NDP campaign office in September 2008, said he won't rule out a return to federal politics in the future. (CBC)"You have to be off work for at least a month, a month and a half," Irngaut said.

"So it takes a lot out of you, financially and, well, emotionally too."

Both Irngaut and Ejesiak said they recognize that Aglukkaq, now federal health minister, has a high profile and is popular. However, both said that was not a factor in their decision not to run.

Ejesiak said he hopes the next federal election will have more debate about the issues important to regular Nunavummiut.

"There's the … the federal government position, there's the Nunavut government position, there's the Inuit organizations' position," he said.

"But the regular Inuk, their positions are often sidelined or silent because of, you know, fear of retribution."

A fourth candidate, the Green party's Peter Ittinuar, rounded out the 2008 Nunavut race with 8.4 per cent of the popular vote. There is no word on who will run for the Greens in the next election.