Premier of Nunavut
The premier of Nunavut (Inuktitut: ᓯᕗᓕᖅᑎ ᓄᓇᕗᒻᒥ; Inuinnaqtun: Hivuliqti Nunavunmi; French: premier ministre du Nunavut) is the first minister for the Canadian territory of Nunavut. The premier is the territory's head of government, although their powers are somewhat more limited than those of a provincial premier.
Premier of Nunavut | |
---|---|
ᓯᕗᓕᖅᑎ ᓄᓇᕗᒻᒥ Hivuliqti Nunavunmi Premier ministre du Nunavut | |
Office of the Premier | |
Style |
|
Status | Head of Government |
Member of | |
Reports to | |
Seat | Iqaluit |
Appointer | Commissioner of Nunavut with the confidence of the Nunavut Legislature |
Term length | At His Majesty's pleasure contingent on the premier's ability to command confidence in the legislative assembly |
Formation | 1 April 1999 |
First holder | Paul Okalik |
Deputy | Deputy premier of Nunavut |
Website | Office of the Premier |
Unlike most other premiers who are officially appointed by a lieutenant governor or commissioner on account of their leadership of a majority bloc in the legislature, the premier, and the Cabinet, is directly elected by the non-partisan members of the Legislative Assembly of Nunavut, in accordance with the system of consensus government. The premier is formally appointed by the commissioner of Nunavut, who is bound to act on the Assembly's recommendation by both the Nunavut Act and convention.[1][2]
History
The territory's first premier, Paul Okalik, was elected after the 1999 general elections. He was re-elected to a second term after the 2004 general elections.[3] Although Okalik was re-elected to a third term after the 2008 general elections in the Iqaluit West riding, he was defeated by newly elected MLA Eva Aariak in the premiership vote on November 14.[4] On 15 November, 2013, Peter Taptuna beat out Okalik and Paul Quassa for the position of premier.[5] Quassa was elected in 2017 but lost a confidence vote in 2018 which lead to the election of Joe Savikataaq. P.J. Akeeagok was selected to become premier in the Nunavut Leadership Forum on November 17, 2021 defeating Savikataaq.[6][7]
References
- Legislative Assembly of Nunavut Frequently Asked Questions
- The Role of the Commissioner of Nunavut
- "Constituency Profiles". CBC. 27 October 2008. Retrieved 10 November 2008.
- "Nunavut names new premier" Archived 2008-11-17 at the Wayback Machine, The Globe and Mail, November 14, 2008.
- MLAs choose Peter Taptuna to serve as Nunavut premier
- "'That boy is going to be premier one day': Meet Nunavut's P.J. Akeeagok". Retrieved November 19, 2021.
- Trevor Knight, "MLA candidates on the issues: P.J. Akeeagok, Iqaluit-Niaqunnguu". Northern News Services, October 21, 2021.