Commissioner of Nunavut

{{Infobox official post

| post = Commissioner

| native_name = {{small| ᑲᒥᓯᓇ ᓄᓇᕗᒧᑦ
Kamisinauyuq Nunavunmut
Commissaire du Nunavut}}

| body = Nunavut

| flag = Flag of the Commissioner of Nunavut.svg

| flagsize = 150px

| flagcaption = Flag of the Commissioner of Nunavut

| insignia = Badge of the Commissioner of Nunavut.svg

| insigniasize = 110px

| insigniacaption = Badge of the Commissioner of Nunavut

| image = Premier Eva Aariak (cropped).jpg

| imagesize = 180px

| alt =

| incumbent = Eva Aariak

| incumbentsince = January 14, 2021

| department =

| style = The Honourable

| member_of =

| reports_to =

| residence = Commissioner's Residence (2554 Paurngaq Crescent){{cite web|url=https://canada.chamberofcommerce.com/business-directory/nunavut/iqaluit/government-office/633355-commissioners-residence |title=Commissioner's Residence|access-date=May 10, 2024}}

| seat =

| nominator =

| appointer = Governor-in-Council

| appointer_qualified =

| termlength =

| termlength_qualified =

| constituting_instrument =

| precursor =

| formation = April 1, 1999

| first = Helen Maksagak

| last =

| abolished =

| succession =

| deputy =

| salary =

| website = {{url|http://commissioner.gov.nu.ca}}

}}

The commissioner of Nunavut ({{langx|iu|ᑲᒥᓯᓇ ᓄᓇᕗᒧᑦ|translit=Kamisin Nunavumut}}; Inuinnaqtun: Kamisinauyuq Nunavunmut; {{langx|fr|Commissaire du Nunavut}}) is the Government of Canada's representative in the territory of Nunavut. The current commissioner since January 14, 2021 is Eva Aariak who served as Premier from 2008 to 2013.

The commissioner is appointed to represent the Canadian federal government and performs many of the same duties of lieutenant governors in Canadian provinces, such as swearing in members of the Legislative Assembly of Nunavut and approving territorial legislation. However, unlike a lieutenant governor or the governor general of Canada, the commissioner is not a viceroy and does not represent the Canadian monarch.

History

The position was created in 1999 with the creation of the new Nunavut territory. Like other territorial commissioners, the commissioner is appointed by the Government of Canada and represents the Canadian cabinet in the territory.

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!#

!Name

!Term

!Premiers

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|1

|Helen Maksagak

1999–2000

|Paul Okalik

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|2

|Peter Irniq

2000–2005

|Paul Okalik

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| rowspan="2" |3

| rowspan="2" |Ann Meekitjuk Hanson

rowspan="2" | 2005–2010

|Paul Okalik

Eva Aariak
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|–[https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/north/elias-named-nunavut-commissioner-1.896607 Elias named Nunavut commissioner]

|Nellie Kusugak (acting)

2010

|Eva Aariak

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| rowspan="2" |4

| rowspan="2" |Edna Elias

rowspan="2" | 2010–2015[http://www.nunatsiaqonline.ca/stories/article/65674committee_appointed_to_find_the_next_commissioner_of_nunavut/ Committee appointed to find the next Nunavut commissioner]

|Eva Aariak

Peter Taptuna
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| rowspan="3" |5

| rowspan="3" |Nellie Kusugak

rowspan="3" |2015–2020[http://pm.gc.ca/eng/news/2015/06/23/pm-announces-nellie-taptaqut-kusugak-commissioner-nunavut PM announces Nellie Taptaqut Kusugak as Commissioner of Nunavut] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150626132356/http://pm.gc.ca/eng/news/2015/06/23/pm-announces-nellie-taptaqut-kusugak-commissioner-nunavut |date=2015-06-26 }}{{cite news |url=https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/north/nunavut-commissioner-wraps-up-five-year-term-1.5622664 |title=Speak Inuktitut, protect the vulnerable, says Nunavut commissioner on end of five-year term |work=CBC News |date=23 June 2020 |access-date=15 August 2020}}

|Peter Taptuna

Paul Quassa
Joe Savikataaq
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|–

|Rebekah Williams (acting)

2020–2021

|Joe Savikataaq

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| rowspan="2" |6

| rowspan="2" |Eva Aariak

rowspan="2" |2021–present[https://pm.gc.ca/en/news/news-releases/2021/01/12/prime-minister-announces-new-commissioner-nunavut Prime Minister announces new Commissioner of Nunavut] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210112171431/https://pm.gc.ca/en/news/news-releases/2021/01/12/prime-minister-announces-new-commissioner-nunavut |date=2021-01-12 |access-date=12 January 2021 }}[https://orders-in-council.canada.ca/attachment.php?attach=40165&lang=en PC 2021-0006 Appointment of EVA QAMANIQ AARIAK of Iqaluit, Nunavut, to be Commissioner of Nunavut for a term of five years, effective January 14, 2021]

|Joe Savikataaq

P.J. Akeeagok

Note. Prior to April 1, 1999, Nunavut was part of the Northwest Territories. See Commissioners of Northwest Territories.

=Deputy commissioner=

The role of deputy commissioner was added in 2005 by amending the Public Officer Act and Seals Act to be inline with the Yukon and Northwest Territories.[http://www.gazette.gc.ca/archives/p2/2005/2005-06-29/html/sor-dors187-eng.html Regulations Amending the Formal Documents Regulations] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110706181939/http://www.gazette.gc.ca/archives/p2/2005/2005-06-29/html/sor-dors187-eng.html |date=2011-07-06 }}

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|Name

|Term

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Helen Maksagak2005–2009
Nellie Kusugak2010–2015[http://www.aadnc-aandc.gc.ca/eng/1373058434168/1373058470123 Minister Valcourt Announces Re-Appointment of Nellie T. Kusugak as Deputy Commissioner of Nunavut] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150518011140/http://www.aadnc-aandc.gc.ca/eng/1373058434168/1373058470123 |date=2015-05-18 }}
Rebekah Williams2019–2022{{cite news|title=Premier, ministers celebrate International Women’s Day|url=https://nunatsiaq.com/stories/article/premier-ministers-celebrate-international-womens-day/|quote=Akeeagok recognized, in particular, the contributions of the territory’s former deputy commissioner Rebekah Williams. Sworn into the position in 2019, her term ended in December 2022.|work=Nunatsiaq News|first=Meral|last=Jamal|date=March 8, 2023|accessdate=January 17, 2025}}
Lew Philip2024–present{{cite web|title=Order in Council 2024-0926|url=https://orders-in-council.canada.ca/attachment.php?attach=45975&lang=en|date=July 26, 2024|publisher=Government of Canada|accessdate=January 17, 2025}}

Duties

The duties of the commissioner are similar to that of the lieutenant governors of the provinces. However, since commissioners represent the Government of Canada rather than the Crown, they are not viceroys.

References

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