Premier of Nunavut facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Premier of Nunavut |
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|---|---|
| Office of the Premier | |
| Style |
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| Member of |
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| Reports to |
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| Seat | Iqaluit |
| Appointer | Commissioner of Nunavut
with the confidence of the Nunavut Legislature
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| Term length | At His Majesty's pleasure
contingent on the premier's ability to command confidence in the legislative assembly
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| Formation | 1 April 1999 |
| First holder | Paul Okalik |
| Deputy | Deputy premier of Nunavut |
| Website | Office of the Premier |
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.
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.
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. 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. On 15 November, 2013, Peter Taptuna beat out Okalik and Paul Quassa for the position of premier. 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.
| No. | Portrait | Name (Birth–Death) |
Term of office | Electoral mandates (Assembly) | Political party | Riding | Ref. | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |
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Paul Okalik (b. 1964) |
1 April 1999 |
19 November 2008 |
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Non-partisan | MLA for Iqaluit West | ||
| 2 |
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Eva Aariak (b. 1955) |
19 November 2008 |
19 November 2013 |
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Non-partisan | MLA for Iqaluit East | ||
| 3 |
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Peter Taptuna (b. 1956) |
19 November 2013 |
21 November 2017 |
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Non-partisan | MLA for Kugluktuk | ||
| 4 |
 |
Paul Quassa (b. 1952) |
21 November 2017 |
14 June 2018 |
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Non-partisan | MLA for Aggu | ||
| 5 |
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Joe Savikataaq (b. 1960) |
14 June 2018 |
19 November 2021 |
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Non-partisan | MLA for Arviat South | ||
| 6 |
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P.J. Akeeagok (b. 1984) |
19 November 2021 |
incumbent |
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Non-partisan | MLA for Iqaluit-Niaqunnguu | ||
Living former premiers
As of August 2022[update], all five former premiers are alive. Since the creation of the office in 1999, no former premier has died.
| Name | Term | Date of birth |
|---|---|---|
| Paul Okalik | 1999–2008 | May 26, 1964 |
| Eva Aariak | 2008–2013 | January 10, 1955 |
| Peter Taptuna | 2013–2017 | 1956 (age 67–68) |
| Paul Quassa | 2017–2018 | 1951 (age 72–73) |
| Joe Savikataaq | 2018-2021 | 1960 (age 63–64) |
