Premier of Nunavut facts for kids

The Premier of Nunavut is the main leader for the Canadian territory of Nunavut. This person is the head of government, meaning they are in charge of how the government runs. Their powers are a bit different from leaders in other parts of Canada.

Unlike most other leaders in Canada, the Premier of Nunavut is not chosen by a political party. Instead, the Premier and the Cabinet (a group of important government officials) are directly chosen by the members of the Legislative Assembly of Nunavut. This is part of Nunavut's special way of governing, called consensus government, where everyone works together. The Commissioner of Nunavut officially names the Premier. The Commissioner must follow the Assembly's choice because of a law called the Nunavut Act and a long-standing rule.

What is the Premier of Nunavut?

The Premier of Nunavut is like the chief executive officer for the territory. They lead the government and make important decisions for the people of Nunavut. This role is very important for guiding the territory's future.

How is the Premier Chosen?

Nunavut has a unique system called consensus government. This means there are no political parties. When people vote in an election, they vote for individuals, not for a party.

• After the election, the elected members of the Legislative Assembly of Nunavut meet.
• They then vote among themselves to choose who will be the Premier.
• They also vote to choose the other members of the Cabinet.
• This way, the Premier is chosen directly by the people's representatives.

Who Has Been Premier?

Nunavut became a territory on April 1, 1999. Since then, several people have served as Premier. They have all played a key role in shaping Nunavut.

The first Premier was Paul Okalik. He was chosen after the first general election in 1999. He served two terms. In 2008, Eva Aariak became the second Premier. She was followed by Peter Taptuna in 2013. Paul Quassa was elected in 2017 but lost a vote of confidence in 2018. After that, Joe Savikataaq became Premier. The current Premier, P.J. Akeeagok, was chosen in November 2021.

Past Premiers of Nunavut

Here is a list of the people who have served as Premier of Nunavut:

No.	Portrait	Name (Birth–Death)	Term of office		Electoral mandates (Assembly)	Political party		Riding	Ref.
1		Paul Okalik (b. 1964)	1 April 1999	19 November 2008	1999 election (1st Legislature) 2004 election (2nd Legislature)		Non-partisan	MLA for Iqaluit West
2		Eva Aariak (b. 1955)	19 November 2008	19 November 2013	2008 election (3rd Legislature)		Non-partisan	MLA for Iqaluit East
3		Peter Taptuna (b. 1956)	19 November 2013	21 November 2017	2013 election (4th Legislature)		Non-partisan	MLA for Kugluktuk
4		Paul Quassa (b. 1952)	21 November 2017	14 June 2018	2017 election (5th Legislature)		Non-partisan	MLA for Aggu
5		Joe Savikataaq (b. 1960)	14 June 2018	19 November 2021	Appointment (5th Legislature)		Non-partisan	MLA for Arviat South
6		P.J. Akeeagok (b. 1984)	19 November 2021	incumbent	2021 election (6th Legislature)		Non-partisan	MLA for Iqaluit-Niaqunnguu

Living Former Premiers

As of August 2022, all five people who have served as Premier before the current one are still alive. Since the office was created in 1999, no former Premier has passed away.