Commissioner of the Northwest Territories facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Commissioner of the Northwest Territories |
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Flag of the Commissioner of the Northwest Territories
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Badge of the Commissioner of the Northwest Territories
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| Style | Honourable |
| Appointer | Governor-in-Council |
| Formation | 24 August 1905 |
| First holder | Frederick D. White |
The commissioner of the Northwest Territories (French: Commissaire des Territoires du Nord-Ouest) is the Government of Canada's representative in the Northwest Territories. Similar in certain functions to a lieutenant governor, the commissioner swears in the members of the legislative assembly, swears in members of the executive council, assents to bills, opens sessions of the legislative assembly, and signs other government documents such as Orders in Council.
Earlier commissioners were mostly deputy ministers in various ministries (Minister of the Interior, Mines, Mines and Resources).
As commissioners are appointed by the Government of Canada, they are not a vice-regal representative in the territory—that is, unlike in Canada's provinces, there is no such thing as a "territorial Crown" analogous to the provincial Crowns. The commissioner represents the federal government and must follow any instructions of the Cabinet or the relevant federal minister, currently the Minister of Crown-Indigenous Relations and Northern Affairs.
Since 1980, the territories have had self-government, with the legislature choosing a government leader or premier, in addition to electing members of parliament to the Parliament of Canada.
Commissioners of the NWT
| From | To | Name |
|---|---|---|
| 24 August 1905 | 27 September 1918 | Frederick D. White |
| 27 September 1918 | 31 March 1931 | William Wallace Cory |
| 31 March 1931 | 1 May 1934 | Hugh H. Rowatt |
| 1 May 1934 | 3 December 1936 | vacant (Roy A. Gibson acting) |
| 3 December 1936 | 14 January 1947 | Charles Camsell |
| 14 January 1947 | 14 November 1950 | Hugh Llewellyn Keenleyside |
| 14 November 1950 | 15 November 1953 | Hugh Andrew Young |
| 15 November 1953 | 12 July 1963 | Robert Gordon Robertson |
| 12 July 1963 | 2 March 1967 | Bent Gestur Sivertz |
| 2 March 1967 | 15 April 1979 | Stuart Milton Hodgson |
| 15 April 1979 | 2 October 1989 | John Havelock Parker |
| 2 October 1989 | 16 January 1995 | Daniel L. Norris |
| 16 January 1995 | 26 March 1999 | Helen Maksagak |
| 26 March 1999 | 31 March 2000 | Daniel Joseph Marion |
| 31 March 2000 | 7 April 2005 | Glenna Hansen |
| 29 April 2005 | 28 May 2010 | Tony Whitford |
| 28 May 2010 | 10 May 2016 | George Tuccaro |
| 10 May 2016 | 18 September 2017 | vacant (Gerald W. Kisoun acting) |
| 18 September 2017 | present | Margaret M. Thom |
Deputy commissioners
On 24 October 2011 Gerald W. Kisoun was appointed deputy commissioner and his term was originally for three years. It was extended for a second three years and is due to expire 10 December 2017.
See also
- Lieutenant-Governors of Northwest Territories (1869-1905)
