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Premier of Nunavut facts for kids

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Premier of Nunavut
Incumbent
P.J. Akeeagok

since November 19, 2021
Office of the Premier
Style
Member of
  • Legislative Assembly
  • Executive Council
Reports to
  • Legislative Assembly
  • Commissioner
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

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.

Premiers of Nunavut

No. Portrait Name
(Birth–Death)
Term of office Electoral mandates (Assembly) Political party Riding Ref.
1
Paul Okalik.jpg
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
Premier Eva Aariak cropped.jpg
Eva Aariak
(b. 1955)
19 November
2008
19 November
2013
  • 2008 election (3rd Legislature)
Non-partisan MLA for Iqaluit East
3
Peter Taptuna 2014-01-29 (01).jpg
Peter Taptuna
(b. 1956)
19 November
2013
21 November
2017
  • 2013 election (4th Legislature)
Non-partisan MLA for Kugluktuk
4
No image.svg
Paul Quassa
(b. 1952)
21 November
2017
14 June
2018
  • 2017 election (5th Legislature)
Non-partisan MLA for Aggu
5
Joe Savikataaq.jpg
Joe Savikataaq
(b. 1960)
14 June
2018
19 November
2021
  • Appointment (5th Legislature)
Non-partisan MLA for Arviat South
6
No image.svg
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 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 (1964-05-26) May 26, 1964 (age 60)
Eva Aariak 2008–2013 (1955-01-10) January 10, 1955 (age 69)
Peter Taptuna 2013–2017 1956 (age 67–68)
Paul Quassa 2017–2018 1951 (age 72–73)
Joe Savikataaq 2018-2021 1960 (age 63–64)
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