Commissioners of the Northwest Territories
Commissioner of the Northwest Territories |
Flag of the Office: |
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Coat of Arms of the Office: |
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Incumbent: |
George Tuccaro |
First commissioner: |
Frederick D. White |
Formation: |
August 24, 1905 |
The Commissioner of the Northwest Territories is the Government of Canada’s representative in Northwest Territories (NWT) and the territory's Chief Executive Officer. 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, it is a misnomer to consider the office the Monarch's 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 must follow any instructions of the Cabinet or the relevant federal minister, currently the Minister of Aboriginal Affairs and Northern Development.
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
Living former Commissioners
Deputy Commissioners
Margaret Thom is the current Deputy Commissioner of the Northwest Territories. For former Deputy Commissioners see List of Northwest Territories deputy commissioners.
See also
External links