Commissioner of the Northwest Territories
| Commissioner of the Northwest Territories | |
|---|---|
| Commissaire des Territoires du Nord-Ouest | |
 Badge of the Commissioner of the Northwest Territories | |
 Flag of the Commissioner of the Northwest Territories | |
| Style | Honourable |
| Appointer | Governor-in-Council |
| Formation | 24 August 1905 |
| First holder | Frederick D. White |
| Website | www |
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 minister in various ministries. Initially, Commissioners had nearly absolute authority. However, over time, their powers were curtailed, and in 1967 the Carrothers report resulted in the creation of an elected Legislative Assembly.
In the 1970s, the Assembly gained more powers, and in 1980 responsible government was granted, with the Executive Council being accountable to the Legislative Assembly, fully adopting the Westminster system. The Northwest Territories is one of two jurisdictions with a nonpartisan consensus government system.
The introduction of responsible government resulted in the Commissioner’s role becoming more akin to the Lieutenant Governor of a province - a politically aloof guarantor of the function of the parliamentary system akin to a head of state. However, commissioners remain appointed by the Government of Canada, and are not a vice-regal representative for the territory — the territories’ government is not an exercise of inherent sovereignty, but rather of devolution under the aegis of the federal Crown.
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. In practice, however, since 1980, the Commissioner has largely bowed to the decisions of the Legislative Assembly and Executive Council.
Commissioners of the NWT
[edit]| 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[1] | George Tuccaro |
| 10 May 2016 | 18 September 2017 | vacant (Gerald W. Kisoun acting) |
| 18 September 2017 | 14 May 2024 | Margaret M. Thom |
| 14 May 2024 | Incumbent | Gerald Kisoun |
Deputy commissioners
[edit]See also
[edit]- Lieutenant-Governors of Northwest Territories (1869-1905)